Johnny Simmons

This is a new feature that I'll be doing once a week. It will be dedicated to an actor [or singer/director/writer] that I love, usually one that is underrated, or out of the limelight. In light of the Emmy Nominees due within the next month I decided I'd start with someone whose name I hope to see there. None other that Amy Ryan. I'm hoping that Amy Ryan gets a nomination for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, for her outstanding work on The Office this year.

I first took note of Amy in Capote where she played the sheriff's star struck, it was a small part in a good film, and I was duly impressed... but it was the next year with her riveting turn in Gone Baby Gone that Amy made her mark on movie audiences. As a hardcore mother of a missing child living on welfare Amy played looked gaunt and tired in the role, a true transformation that warranted her a well deserved Oscar nomination and other awards. It was definitely one of the best performances of the year, and stole the show from her costars. Her next performance was a turn in the underrated gem Before the Devil Knows You;re Dead, which reteamed her with Capote costar Philip Seymour Hoffman.


Last year [for me] was a big year as far as Amy was concerned. She guest starred in The Office, for eight episodes and showed an unbelievably good comic timing. I am hoping and praying that the Emmy's give her a nomination, and win for her wonderful performance. Last year, she also gave a great cameo performance opposite Angelina Jolie in Changeling. Playing an imprisoned prostitute Amy gave probably the best female cameo of the year, since despite a short time in a long film, she sticks with you.

She's going to be opposite Matt Damon next in Green Zone, which I am hoping is going to once again show the world her greatness.

On a side note, Amy is a two time Tony Award nominee. Below is a picture of her with Natasha Richardson in the Broadway Revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.