Harry Melling Has 'No Idea' What The Coen Brothers Saw In Him
Years after playing Dudley Dursley in the "Harry Potter" franchise, Harry Melling now finds himself a consistent collaborator with Joel and Ethan Coen. The actor appeared in one of the short films featured in "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," before reuniting with one half of the Coen Brothers for "The Tragedy of Macbeth." He has appeared in a myriad of projects since his child acting days, but his collaborations with the Coens have helped to further cement his potential as a leading man.
Since his role in "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," Melling has quietly risen to the top of the acting sheet on several acclaimed projects from Netflix. He appeared in a supporting capacity in "The Devil All the Time," the uber-popular drama series "The Queen's Gambit," and in "The Old Guard." Mostly recently, he starred in Netflix's latest period film "The Pale Blue Eye" as Edgar Allen Poe (read /Film's review of the movie here). No matter the size of the role, Melling always gives a unique performance that sticks out from the rest. However, if you ask Melling, the answer to his newfound success with the Coens is a bit of a mystery to him.
'People who are gonna take risks'
In an interview with the Independent for "The Pale Blue Eye," Harry Melling revealed that he was cast alongside Christian Bale in the film after his work on "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs." Despite nabbing a leading role in the new project, Melling admitted that he had "no idea" what the Coen Brothers saw in him back then. However, when pressed further about his thoughts, Melling eventually caved in and gave his best guess: "I think they like actors who are up for, in a weird way, making a fool of themselves. People who are gonna take risks."
Looking at the Coen Brothers' filmography, the filmmaking duo have a history of creating magic with character actors. "The Big Lebowski," for instance, sings with the help of a unique and varied supporting cast, with John Turturro's Jesus being an unforgettable highlight. Getting cast in a Coen Brothers film in any capacity is a proven way to show your acting chops, no matter the size of the role. It's no shock that Melling's first collaboration for the Coen Brothers in "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" is nothing short of tragically unique (and in a good way).
A not so foolish story
In "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," Harry Melling stars in the "Meal Ticket" short as a quadriplegic dubbed as Harrison, The Artist, an orator that reads out plays and tours with an impresario (Liam Neeson). In one scene, Helling reads out "Ozymandias" for a captivated audience, acting out the story through his speech and the limited movement of his body. His rendition is as unusual as it is chilling, a reminder that people are worthy of the opportunity to showcase their talent, no matter their situation. However, as with much of the Coen Brothers' work, things take a dark turn when Helling's character is no longer the moneymaker he used to be. Without spoilers, let's just say the artist's downfall is as steep as it is deadly.
With "Meal Ticket," the Coen Brothers show off their ability to tell a strange and unlikely story that resonates with the audience. The tip-toeing act between tragic drama and absurd hilarity is carefully balanced by Melling, who has to portray a quadriplegic whose disability becomes a circus act to be profited from. Until, of course, he is no longer useful for the impresario. I think Melling hit the nail on the head, despite his cautious remarks.