Kevin Winter/Getty; Marion Curtis/StarPix for Focus Features/Shutterstock
NEED TO KNOW
Paul Dano spoke out for the first time about Quentin Tarantino slamming him as the "weakest" actor
The star said he was "incredibly grateful" that so many fellow actors came to his defense
Tarantino made the remarks while discussing Dano's film There Will Be Blood on a podcast in December
Paul Danois reacting toQuentin Tarantino slamming him as the "weakest" actorin Hollywood.
Tarantino, 62, argued on an episode ofThe Bret Easton Ellis Podcastin December 2025 that Dano, 41, was the singular "flaw" of the Oscar-winning 2007 filmThere Will Be Blood.
TheDjango Unchaineddirector didn't hold back as he said Dano is "just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy." Host Ellis suggested that Daniel Day-Lewis' performance may have been "so gargantuan" that it overshadowed Dano's, to which Tarantino said, "So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG? The limpest dick in the world?"
Various Hollywoodstars spoke out in defense of Danoafter the remarks made headlines, though Dano hadn't addressed it untilVarietyasked at theSundance Film Festivalon Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Both there to mark the 20th anniversary ofLittle Miss Sunshine,Toni Collettecame to Dano's defense when the topic came up: "F--- that guy!" Collette, 53, said of Tarantino. "He must've been high. … It was just confusing. Who does that?"
Of the public support from fellow actors, Dano said, "That was really nice. I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn't have to."
Little Miss Sunshineco-director Jonathan Dayton told the outlet that Tarantino's comments were an "embarrassment" and "I can only think that his rawness of his performance made Tarantino uncomfortable." Added co-director Valerie Faris, "You know what was interesting was the people coming out to defend Paul. There was immediately. … He is loved by so many. He is so smart."
Dano is also known for films likeThe Batman, The Fabelmans, Prisoners, Love & Mercyand more. He earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination forThere Will Be Bloodat the BAFTA awards, and he's also been nominated for a Golden Globe and two Emmy Awards.
"Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person," hisThe Batmandirector Matt Reeves wrote on X in December. Ben Stiller, who directed him for the limited seriesEscape at Dannemora, posted on X: "idk man i think paul dano is an incredible actor."
Tarantino added during that podcast appearance of Dano: "I'm not saying he's giving a terrible performance. I'm saying he's giving a non-entity [performance]. I don't care for him. I don't care forOwen Wilson, I don't care forMatthew Lillard."Lillard, 56, has since commented on the dig.
Read the original article onPeople
