Daniel D’Addario, Variety‘s veteran chief correspondent, has spent years covering the ins and outs of film and television. This year, however, his connection to Hollywood’s biggest night took an unexpected turn as he launched his debut novel, The Talent, just days before the Oscars.
The Talent offers a fictional narrative set against the backdrop of the Oscars, delving into the lives of five women nominated for Best Actress. The characters include Jenny Van Meer, an acclaimed actress in a Maria Callas biopic, and her rival, Adria Benedict, a three-time Oscar winner. The story also features Contessa Lyle, nominated for a film adaptation of The Glass Menagerie; Bitty Harbor, who plays Lady Bird Johnson in a biopic; and Davina Schwartz, an outsider nominated for an avant-garde version of Titus Andronicus.
In an interview conducted prior to the Oscars, D’Addario discussed his transition from journalist to novelist, the inspiration behind The Talent, and the surprising ways in which real-world Oscar drama has influenced his fictional portrayal of Hollywood.
From Journalism to Fiction
D’Addario has long been immersed in the world of film criticism, but his interest in fiction led him to explore a new medium. “I’ve always been interested in different types of writing,” D’Addario explained. “I spend so much time thinking about the entertainment industry that fiction seemed like a natural progression. Storytelling is storytelling, and the fundamentals are the same, whether you’re writing a novel, an article, or a screenplay.”
The novelist credits an interview with Cord Jefferson, the screenwriter and journalist, for giving him the confidence to shift into fiction. “If you’re a writer, you’re a writer,” Jefferson told D’Addario. “The tools of storytelling remain consistent across different formats.”
Developing the Characters of The Talent
When asked about the genesis of the characters, D’Addario revealed that Jenny Van Meer, the actress who has been repeatedly nominated but never won, emerged first. “The tension between someone who always loses and someone who always wins intrigued me,” he said. “I wondered, what keeps someone going after several losses? Is it stubborn faith in oneself, or a refusal to accept reality? It’s a complex, human question.”
The author also shared how he balanced the fictional elements of the novel with the realism expected of an Oscar-centric narrative. “It was important for me to create films that could realistically be nominated for Oscars, but I also wanted to have some fun,” D’Addario remarked. “I was able to indulge in absurdity, while also critiquing the Oscars’ own dynamics and tendencies.”
Fictional Movies, Real Oscars
Creating the fictional films within The Talent proved to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of writing the novel. “It was a challenge, but it was also a lot of fun,” he said. “I got to think about the kind of movies that would realistically earn Oscar buzz and then take them in directions that allowed me to reflect on the broader issues in the entertainment industry.”
One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is D’Addario’s exploration of the complex, often arbitrary nature of Oscar nominations, particularly in the categories of lead and supporting roles. He cited examples from real Oscar races, such as Wicked and Emilia Pérez, to highlight the blurred lines between lead and supporting roles. “It’s fascinating to me how categories are constructed, and how that can change perceptions of a performance,” D’Addario observed.
A Collision of Worlds: Journalism and Fiction
With his deep knowledge of the Oscars as a journalist, D’Addario has found himself at a unique intersection, promoting a novel about Oscar season while covering the actual event. “It’s an exciting time to be an Oscar watcher,” he acknowledged. “And I think it’s a happy coincidence that my novel happens to be releasing during such a dramatic and competitive Best Actress race.”
Indeed, this year’s Oscars were filled with unexpected twists, from fans elevating Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres to controversies surrounding actress Karla Sofía Gascón. “If I had pitched a book about the recent scandals and drama, people might have said it was too outlandish to be believable,” D’Addario quipped. “But that’s the beauty of fiction — it allows for creative exploration, even if real-life events seem to outpace imagination.”
As Oscar season continues to captivate audiences, The Talent provides a timely and thought-provoking look at the intersection of ambition, competition, and storytelling in Hollywood.
