Charles Melton on Channeling Heath Ledger’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’ Performance for ‘May December’ and Wearing a Prosthetic for Nine Hours
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SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Netflix’s “May December”
In Netflix’s “May December,” one of the most memorable scenes features Joe Yoo (played by Charles Melton) arriving at the hotel to deliver a letter from his wife Gracie (Julianne Moore) to actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman). Their encounter leads to a brief yet intense sexual liaison on the floor, culminating in a conspicuous silhouette shot of Joe’s penis.
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Amid Samy Burch’s narrative brilliance and Todd Haynes’ tantalizing direction, one might imagine Melton — known for his role in The CW’s “Riverdale” — felt immense pressure acting opposite Oscar winner Portman, who also produced the film. This pivotal scene was among the final ones shot in Savannah, Ga.
“It was very professional,” Melton tells Variety. “The whole thing. Natalie, Todd, and I met to discuss the scene, walking through it and ensuring everybody was comfortable. There were a few conversations about the prosthetic, regarding what was realistic and what wasn’t. And I had to wear that prosthetic for nine hours that day. I didn’t have anything to drink that morning or the night before. That was an annoying process but still very respectful.”
At 32, Melton’s portrayal as a husband and father grappling with the murky origins of his marriage has sparked Oscar buzz for best supporting actor. Having clinched awards from the New York Film Critics and Gotham Awards thus far, he may well secure his first Academy Award nomination, joining the ranks of Haynes’ actors from his past films such as Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and his co-star Julianne Moore.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
In preparing for “May December,” Melton drew inspiration from performances in romantic dramas that conveyed depth through minimal dialogue. He cited Tony Leung’s role in Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love” and Heath Ledger’s portrayal in Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain.”
“There’s so much pathos, so much going on,” he shares. “There’s this kind of repressed feeling. How they talk, it’s all right in the throat. For [playing] Joe, these words are forming for the first time. It’s like seeing somebody at a party hunched over, protected, and not trying to take up too much space. Joe doesn’t even know he’s doing it. It’s part of his adult child that has translated into the physicality of his movement which he’s not even aware. It’s just him existing.”
Melton’s standout performance in “May December” positions him in the company of newcomers who have thrived in the supporting actor category, akin to Troy Kotsur for “CODA” or Kodi Smit-McPhee for “The Power of the Dog.” His portrayal of a man denied a typical teenage life underscores Haynes’ adeptness in guiding actors.
“Todd held my hand every step of the way,” he says. “He would tell me, ‘You got this, trust your instincts.’ When you have that support from a director like Todd Haynes, in my opinion, the greatest living director, there’s no boundaries or limits.”
As a Korean American, Melton acknowledges the ongoing discourse on diversity in Hollywood. The potential of an Oscar nod carries immense weight for him and his future career. Only two Asians have won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar — Haing S. Ngor for “The Killing Fields” (1984) and Ke Huy Quan for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022).
Melton aims for roles where ethnicity isn’t the defining trait. “I want the roles with the description between the text of the script: who this person is. This idea of identity that I was going through felt I’m not Asian enough, or I’m not white enough, and where do I fall in that? To tell Joe’s story, this human complex tragedy has nothing to do with being Asian and that’s the gift. I’m grateful for that.”
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