Exclusive Interview: Dermot Mulroney Talks ‘Ruthless,’ Leading His First Action Film, His Love for Independent Filmmaking, and More

Dermot Mulroney is a Hollywood legend who needs no introduction. Throughout his three-plus decades-long career, he’s allowed his transformative performances to speak volumes, starring in projects such as My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Family Stone, Scream VI, August: Osage County, and Shameless, to name a few.

His achievements have garnered recognition from both audiences and peers, making it hard to believe that he’s never played the lead in an action film… until now. Currently in select theaters and available On Demand, Dermot Mulroney is captivating audiences with his grounded and action-packed portrayal as Harry, a high school wrestling coach who, after enduring an indescribable loss, is set down a dark path of righteousness in Art Camacho’s Ruthless.

Pop Culturalist had the honor of speaking with Dermot about his bone-crushing performance in Ruthless, what leading his first action film meant to him, why supporting independent cinema is important, and more.

PC: You have so many incredible projects dropping in December, and each is so different from the next. As an actor, what do you look for in a script? What was it about Ruthless that resonated with you?
Dermot: Ruthless had me from the moment I read it. It was the first action film where I’ve been the lead, and I jumped at that chance. I would have done it even if the movie wasn’t as good as this, but Ruthless has real, true-to-life scenarios and characters. It has a rough, gnarly feel to it, all conceived and created by Art Camacho. The minute I met him, I knew he was the person to help me break in. With his leadership and tutelage, we pulled off a great trick here where I get to play a regular guy who has to rise to the occasion.

PC: Your character is struggling with grief after losing his daughter, leading him down a path to ensure that nobody else experiences something similar. You brought so much nuance to that journey. As an actor, how did you create the space to tackle that vulnerable space where your character starts out?
Dermot: Art used me so beautifully in ways I wasn’t even sure I was aware of during shooting. It ends up being so touching. You witness the aftermath of losing his daughter in a brutal attack. So, when he sees one of his students in trouble, he ill-advisedly goes to that home and ends up getting into it with the mother’s boyfriend who’s brutalizing her.

That’s the beginning of it all. You see what drives him to use methods off the grid. But then he discovers that she’s in even worse trouble. When she’s abducted and taken out of state, he’s got to go track her down and make things right.

PC: There’s also a lot of unexpected humor in the film, which was a pleasant surprise, particularly when it comes to the dynamic between your character and Melissa Diaz’s. Was that originally in the script, or did you both help bring it to life after you were cast?
Dermot: We definitely added/enhanced some of that. Melissa Diaz plays the lead, and she comes into the role in such a unique way as a female wrestler in high school. That’s why our characters have a connection at all. But then my past really connects to her troubles.

But in the vein of action-thrillers like this, Art Camacho, once again, knew what we were after. Yes, much of that was in the script. Much of that he and I brought into some of the action sequences. Melissa’s personality opened up a lot of those other scenes. She’s this kid who is trying to be tough, but the situation is a lot tougher than she can handle.

PC: The violence in the film feels like the perfect metaphor for the internal struggles that your character is going through. How did that physicality allow you to further tap into your character? What was that prep work like?
Dermot: Thank you. Wow, amazing questions. We were on the fly throughout this whole production. I keep myself in regular fit condition, but then also I’m doing a fighting scene or some sort of action sequence almost every day. I’m working long hours and getting up early, so I’m working really hard, and you have this sort of metabolism throughout the whole thing. Once we got to those scenes, I’m working with the best fight choreographer that I can imagine. That’s part of the Art Camacho experiment. I knew that I could do what he told me to do. That’s how I did it.

But certain other things just became authentic too, like the one guy we had up on zip ties on the banister railing on the house. It’s almost like you’re experiencing them on the fly. I know what Art wants. We’ve got the stunt team there, but because these characters are so grounded in reality and some of the action may be exaggerated and have humor in it, that’s why it works because the stakes are high, and the characters are real. There’s not this superhero feel or exaggerated circumstances. The way that Art shot it is down and dirty. It’s on street level, so it feels like it could happen to you.

Then Melissa’s character gets taken to Las Vegas and in a ring where girls are being abused. It’s unimaginably horrifying. But you’re experiencing and knowing that something is going to be done about it. All the facets of this film fall into place where it’s entertaining but also serious. We threw a real go at a bone-breaking brawler. I love Ruthless. I’m so thrilled to have a part like this to play where the action is supported by a real strong character.

PC: It’s very grounded and features the ordinary hero. You already touched upon this, but Art co-wrote and directed this movie. Is the filming experience different when the person who helped create the universe and these characters is also at the helm directing? What was that collaboration like?
Dermot: Yes, it’s wonderful. Art knew every detail of this project and approached it calmly, really like a sensei. If I could describe to you how tense filmmaking can become, it’s like a whirlwind. Of course, everything is under control because of the ADs and all of that, but at the center of that, there’s Art Camacho, who just knows how it’s done. I really leaned on him. I knew from the minute that I met him that we were alike. It’s remained that way until this day. That doesn’t always happen. It’s so hard to describe.

If you’re sensing something a little greater than your average toss-up, fight movie, you’re right. That’s Art’s spirit and his level of training. It was an amazing experience all around. I hope we go around again. We’re already trying to get other stuff going. He gave me this gift in my career, especially at this time and stern age, to hand me the reins of a lead part that meant something and also has those fight scenes is really special.

I’m so quick in some of those fight sequences that I wish that I slowed it down so it’s more enjoyable. But a couple of those left hooks on that guy on the forklift, I’m so proud of some of that motion and athleticism. I give all that credit to Art.

PC: The fight scenes are brutal to watch in the best possible way. You touched upon this earlier, but you’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative?
Dermot: Thank you. Going back to your last question, you’ll also notice in the movie, there is very little gunplay. I was really happy to be a part of an important movie, where yes, violence is depicted, but we show that you can overcome it and solve it. It was more about the fists, and that was nice.

Sometimes I’ll go on a set, and they’ll hand me a gun, with all the safety precautions, which is something we take very seriously. Sometimes in those roles, you don’t even stop to think about what using a weapon can mean and how it falls into the big picture of gunplay in life. It was nice to have a little relief from that.

Independent films more than excite me; they’re the only ones that would have me for a certain amount of time. That’s my playground. That’s my bread and butter. I’m in it for the run. It’s amazing to ride it out because I didn’t work as much for a while because they weren’t making indie films where I had a better shot at having a challenging role or an important role in the story, even if it’s small.

But now, it feels like we’re swinging back a bit to where movies have one-off storytelling with adult themes that are being seen in theaters. That’s certainly happening in Los Angeles. A couple of new theaters have opened up, not Multiplexes, but homegrown theaters. I’m going to keep supplying those movies. Ruthless has theater releases in Russia and other Eastern European countries, so it’s a movie that can play in that setting.

It says a lot about Ruthless that they would want me on a poster in a foreign market. I was thrilled about that. Who knows how people are going to watch this, but right now, you can get a lot of different types of movies, and I like being in all of them. It’s been really fun even with the slowdowns with our social health issue and our labor issue. Everyone wants to get back to work and work hard. I want to work with the best as I have in the past, and I want to do so with my friends and all of that. Let’s hit the ground running in 2024.

To keep up with Dermot, follow him on Instagram. Watch Ruthless wherever you stream movies.

Photo Credit: Storm Santos