LaKeith Stanfield has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, known for his ability to embody complex characters, from the unsettling victims in Get Out to the streetwise philosopher Darius in Atlanta. Having received an Academy Award nomination for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah, Stanfield continues to challenge himself by diving into diverse genres. He now stars as Groffield in the high-stakes heist film, Play Dirty, opposite Mark Wahlberg. The film is filled with twists, suspense, and jaw-dropping moments. Stanfield recently spoke about the project, the dynamic with his co-star, and the personal philosophy that drives his career.
The Reckoning on Set with Mark Wahlberg
Q: You and Mark Wahlberg play brothers with wildly different energies. What was your most memorable “Opposites Attract” moment on set?
A: What I loved most about the dynamic between my character, Groffield, and the other character, Parker, were their moments of conflict. You realize they are like brothers, where one is the annoying sibling who always takes things too far, and you want to tell him to calm down. I have five brothers, and their argumentative nature felt truly brotherly, though usually, I am the annoying one. It was a nice change to be the one annoyed. Working with Mark Wahlberg was special because he is excellent at improv and staying on his toes. We constantly threw curveballs at each other, and it was a fun back and forth. It was a powerful realization for me, manifesting things in life, because I remember watching Entourage on the couch years ago, thinking I wanted to be like Vinnie Chase. Now, I was on set with the man the character is based on.
Groffield’s Philosophy: Get the Bag and Be Flexible
Q: You have played rebels, thinkers, and survivors, and now a silver-tongued swindler. What drew you to Groffield, and what do you want people to see in him?
A: What initially drew me to Groffield was his passion for something he loved and his determination to see it brought about, stopping at nothing to achieve his goal. He is also laid back, funny, and possesses a charm and wit that I admire. There are two main takeaways I hope people get from him : First, always “go get the bag” by any means necessary to secure a life of luxury for your family and loved ones, because we all deserve that. Second, maintain the ability to be flexible. Life will be hard, unexpected, and things may literally and figuratively blow up. It is important to maintain stoicism and maneuverability in life. Groffield also reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously; be able to laugh, as life is short, and have fun in it.
LaKeith’s Experience with Physical Comedy
Q: There is a scene where you physically slap another character. How much fun was it to film that moment, and how many retakes did you have to get it right?
A: Do not invite me to a good time unless you intend for me to have one. I was initially excited to get to hit someone, but honestly, I do not like doing physical actions because I prioritize safety. Early in my career, when I was a very young actor on my first movie, Short Term 12, I did not differentiate between acting and reality. In one scene, I was supposed to be angry and threw a plastic wiffle ball bat at another kid for real. The bat hit him, and his dad was startled. I had been so fully invested in what I was doing that I did not mean to actually hit him. Ever since then, I have been careful about physical situations. However, the actor opposite me was enthusiastic and encouraged me to go for it. I chose not to smack him full force, but with cinematic trickery, we made it look real. I do enjoy physical comedy, and the banter afterward, throwing words around and engaging in jargon, is always fun and inventive because you must be quick on your feet. He is a sweet guy, and the scene was really fun
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