Tom Wilkinson's 50s were fabulous. After decades in British theater and television, he did what many other middle-aged Brits do: He became a big deal in American movies. He chewed scenery with Sissy Spacek in "In the Bedroom," damaged Jim Carrey's brain in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," played a bad guy in "Batman Begins" and then a good guy in "Michael Clayton." Now, freshly 60, he's treading water in the whirlpool of awards season. He'll be at the Golden Globes on Sunday night as a double nominee for his performances as Benjamin Franklin in the HBO miniseries "John Adams" and as James Baker in the HBO movie "Recount." Last week we rang his home in London.
Q. What are you working on right now?
A. Nothing.
Q. So what are you doing?
A. Nothing.
Q. And by nothing you mean …
A. Literally nothing. I'm really, really good at it.
Q. You dropped theater and threw yourself at movies.
A. I saw too many of my friends going into movies, and I thought I could do that, too. The lure of working in the United States I found almost irresistible. You get the feeling that's where all the big boys play. So I wanted to see if I can sit with the big boys.
Q. Last year you played Ben Franklin and James Baker, mandarins of their political eras.
A. I didn't really realize the extent of the gamble I was making, toying with one of the great icons of the U.S. and another one who is still alive. You just thought, oh, what a great role, without thinking, this could go terribly wrong.
Q. Do you, as a respected British actor, have to turn your nose up at awards shows?
A. No, they're enjoyable, as long as you don't take them too seriously. I always have a good time. It's great to see famous people. I'm hooked on seeing show business stars up close.
Q. Since you're nominated twice, will you drink twice as much?
A. I'll drink for everyone else, too.
Q. One last time: You're working on nothing right now?
A. Absolutely nothing official. If it gets to March and April and it's the same, then phone me again and I'll panic for you.
