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Michael Shannon can give a quietly nuanced supporting turn\u2014or flat-out steal the show\u2014all in service of whatever story he\u2019s helping tell. What are the secrets to his endlessly compelling performances? \u201cUsually if you want to have a career in this business, it\u2019s gonna involve doing a lot of things that scare you, and at first may seem unwise,\u201d he tells Backstage. \u201cBut you just have to be willing to take those risks, I guess.\u201d Although wary of putting a name to his techniques or giving ironclad, how-to advice to up-and-coming artists, Michael does so with clarity and generosity.\n\nWith roots in Kentucky and Illinois, Michael got his start on Chicago stages, collaborating with Tracy Letts and founding A Red Orchid Theatre. His theater work eventually led to a Broadway career, including a Tony nomination for \u201cLong Day\u2019s Journey into Night,\u201d while his on-camera work went from appearances in \u201cGroundhog Day\u201d and \u201c8 Mile\u201d to star turns in \u201cKangaroo Jack,\u201d \u201c99 Homes,\u201d \u201cTake Shelter,\u201d \u201cBoardwalk Empire,\u201d \u201cMan of Steel,\u201d \u201cMidnight Special,\u201d \u201cElvis & Nixon,\u201d \u201cThe Shape of Water,\u201d \u201cKnives Out,\u201d and Academy Award nominations for supporting roles in \u201cRevolutionary Road\u201d and \u201cNocturnal Animals.\u201d The actor-producer-musician can now be seen as grieving family man Napoleon Marconi on Hulu\u2019s TV adaptation of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers\u201d from David E. Kelley and Nicole Kidman.\n\nAlso in today\u2019s episode: Kasey Howe once again joins Jack to preview the year\u2019s upcoming film festivals and awards. Get ready for an exciting season over at backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3ndnQdT\n---\nBackstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage\u2019s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today\u2019s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ\n\nFollow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:\n- https://www.facebook.com/backstage\n- https://www.twitter.com/backstage\n- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope\n- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast\n\nLooking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe\nBrowse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e\nCheck out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0\nBackstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5\n\nSpecial thanks to...\n- Host: Jack Smart\n- Producer: Jamie Muffett\n- Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli\n- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins\n- Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis