Mamoudou Athie

From the Greek Weird Wave cinema of Yorgos Lanthimos to all-out Pixar whimsy, actor Mamoudou Athie is taking show business in his stride. He tells Caitlin Quinlan why community theater might be next.

Mamoudou Athie exudes such warmth that when we begin talking in the lush courtyard of the Carlton Cannes Hotel one afternoon in May, it feels like we’ve known each other forever. The actor—who is in town to attend the Cannes Film Festival’s closing night premiere of his new Pixar film, Elemental—is thrilled to talk about acting as a craft and is meticulously detailed about his process. “Now we’re gonna get into the weeds!” he says with a laugh. Throughout our conversation, he refills our water glasses and engages with passersby, an air of effortless relaxation in every kind ge...