Even before her star-making breakout role in Past Lives, Greta Lee had made a name for herself as one of the most versatile performers in the industry, with roots in the comedy world and key roles in the likes of New Girl and Inside Amy Schumer. Since playing a hopeless romantic in Past Lives, Lee has fleshed out her resume with other memorable roles, including a snarky AI in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a National Security Advisor in A House of Dynamite and a noble tech pioneer in Tron: Ares. 2026 has been particularly strong for the Emmy-nominated star, with two back-to-back hits in Pixar's Toy Story 5 and Netflix's The Last House. Lee is also set to reunite with her House of Dynamite co-star Rebecca Ferguson for the upcoming rom-com Honeymoon/Funeral.
Another recent Greta Lee performance that shouldn't be overlooked is Late Fame, starring Willem Dafoe as a former writer who rediscovers his love for poetry after a chance encounter with fans of his work. His new friend group leads him to meet Lee's character, Gloria, and the two quickly start a surprising relationship that changes both of their lives forever. The film was directed by Kent Jones (Hitchcock/Truffaut) and written by Samy Burch (Coyote vs. Acme).
Late Fame is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and PVOD, and to help promote the film's recent release, I had the opportunity to chat with Greta Lee about the critically acclaimed film. Some of Lee's other films and shows also came up, including her work in Toy Story 5, Tron: Ares and The Morning Show, all of which have themes of humanity vs. technology. Asked whether there was something about that topic she found particularly interesting, Lee not only said she wants to start moving away from tech-centric stories, but also knows exactly which genre she wants to try out next.
"Well, look at the world we live in! Of course it's interesting; I can't escape it. I think that is sort of the zeitgeist of the moment that we live in. I, just like everyone else, am asking those questions myself," said Lee. "The big questions and sometimes scary questions of finding ways to hone in and recenter what it is to be a person. What's the human experience, and what is human connection in this crazy moment where it feels like everything is tech?" Lee continued, admitting she's ready to break the mold of her most recent projects:
"I'm trying to think what I can do now that would break that theme. Like a period piece where I'm on a boat, and it's like the 15th century, and I'm like a horse wrangler? I don't know, maybe it can swing the other way. There are many different stories that I want to tell. [...] I would like to do a Western! And I would be thrilled to not have tech be any part of that at all."
Greta Lee on Working With Willem Dafoe in 'Late Fame'
Another person who has had plenty of experience with tech-based stories is Norman Osborn himself, Willem Dafoe, whom Lee describes as "What I want in a scene partner" in a glowing endorsement of the beloved actor. "He is incredibly present, prepared, bold, giving, and supremely playful, which was so necessary for us," Lee told Collider. "And I would say specifically for playing the role of Gloria Gardner because I think the idea and vision that I had for her was so fully formed in my mind. In talking to Kent [Jones] as well, I don't know if I ever felt a character was so vividly alive to me specifically." Lee continued speaking about her character, saying:
"There is a largeness to her and a performativeness to her and an old-school kind of glamor and style, but all of those things required a person who could be my match. Who could be grounding and meet me in the truth of who Gloria was. I was so afraid Gloria would a sketch of a person, but I knew that underneath all her masks there was a very real and very interesting woman. It was so paramount that I could have someone who would be able to meet me in that truth. And it's Willem as well. For days, for years, for eternity, I could not love him more."
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