Every day, I felt like I was living some version of what this person actually went through,” actor Dominic Sessa told guest hosts Marley Marius and Hannah Jackson on this Thursday’s episode of The Run-Through. He was talking about beloved chef and food writer Anthony Bourdain, the subject of the new film Tony, whose legend and fanbase have only grown since his death in 2018.

Directed by Matt Johnson and hitting theaters on August 7, Tony captures a summer in Bourdain’s life when he worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Alongside co-stars Antonio Banderas, Leo Woodhall, Stavros Halkias, and Emilia Jones, Sessa spent four weeks across Cape Cod recreating some of Bourdain’s coming-of-age stories.

Johnson’s directing style often involves letting actors improvise, which was a new challenge for the young actor. “It was intimidating, of course, but I felt really comfortable with these people,” Sessa said. He confirmed what fans of Tony might hope is true—that Halkias came up with all his sharp insults, including when he says Tony’s nickname, Flaco, means “an acrobat that jumps from ass to ass.”

Despite a tight shooting schedule, Sessa learned a lot from working with acting heavyweight Banderas, who also happens to be a great cook. Sessa, on the other hand, claimed he could only boil water and make pasta, adding, “I guess I learned how to shuck oysters… and I got better at washing dishes.” Banderas recently made Sessa a memorable paella in Málaga.

Tony‘s New York premiere took place earlier this week, where Sessa wore a chic Celine look by Michael Rider. “I’m afraid to say that when I’m not doing things like this, I dress like crap, for the most part,” Sessa admitted, noting that most of his wardrobe consists of old T-shirts from Marshalls and sneakers with holes. He credited his stylist, Warren Alfie Baker, with helping him find his red carpet style.

As for what’s next, he’d love to return to his roots and star in a hockey film. “I don’t need a stunt double,” he said. “It’d save them so much money!”

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the podcast topic featuring Dominic Sessa

General Background Questions

Q Who is Dominic Sessa
A Hes an actor who recently played a young version of the famous chef and writer Anthony Bourdain in the film Tony

Q What is the podcast episode about
A Its a conversation where Dominic talks about how he prepared for the role his personal views on creativity and how cooking helped him connect with the character

Q Is this a cooking podcast or an acting podcast
A Its a mix They focus on how acting creativity and cooking all overlap especially in Dominics process for building the character of young Bourdain

Questions About Creativity Cooking

Q How did Dominic use cooking to prepare for the role
A He learned to cook like Bourdainnot just the recipes but the movements the confidence and the attitude in the kitchen He treated cooking as a form of acting

Q What did he learn about creativity from cooking
A He talks about how cooking forces you to be present and make quick decisions He compares it to improv actingyou have to trust your instincts and adapt when something goes wrong

Q Did he actually learn to cook for the film
A Yes He spent time with chefs and practiced knife skills and kitchen routines so he could look like a real line cook not just an actor pretending

Questions About the Film Tony

Q What is the film Tony about
A Its a biopic focusing on Anthony Bourdains early life before he became famousspecifically his time as a young chef in New York City

Q How did Dominic become a young Bourdain
A He studied Bourdains mannerisms speech patterns and that mix of toughness and vulnerability He also immersed himself in kitchen culture to capture the gritty fastpaced energy

Q Was it hard to play a real person like Bourdain
A He said it was challenging because Bourdain was so iconic He had to find the person behind the legend not just imitate his voice or look

Practical Advanced Questions