Newcomer Dominic Sessa Talks His Role in Alexander Paynes’ ‘The Holdovers’

Director Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” is a holiday film that will hit home for anyone who has ever been displaced during the holidays.

The film takes place in the 70s at a boarding school in New England. As the holidays approach and all of the students prepare to go home, there are a few students who need to stay back because they can’t go home for the Christmas break. One of those students is Angus Tully, played by Dominic Sessa. Angus is somewhat of a loaner and troubled kid having a hard time trying to navigate his complicated home life. He and the other students are left in the care of their teacher Paul Hunham, played by Paul Giamatti. It’s bad enough to be left behind during the holidays and even worse to be left who a teacher who has a reputation as the least-liked teacher.   

Angus soon finds himself alone at the school as the other students end up with the opportunity to go home. Now it is just Angus and Mr. Hunham, along with the school’s head cook Mary Lamb, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. These three unlikely pairings must get along to get through the holidays.  

We spoke with Sessa about his role and what his experience was as a new actor.

“He’s kind of just this loan wolf in a sense. Just doesn’t really have a sense of where he fits in his school,” said Sessa. “Luckily I was really able to find myself comfortable in that world because I have experience being at a boarding school.” He was able to find something in common with Angus to tap into the character but Sessa mentioned facing the challenge of also making the character likable.  

“The Holdovers” is in theaters now!

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