For Rosslyn Luke, sharing the screen with Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller in James Gray’s Paper Tiger could have easily been an intimidating experience. Instead, it became a reminder that success in Hollywood isn’t just measured by talent or accolades. It’s also about how you treat the people around you.
I recently caught up with the queer actress ahead of the release of Paper Tiger, which premiered in competition for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival before being acquired by NEON for U.S. distribution. Alongside discussing the crime drama, Luke reflected on authentic LGBTQ+ representation, the kinds of characters she still hopes to play and the moments that made her realize she’s finally living the career she dreamed about.
The Biggest Surprise on the Paper Tiger Set
Stepping onto a film led by acclaimed director James Gray and featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest names naturally came with pressure.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking, and an eye-opener, and something you dream about,” Luke told me.
But after spending time on set, it wasn’t the prestige that stayed with her.
“My major takeaway was that no matter how accomplished and famous you are, what people remember is how welcoming and kind you are. And they each were just that in their own way.”
That impression carried across the production, which follows two brothers, played by Driver and Teller, whose pursuit of an easy fortune pulls them into the orbit of the Russian mafia. Luke portrays Anita, the girlfriend of Driver’s character, Gary Pearl.
Finding the Humanity in Anita
Although Anita becomes part of a story fueled by betrayal and shifting loyalties, Luke never viewed her as simply another femme fatale.
“My character, Anita, is the girlfriend of a recently divorced man, Gary Pearl,” she said. “She’s newly in love and definitely smitten by this magnetic, larger-than-life person. It’s a fun headspace to dive into.”
Luke explained that every role begins with the same goal.
“When I take on any character, I want to bring depth and authenticity to them, and Anita was no different.”
That approach reflects the type of work she continues to pursue, focusing less on labels and more on understanding each person’s emotional truth.
Why Queer Stories Still Need to Evolve
As an openly queer actress, Luke said her identity influences the way she connects with every role, whether or not the script explicitly centers LGBTQ+ characters.
“For me, being queer is about living as honestly as possible,” she said. “I try to think about what living honestly would be like for any character I play, regardless of their sexuality.”
She also hopes Hollywood continues expanding what queer stories look like.
“I am grateful for all LGBTQ+ representation that exists,” she said, “but an area I feel we are really lacking in still is femme-femme relationship representation that is not sexually exploitative.”
Luke wants audiences to see lesbian relationships that aren’t filtered through a heterosexual perspective.
“This is what all my serious queer relationships have looked like, and so I would like the world to see that version of lesbian love in a less heterocentric way.”
She also hopes casting moves beyond assumptions about what queer people are supposed to look like.
“I would love Hollywood to wrap its head around the idea that queer people don’t look any one certain way, that we come in a variety of expressions, and that audiences are ready for that.”
From Fictional Crime to a Story Inspired by Real Life
Luke recently wrapped production on Hal, a biographical drama inspired by humanitarian Hal Donaldson and his work founding Convoy of Hope.
Moving from the morally complicated world of Paper Tiger into a story rooted in real events required a different mindset.
“Given that Hal is based on real events, I definitely felt a responsibility to do as much research and bring as much authenticity to my character, Tracy, as I could,” she said.
Although Tracy isn’t based on one specific person, Luke explained she represents many of the people Donaldson encountered throughout his work.
“She is a mother fighting to break a cycle of addiction to bring her daughter out of the poverty she grew up in herself. It was an honor to play such a strong and critical role in this project.”
The Moment It Finally Felt Real
Every actor has a milestone that makes years of auditions and uncertainty suddenly feel worthwhile.
For Luke, there were several.
“Sitting down in the makeup chair next to Scarlett Johansson was a definite ‘pinch me’ moment,” she said with a laugh. “I had the chance to improvise with Adam Driver.”
Still, another memory stands above the celebrity encounters.
“I think the real ‘I’m doing it’ moment was probably simply being acknowledged for my work by James Gray, a director whose work I admire so much.”
Dream Roles and Queer Action Movies
Despite appearing in dramas, network television and comedies throughout her career, Luke isn’t finished exploring new genres.
“I’d love to flex my action background,” she told me. “I have so much fun any time a role involves real physical action.”
She also hopes more LGBTQ+ characters come her way.
“I haven’t had as many opportunities to play lesbians or bi characters as I would like, so I guess hit your girl up if you’ve got the next great gay action flick.”
When I asked which queer icon she’d most like to work alongside, narrowing the list proved nearly impossible.
“I would be absolutely gagged to work on a project with Kristen Stewart or Aubrey Plaza.”
Building the Future She Wants to See
Looking ahead, Luke isn’t waiting for opportunities to arrive.
Beyond Paper Tiger and Hal, she’s producing queer-focused short films with collaborators she believes in.
“I’m producing a couple of queer-centric shorts with some amazing collaborators,” she said. “I look forward to creating and being a part of more projects that speak to that authentic me.”
It’s a fitting next chapter for an actress who isn’t just chasing bigger productions. She’s focused on building stories that reflect the world she wants audiences to see.
If Paper Tiger marks a breakout moment for Rosslyn Luke, she’s making it clear it’s only the beginning.
