Toni Collette Delivers Blunt Rebuke to Quentin Tarantino Over Paul Dano Criticism
Acclaimed actress Toni Collette has issued a characteristically forthright response to director Quentin Tarantino's recent criticism of her former co-star Paul Dano's acting abilities, bluntly stating 'f**k that guy'.
The 53-year-old performer, who starred alongside the 41-year-old Dano in the beloved 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine, made the remarks during a 20th-anniversary screening of the movie at the Sundance Film Festival. When Dano was asked about Tarantino's comments, Collette interjected before he could respond.
'Are We Really Going There? F**k That Guy!'
'Are we really going there? F**k that guy! He must've been high... it was confusing. Who does that?' Collette declared at the event, according to reports.
Her robust defence comes after Tarantino appeared on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast in December 2025, where he described Dano as a 'flaw' in the 2007 Oscar-winning film There Will Be Blood. The director elaborated, calling the actor 'just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy'.
When podcast host Ellis suggested that Daniel Day-Lewis's legendary performance might have simply overshadowed Dano's work, Tarantino doubled down with a crude comparison.
Industry Figures Rally to Dano's Defence
Collette's outburst is part of a wider wave of support for Dano from across the entertainment industry. The actor himself expressed gratitude for the backing, telling Variety: 'I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn't have to.'
Little Miss Sunshine co-director Jonathan Dayton labelled Tarantino's takedown—which also extended to actors Matthew Lillard and Owen Wilson—an 'embarrassment'. He mused: 'I can only think that his rawness of his performance made Tarantino uncomfortable.'
Co-director Valerie Faris highlighted the immediate and widespread support for Dano, noting: 'You know, what was interesting was the people coming out to defend Paul. There was immediately… he is loved by so many. He is so smart.'
A Celebrated Career Under Scrutiny
Paul Dano has built a formidable reputation in contemporary cinema, with significant roles in major films including:
- The Fabelmans
- The Batman
- Prisoners
- Love & Mercy
His accolades include a BAFTA Best Supporting Actor nomination for There Will Be Blood, a Golden Globe nomination, and two Emmy nominations.
Notably, Daniel Day-Lewis himself came to his co-star's defence. After a fan-run Instagram account posted that 'Paul Dano is one of the best and most talented actors of his generation,' a representative for the retired star confirmed to The Guardian that Day-Lewis 'endorsed the sentiment'.
Directors and Peers Voice Their Support
The chorus of support extended beyond actors to prominent directors. The Batman director Matt Reeves declared on social media in December: 'Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.'
Escape at Dannemora director Ben Stiller added his voice on the same platform, writing: 'idk man i think paul dano is an incredible actor.'
Despite the backlash, Tarantino maintained his position during the podcast, clarifying: 'I'm not saying he's giving a terrible performance. I'm saying he's giving a non-entity [performance]. I don't care for him. I don't care for Owen Wilson, I don't care for Matthew Lillard.'
The public disagreement highlights the subjective nature of artistic critique and the strong bonds formed between collaborators in the film industry, as demonstrated by Toni Collette's unflinching loyalty to her former co-star.
