Rosalind Eleazar left Toronto last week with the TIFF Tribute Performer Award for her lead role in Misty Green, Chris Rock's comedy-drama arriving at A24 on October 9. The film had its world premiere at the festival on September 12. Variety has since named Eleazar one of its 10 Actors to Watch for 2026.
Misty Green follows a fading actress navigating industry fatigue while attempting a comeback with her former talent agent. Rock wrote and directed. The cast includes Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, and Topher Grace.
The role marks Eleazar's first film lead, following years of work in the Apple TV+ spy thriller Slow Horses, which earned nine Emmy nominations for its sixth season. Critics at TIFF called the performance "one of the best performances of the year" and "a scintillatingly complex portrait of Hollywood struggle." She has entered the early Best Actress conversation.
On the character: "What drew me to her is that I find people who are seemingly unlovable fascinating," Eleazar told press at TIFF. "I do empathize with how so many things are out of our control as an actor."
Misty Green is in the main slate of the 64th New York Film Festival, which opens September 25. Theatrical release begins October 9.
