Dave Davies

This is Fresh Air.

I'm Dave Davies.

Our guest today, actor Michael Shannon, has appeared in nearly a hundred movies and television productions, perhaps best known for playing brooding, villainous or unhinged characters like Agent Nelson Van Alden in HBO's Boardwalk Empire.

But Shannon's range is far broader, and his two latest projects find him playing real-life historical characters engaged in noble pursuits.

In the film Nuremberg, he plays the U.S.

Supreme Court justice who organized the International Tribunal to try Nazi leaders for war crimes after the Second World War, serving as lead prosecutor in the ensuing trial.

And in the new Netflix series, Death by Lightning, he's President James Garfield, who fought against corrupt Washington politicians for civil service reform before being assassinated only four months into office.

Michael Shannon earned Oscar nominations for his performances in the films Revolutionary Road and Nocturnal Animals.

He's also appeared in the films Take Shelter, Knives Out, The Shape of Water, and Man of Steel, among many others, and in the Showtime series George and Tammy.

He also formed an indie rock band and has collaborated with musician Jason Narducci in performing songs from several albums of the group R.E.M.

We'll talk about that.

I spoke to Michael Shannon last Thursday.

Well, Michael Shannon, welcome back to Fresh Air.

It's been a while.

You know, you've had a lot of roles.

And as I said, in many of the better known ones, your characters are unhinged or villainous.

In these films, you play not just good guys, but, you know, real historical characters fighting battles to right wrongs, strengthen democracy.

Do you think this was intentional to cast you in these roles?

All right.

Well, you know, you play President James Garfield, as we mentioned, in Death by Lightning.