Toni Collette reacts to Quentin Tarantino's jibes about Paul Dano
Toni Collette has given a blunt response to Quentin Tarantino criticising Paul Dano's acting abilities, saying 'f**k that guy'. The actress, 53, starred alongside Paul, 41, in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine and the pair reunited for a 20th anniversary screening at the Sundance Film Festival. At the screening, Paul was asked about Quentin's comments but Toni beat him to the punch and said: 'Are we really going there? F**k that guy! He must've been high... it was confusing. Who does that?'Several actors spoke out in Paul's defence after Quentin's comments, which he said was 'really nice' He told Variety: 'I was also incredible grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn't have to.' In December 2025, the director appeared on an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and described Paul as a 'flaw' in 2007's Oscar-winning movie There Will Be Blood. Toni Collette (right) has given a blunt response to Quentin Tarantino criticising Paul Dano's (left) acting abilities, saying 'f**k that guy' In December 2025, the director appeared on an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and described Paul as a 'flaw' in 2007's Oscar-winning movie There Will Be BloodHe went on to say that the actor is 'just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.'And when host Ellis reasoned that Daniel Day Lewis' performance may have simply 'overshadowed' Paul's, Quentin doubled down: 'So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG? The limpest dick in the world?'Meanwhile, Jonathan Dayton labeled Tarantino's takedown – which 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.'And Little Miss Sunshine co-director Valerie Faris said, '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.'Paul has earned a spot among the most distinguished stars in entertainment, appearing in The Fabelmans, The Batman, Prisoners, and Love & Mercy among others.His accolades include a BAFTA Best Supporting Actor nod for There Will Be Blood, a Golden Globe nomination and two Emmy nominations.Day-Lewis came to the defense of his There Will Be Blood co-star Dano following Tarantino's criticism. Toni (centre right) starred alongside Paul (centre) in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine and the pair reunited for a 20th anniversary screening at the Sundance Film Festival Paul was asked about Quentin's comments but Toni beat him to the punch and said: 'Are we really going there? F**k that guy!' (L-R Michael Arndt, Paul, Toni, Valerie Faris, Abigail Breslin, Jonathan Dayton and Greg Kinnear) Toni added: 'He must've been high... it was confusing. Who does that?'After a fan-run Daniel Day-Lewis Instagram account posted, 'Paul Dano is one of the best and most talented actors of his generation,' a rep for the retired star told The Guardian he 'endorsed the sentiment.'The Batman director Matt Reeves joined the conversation, declaring on X in December: 'Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.'And Escape at Dannemora director Ben Stiller used the app to add: 'idk man i think paul dano is an incredible actor.'Tarantino added during the controversial podcast appearance: '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.'
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