Unlike writers and directors, actors dont often have the privilege of designing their careers. They take the best roles that come to them, and somewhere along the way, we extrapolate narratives about their cultural significance.

Annette Benings coalesced sometime around American Beauty, when it became clear that she was meant to portray go-getters whose tough facades hide vulnerable interiors. Before that 1999 drama about upper-middle-class suburbia, she was a tenacious ingenue wrapped up with the mob (Bugsy) and a lobbyist dating the worlds most powerful man (The American President); after it, she was a theater star filling the voids of middle age (Being Julia), a lesbian mother whose marriage was threatened by an interloper (The Kids Are All Right) and a late-70s Californian struggling to grasp the changing times (20th Century Women).

Benings new movie, Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool , which opens in limited release this weekend, fits in nicely. She plays Gloria Grahame, the onetime luminary whose desire to keep working clashed with Hollywoods obsessive focus on youthfulness. After years of success, the industry lost interest in Grahame; she spent her waning days sick and struggling to find parts.

Film Stars is based on a 1986 book of the same name, written by Grahames much younger lover, British actor Peter Turner, portrayed in the movie by Jamie Bell.

Bening adopts the wispy elocution of 20th-century actresses taught to speak with a posh affect that sounds almost British. With that accent and corresponding accoutrements, Bening is, once again, a marvel. In her hands, Gloria is both fragile and steely.

Earlier this month, I sat down with Bening in New York, where we discussed her husband Warren Beattys February Oscar flub, the state of Hollywood amid the current sexual misconduct firestorm, and one key similarity between Film Stars and last years 20th Century Women.

My new favorite beat is Annette Bening dancing in movies set in 1979. In 20th Century Women, its The Big Country by Talking Heads. In Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool, its Boogie Oogie Oogie by Taste of Honey.

In 20th Century, it was all about how Dorothea couldnt really get into the groove. But she was trying to figure out, What is the heartbeat and the meaning behind punk? So theres that. And the disco, with Jamie Bell playing Peter, is just about trying to check out this new neighbor, and having a little disco to get the vibe and figure out whats happening between us.

Jamie told me that he actually went online and looked at Saturday Night Fever to see what John Travolta was doing. I, however, lived at that time, so I was like, I remember coming to visit the Odyssey in New York. The Odyssey was one of the great disco clubs. It was a big club with huge risers. Everyone is dancing together, and I remember because I was visiting from California, and I was still like, Wow, New York! there was a guy in there naked. For sure I remember that. Just wildly having a great time, full-on.

Like a go-go dancer? Was he employed by the club?

No, I think he was just a wild man who was very happy to dance and try to rub up against people. What can I tell you?

Weve heard a lot about rubbing up against people lately.

We certainly have. Its the theme.