Rosalind Eleazar lands Chris Rock’s lead, proving her long‑shot dream

**Rosalind Eleazar Lands Lead Role as Misty Green in Chris Rock’s New Film**

Rosalind Eleazar has secured the title role in Chris Rock’s upcoming film *Misty Green*, which will open at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12.

The story follows a former Hollywood star whose substance‑abuse lifestyle has dragged her from acclaim to obscurity, and Eleazar’s performance is already being hailed as a career‑shaping moment.

The movie, written, directed and co‑starring Rock, will later appear at the BFI London Film Festival and receive a limited release from A 24 on October 9.

Eleazar admitted that the audition process was “a long shot,” but she connected with the character the moment she read Rock’s script.

She recalls, “If someone was to give you a breakdown of Misty Green I wonder if they would immediately go, ‘Rosalind Eleazar for that part?’” The actress said, “It’s a dream role,” and added that tears followed her first rejection before she finally received the call confirming her cast.

## Background & Context

Eleazar’s career began on stage, where she appeared alongside Matthew Broderick and Ralph Fiennes, and later earned recognition in London’s West End. She played Yelena opposite Toby Jones in *Uncle Vanya* at the Harold Pinter Theatre and joined Harriet Walter in *The House of Bernarda Alba* at the National Theatre.

Her screen credits include a range of television films and series, setting the stage for a dramatic turn toward a Hollywood lead.

The character of Misty Green is described as “a jaguar” – swift, swaggering, and wrapped in a “penurious circumstances” that belie her former glitz. In the film’s narrative, Rock’s director‑writer character probes racism and sexism in Hollywood, yet the story centers on Misty’s personal journey rather than those themes.

Eleazar highlighted that “Misty Green isn’t about race,” noting the universality of the character irrespective of skin color.

The audition journey involved two Zoom sessions in London followed by a chemistry test in Los Angeles with Rock. During rehearsals, Eleazar undertook singing lessons to deliver “One Night Only” from *Dreamgirls*, a highlight of the script’s musical moments.

She also studied films such as *Klute* with Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland to capture Misty’s nuanced demeanor.

## What People Are Saying

Eleazar reflected on the emotional roller‑coaster that accompanies an actor’s search for work: “There were tears. I was crying when I thought I didn’t get it…

As an actor, one thing I do share with Misty is that you go on this roller‑coaster of emotions after you’ve auditioned and it’s out of your hands now, and the next day, you’re like, Oh, I think today I might get a call, and you just live in this endless hope.”

She described her preparation: “I was in my London apartment ‘meditating, and I was trying to connect and talk to Chris in my mind,’ she reflects with a rueful grimace then a smile.” “Do you remember?

Did you ever at one point feel me talking to you?” he responded, “No,” Eleazar said, showing the intimate yet professional rapport that developed on set.

The actress also spoke of her commitment to the role: “You’re lucky if roles like Misty Green come once in a lifetime,” and added, “I’m so happy that that somehow has worked out for me.” Her husband, producer‑actor Gabriel Lo Giudice, joined her on a hiking holiday in the Dolomites, underscoring the personal support behind the project.

Eleazar’s background in psychology, Spanish and Mandarin from Nottingham University informs her approach to complex characters. She remarked, “I have a lot of compassion generally for people that come out into the world punching and surviving… it takes time to love Misty. She’s not someone that you necessarily easily warm to.”

## What Happens Next

The film will premiere at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto on September 12 at 9:30 pm, followed by gala events during the BFI London Film Festival next month. A24 has scheduled a limited U.S. release for October 9, featuring co‑stars Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver and Anna Kendrick alongside Eleazar.

The cast, drawn largely from theatre backgrounds, includes Gary Oldman, Saskia Reeves, Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Eleazar plans to attend the festival in Toronto and will soon travel back to London for her commitments on Apple TV’s *Slow Horses*, where she works with actors such as Oldman and Anna Kendrick.

She said she is “excited by it, and I’m feeling grateful,” acknowledging that “when part of your dream is starting to become true, it’s actually also quite frightening.”

Her American passport affords her the flexibility to pursue Hollywood projects if they align with her interests, though she remains rooted in London. “I love living in London… still loads of shows are made out of the U.K. and in Europe,” she noted.

The film’s release schedule places *Misty Green* at the heart of this fall’s cinematic conversation, offering Eleazar a platform that may broaden her career horizons while bringing a complex, under‑recognized Hollywood story to a global audience.