Between her celebrated performances as the unraveling Nic in The Kids Are Alright, dying legend Gloria Grahame in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, and one-third of the devious Grifters, Annette Bening has created a highly-respected filmography of complex female characters over three decades. But in the political drama The Report, Bening approaches the role of Senator Dianne Feinstein with a deft, quiet performance that feels entirely new. With four previous Oscar nominations, and this year’s Captain Marvel role under her belt, Bening continues to demonstrate an ever-expanding range and an apparently bottomless depth of skill.

Deadline: How did you come aboard The Report?

Annette Bening: Scott Burns, the writer/director, sent it to me and I thought it was very strong. So, I met with him and just signed up. I had a very surface knowledge of what had happened when this report had come out. But...