In the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave, Paul Dano played John Tibeats, a vicious slave owner who brutally beats and tortures Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Dano's performance was praised by critics, who noted his ability to convey Tibeats's cruelty and sadism without ever becoming cartoonish or over-the-top.
Discovering Paul Dano: A Captivating Journey through the Life and Films of an Extraordinary American Actor