Mark Rylance won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Steven Spielberg’s 2015 film Bridge of Spies.
Rylance plays Rudolf Abel, a Soviet intelligence officer arrested in the United States during the Cold War. The film follows lawyer James B. Donovan, portrayed by Tom Hanks, as he defends Abel and later helps negotiate a prisoner exchange involving the captured American pilot Francis Gary Powers.
Rylance’s restrained performance earned him the Academy Award at the 88th Academy Awards. He also won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role. The film received six Oscar nominations overall, including Best Picture.
Bridge of Spies was inspired by real events, but several characters and scenes were adjusted for dramatic storytelling. Abel’s quiet reply, “Would it help?”, became one of the character’s signature moments and reflects the film’s emphasis on composure under pressure.