HBO’s dark and increasingly traumatic comedy series Barry is beginning to near the end of its run, with its final few episodes fast approaching. Over the course of the series, fans of the show have been treated to a number of fun cameos from prolific actors and directors from all over Hollywood, which makes perfect sense considering its setting and cast of characters being budding actors and stars.
Such cameos appear to have been more frequent in Barry’s fourth and final season, with none other than Pacific Rim director Guillermo del Toro popping up seemingly out of the blue for a quick scene with Hank and Cristobal in episode three. The fan-favorite Hollywood personality and recent Oscar laureate played the role of Toro, a crime boss who had some dealings with the aforementioned pair.
The following week, we’ve gotten yet another cameo from a highly-regarded director, only this time they play an exaggerated version of themselves. This, of course, was none other than Sian Heder, who was sitting in the director’s chair of a cash-grabby superhero movie that Sally was involved in the production of. However, you may be wondering who Sian Heder is exactly, and why her appearance on Barry was warranted. Let us explain.
Who is Sian Heder in Barry?
Sian Heder, much like the aforementioned del Toro, is a widely celebrated director in the film industry. She is best known for writing and directing 2021’s CODA, which took home the 2022 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Heder is also known for the TV series Little America.
With Barry being as tongue-in-cheek as it is, Heder’s appearance is something of a jab at the machinations of Hollywood, in which acclaimed and thought-provoking directors and writers who break through the noise can often find themselves moving on to ‘trashier’ projects like B-grade superhero films.