‘Sing Sing’ star Clarence Maclin at the Oscars and If He’s Playing Himself

It’s a Friday afternoon in Middleburg, Virginia. Clarence Maclin has just flown in to take part in a conversation celebrating the following day, when he will receive the Impact Award with his co-star Colman Domingo. Immediately after, he flies to LA to attend the exclusive Academy Museum gala. As someone who grew up on the rough streets of New York City, being in the same room as A-listers like Demi Moore, Kerry Washington, Tyler Perry and Sheryl Lee Ralph (all of whom he took selfies with) can bring some understandable “impostor syndrome”.

Quite an achievement for someone who was incarcerated for 10 years and is now garnering Oscar buzz for his powerful performance in “Sing Sing” — which he also co-wrote.

Maclin’s journey to Hollywood involves transformation, resilience and storytelling. After serving more than a decade in prison, Maclin co-wrote and starred in Greg Kwedar’s powerful “Sing Sing,” a film about the lives of incarcerated men who find redemption through an acting program. With the film garnering Oscar buzz, Maclin’s story has become symbolic of the power of second chances and the impact of art.

On this episode of Black Awards Circuit Podcast, Maclin reflects on the surreal nature of his newfound recognition. “Man, I never, never in a million years imagined that the movie would be received the way it has,” he says. “We all aspired to do something like this when we were in the theater group at Sing Sing, but no one anticipated this.” Listen below!

A self-described “merciful boy” who loved science fiction, comics and Chinese kung fu movies, Maclin had originally found art as an outlet when he was younger. “I started drawing cartoon characters, which became my escape,” he says.

However, it did not last long. When he was 29, Maclin was sentenced to 17 years at Sing Sing Correctional Facility for robbery. During his incarceration, Maclin participated in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program. Through that experience he gained a unique insight into his humanity.

Maclin’s turn in “Sing Sing” is remarkable, especially considering he’s playing a version of himself. Still, he’s at pains to suggest he’s merely “playing himself,” as those on the Internet have speculated when debating whether he’d be the first person nominated to accomplish the feat.

“People saying I played myself is taking away from the training we received,” he explains. “Many good, trustworthy people gave their time and expertise to teach us. Reducing it to just playing myself diminishes their work and sacrifice.”

The program’s impact extends beyond personal growth. Sing Sing’s acting program boasts a recidivism rate of less than 3%, a stark contrast to the national average of over 60%. “We built a network for ourselves,” Maclin notes proudly. “When someone comes home, they are greeted by those who came out before them. That support system makes all the difference.”

For Maclin, language is critical to changing public perception of formerly incarcerated individuals. “The word ‘prisoner’ is derogatory to us. It’s like Pavlov’s dog waiting for the bell to ring. We’re not,” he says. “I’d rather be called a prisoner because it recognizes that I was held back against my will. But everyone’s experience is different. You cannot cover everything in one period.”

“Sing Sing,” acquired by A24 after premiering at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, challenges stereotypes by humanizing those often reduced to their worst acts. “People in prison aren’t just that—they’re people with the ability to change and grow,” says Maclin. “We don’t even watch prison films in prison because they never show us. They glorify violence and corruption, but there are so many men and women who really want to change.”

Working with industry heavyweights like Colman Domingo was a master class for Maclin. “Colman’s commitment blew me away,” he recalls. “We were rehearsing lines over Zoom during the pandemic, and he pulled over on the side of the road just to get the scene right. That kind of dedication had to be matched.”

With “Sing Sing” winning critical acclaim, Maclin sets his sights on diverse roles. “I want to do Shakespeare, westerns, sci-fi – everything,” he says with the most infectious smile. “But more than anything, I want to tell stories that positively affect people, even if I have to play the bad guy.”

Personal search Jeymes Samuel.

As Maclin’s star rises, he remains grounded in his mission to use storytelling as a force for change. The acting program at Sing Sing has reshaped his outlook on life. He performed various plays and reflects on the productions and what they meant to so many, emphasizing the importance of art: “We had to create mechanisms to soften the crash after the plays ended, because it felt like escaping from prison for a few days. These programs weren’t just art—they were survival.”

Also in this episode, producer and Grammy-winning songwriter Pharrell Williams discusses “Piece by Piece,” and the roundtable looks at the choice of Conan O’Brien to host the Oscars.

Hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode features “Awards Circuit” interviews with top film and television talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you download podcasts