This year’s THR Roundtable series has been excellent, bringing us some fascinating conversation involving some of the year’s best cinematographers, writers, and actresses. These events are clearly meant to boost the awards profiles of those who participate, but in staging the events as roundtable discussions, it lets the audience see some candid conversation driven by the participants themselves. Today, THR has unveiled its Actor roundtable, which includes Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Michael Keaton (Birdman), Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher), and Ethan Hawke (Boyhood). I’m especially pleased to see Tatum taking part, as I think his lead turn in Foxcatcher is one of the year’s most impressive and under-discussed performances.

Watch the full 50-minute video after the jump, which touches on film vs. theater, playing real people, research for roles, challenges, and much more.

Via THR.