Meet Dominic Sessa: South Jersey's Star of Oscar-Nominated Film The Holdovers

Philly's Da'Vine Joy Randolph is receiving acclaim for her performance in "The Holdovers," but there's another local actor in the film.

Dominic Sessa, a South Jersey native who made his big-screen debut in the film 'The Holdovers' alongside Philly's Da'Vine Joy Randolph, has been receiving high praise for his performance. The 21-year-old actor was born and raised in Cherry Hill and grew up in Egg Harbor Township and Ocean City. He landed the role of troubled teen Angus Tully in 'The Holdovers' while he was a senior at a Massachusetts boarding school, where the film was also using as a filming location.

The film, directed by Alexander Payne, is set in an all-boys prep school during the Christmas break in 1970 and follows a group of students and workers who are forced to stay on campus. Sessa plays the role of Tully, a sarcastic student who is stuck on campus with the school's strict instructor and the head cook. Despite being a newcomer to the film industry, Sessa has been praised for his natural acting abilities and has even won a Critics' Choice Award for his role.

Sessa's journey into acting was quite unexpected, as he initially broke his femur in a skateboarding accident while attending Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. This accident led him to take drama classes as an extracurricular activity, which eventually led to his breakout role in 'The Holdovers.' His casting in the film came after the theater director at Deerfield recommended him for auditions, and he was ultimately chosen by the director after a Zoom call with Paul Giamatti and Alexander Payne.

Despite his newfound success in the film industry, Sessa remains humble and focused on his education. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 2022 and is currently studying at Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. He has expressed his desire to continue acting in movies and pursue theater in the future. Sessa credits his experience working with seasoned actors like Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph for giving him the confidence to pursue his acting career, and he looks forward to working with more talented individuals in the future.

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