Restless: Being Paul Newman

Paul Newman was a multi-talented figure and one of the most prominent American actors of his time. Known for his striking physical presence and distinctive blue eyes, he became a quintessential Hollywood star. Born to a Jewish father who owned a sporting goods store and a Catholic mother who loved him, Newman grew up with a sense of self-doubt and a need for approval. Over the course of his fifty-year career, he sought to move beyond the image of the pretty boy. He began his training at the famous Actors Studio, and his breakthrough as a leading man came in 1958 with *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*. From that point, he often portrayed characters on the fringes of the American dream. Through archive footage and film excerpts, the documentary highlights Newman's socio-political engagement and explores the many dimensions of his life, including the significant role played by his wife, Joanne Woodward.