Robert Downey Jr. Still “Inspires” Iron Man 3 Star 12 Years After MCU Trilogy Finale

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Even twelve years later, working with Robert Downey Jr. – whom one actor calls a “genius” – remains a powerful and inspiring experience, especially for those who appeared with him in Iron Man 3.

I was so excited to hear Stéphanie Szostak talk about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe! She recently told Joe Deckelmeier at ScreenRant what it felt like to be cast in Iron Man 3, the last movie in the original Iron Man series. It clearly meant a lot to her, and it’s awesome to hear her reflect on that experience.

Working on that film was a really special experience, one I’ll always treasure. I got to play the villain, which was exciting, and I even learned how to fight! But the best part was working with Robert Downey Jr. – he continues to inspire me with every project I do. I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of it and to have worked with someone so talented.

In Iron Man 3, Szostak played Ellen Brandt, a former soldier who became a dangerous assassin after undergoing Extremis – a cutting-edge genetic therapy that gives people the ability to heal quickly. This powerful technology unsurprisingly attracted the attention of a villain, who sought to exploit it for their own malicious purposes.

In the film, Brandt is sent by The Mandarin to attack Tony Stark, but Iron Man quickly defeats him. Despite the small size of the role, Szostak’s contribution helped Iron Man 3 become a huge success, earning over $1.21 billion worldwide and receiving a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Twelve years after playing against Tony Stark, actor Szostak is now starring in Soul on Fire, a moving true story. The film follows John O’Leary (played by Joel Courtney), a boy from St. Louis who suffered terrible burns as a child. It shows how he overcame this and went on to become a successful author and motivational speaker.

Szostak portrays John O’Leary’s mother, Susan, with John Corbett playing his father, Denny. William H. Macy, DeVon Franklin, and Masey McLain also star in the film. It was directed by Sean McNamara, who previously directed Soul Surfer, a movie based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who survived a shark attack.

Early reviews for Soul on Fire are positive, giving it an 80% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews. Even more encouraging, audiences love it too, with a 98% approval rating from over 500 viewers who say the movie’s inspiring story of overcoming challenges is really resonating.

Following her memorable role in Iron Man 3, Susan O’Leary actor Szostak appeared in just two movies – R.I.P.D. and Hit By Lightning – before finding consistent work on television as Delilah Dixon in A Million Little Things. Now, after eleven years, she’s returning to the big screen with a role in Soul on Fire.

Besides acting with Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3, Szostak has also appeared in films with several other big stars, including Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Steve Carell (Dinner for Schmucks), and Matt Damon (We Bought a Zoo).

Soul on Fire is now playing in theaters.

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2025-10-21 23:11