Sebastian Stan Reveals Why Playing Donald Trump In 'The Apprentice' Was Hardest Thing He's Ever Done
Sebastian Stan is opening up about his movie The Apprentice.
The 42-year-old actor plays a younger Donald Trump in the 1970s and the movie has had people divided, even including the President-elect himself.
In a new interview, Sebastian dished on why playing the controversial figure has been the hardest thing he’s ever done, and it wasn’t just about getting into character.
Keep reading to find out more…
“Not just because of the complexities of playing Trump, but because of the reaction it provokes,” Sebastian said on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast.
“I had people telling me not to do it,” he recalled. “They said it might alienate people, that I didn’t look like him, that it was too dangerous. But for me, acting is about going toward the uncomfortable… about trying to understand humanity, even in the darkest places.”
“I think people interpret understanding as an attempt to sympathize, and that’s not the goal here,” he adds, noting the film isn’t about sympathizing with Trump, but understanding him. “The film asks: would you trust this man? Would you put your life in his hands?”
On the other hand, Sebastian has found the backlash and reaction to the movie, both in and out of Hollywood, disappointing.
“It’s been revealing to see how hesitant people are,” he said. “I’ve had people come up to me at parties, saying it’s their favorite film of the year, but when it comes to supporting it publicly, there’s silence. That part of it has been tough.”
Back in November, Sebastian revealed he was invited to take part in Variety’s Actors on Actors series, but he had to cancel as no one wanted to do it with him.
However, after revealing this, his I, Tonya co-star and friend Paul Walter Hauser has publicly stated that he would be down to the interview with Sebastian!
Last week, Sebastian won a Golden Globe for his role in his other movie, A Different Man. He even made his red carpet debut with girlfriend Annabelle Wallis at the event.