Guy Pearce is having a moment — not that he ever left. “It feels funny when people kind of go: ‘Wow, so you’re back,’” he tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. “And I’m like ‘Where did I go? I didn’t go anywhere?”
With a career spanning three decades, Pearce has always been a highly respected character actor, equally convincing as the clean-cut, ambitious detective in “L.A. Confidential” (1997) or the amnesiac unraveling his own mystery in “Memento” (2001). Now, he’s drawing attention once again with a complex and haunting performance in Brady Corbet’s period epic, “The Brutalist.”
But for Pearce, success has always hinged on the material. “I always find the best work I do usually comes when the writing’s really good,” Pearce says during our conversation. “You feel inspired, and you just dance on top of what the writer has created. When the script is there, everything else falls into place.” Listen below!
A24’s “The Brutalist” tells the story of an architect (Adrien Brody) navigating trauma, ambition, and relationships in the aftermath of World War II when he immigrates to America from Hungary. Pearce plays his artistic champion, the ultra-rich Harrison Lee Van Buren.
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For Pearce, the role was irresistible. “I read the script and immediately loved it,” he recalls. “It was one of those moments where I thought, ‘If I don’t do this, I’ll regret it.’”
Before “L.A. Confidential” and “Memento,” Pearce honed his craft in Australian theater and television. Growing up in Geelong, a small city in Australia, Pearce’s early exposure to acting came from his mother, who loved taking him to the theater. “I’d watch these actors on stage and think, ‘I want to do that. I want to make people feel the way I’m feeling right now,’” he says.
Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist” (A24)
Pearce is effusive in his praise for Corbet, whose previous films (including “Vox Lux” and “The Childhood of a Leader”) he admired. “Brady has an incredible sense of style and taste. He’s one of those directors who knows exactly what he wants to say, and that clarity is a dream for an actor,” Pearce says. “He looks at characters in their most three-dimensional, psychological versions. That’s what excites me — exploring all the subtleties of human nature.”
The admiration extends to his co-star Brody, whom he credits with carrying the film: “Adrien is such a natural actor,” Pearce says. “He has this calm self-confidence and an ability to deliver performances that feel effortless. Watching him in ‘The Pianist’ again before we started filming reminded me why he won an Oscar. But to see him up close — that was a privilege.”
“The Brutalist” is generating tons of awards buzz, with Pearce’s vicious and commanding presence standing out for his ambiguous and morally fraught journey. One of the film’s later scenes, where the character’s fate is left open to interpretation, has sparked intense discussion. “I love when scripts leave room for the audience’s imagination,” Pearce says. “Does he find redemption, or does he just disappear into the ether? That’s for you to decide.”
Few films have had the cultural and critical impact of Curtis Hanson’s “L.A. Confidential,” the 1997 neo-noir that made Pearce an international name. For Pearce, the experience remains one of his most cherished. “It was my first American film, and what a way to start,” he says. “Curtis created a masterpiece. It’s one of those rare projects where everything just clicks — the writing, the cast, the direction.”
Fans have often wondered about the possibility of a sequel, given that James Ellroy’s source material includes continuations of the story in other novels. Pearce confirms that discussions were held before Hanson’s passing in 2016. “We talked about setting a sequel, [that would take place] in 1963, but Curtis was clear: it had to involve the same team. If it wasn’t done with integrity, it wasn’t worth doing.”
While he’s open to revisiting beloved projects, Pearce approaches sequels with caution. “When you’re dealing with something as lauded as ‘L.A. Confidential,’ you have to ask, ‘Will this live up to the original?’ If it doesn’t, it can tarnish what made the first film special. Sequels are a tricky balance.”
One of Pearce’s most iconic roles came in Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending 2000 thriller, “Memento.” The film, told in reverse chronological order, remains a touchstone in both Pearce’s career and modern cinema. “I remember reading the script and thinking, ‘This is genius.’ Then I watched Chris Nolan’s first film, ‘Following,’ and panicked. I thought, ‘There’s no way I’m getting this part. Someone else will snap it up.’”
Working with Nolan left a lasting impression. “Chris is extraordinary. He has this Kubrick-like precision and a way of making even the most complex ideas accessible. To be on set with him, in that intimate setting, was unforgettable,” Pearce recalls. “It’s incredible to see how far he’s come — winning Oscars, making massive films like ‘Oppenheimer.’ But for me, it’s still that first experience of seeing his genius up close that stands out.”
Pearce’s career has been defined by his ability to adapt, finding richness in roles large and small, and working with an enviable roster of directors. “I’ve been lucky to collaborate with incredible filmmakers — Curtis Hanson, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, and now Brady Corbet,” Pearce says. “For me, it’s about being part of a director’s vision. That’s what excites me most: getting on board with what they’re trying to achieve.”
When asked if there’s a dream role or director he hasn’t tackled yet, Pearce demurs. “I don’t fantasize about specific roles. For me, it’s about the surprise — that moment when a script lands on your desk, and you think, ‘I never imagined playing this character, but now I can’t stop thinking about them.’ That’s the magic of what we do.”
For Guy Pearce, every role is an opportunity to uncover new dimensions of storytelling. “The Brutalist” is yet another stunning example.
Also on this episode, “The Piano Lesson” star Ray Fisher breaks down his role in the latest August Wilson film adaptation. In addition, the Roundtable breaks down this first week of major awards, including the Gothams, New York Film Critics Circle, the Independent Spirit Awards nominations, and a live reaction to the National Board of Review’s 2024 picks.
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode, “Awards Circuit” features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts.