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Kevin Spacey: Power, Controversy, Betrayal, Truth & Love in Film and Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #432

Lex Fridman・95 minutes read

Kevin Spacey reflects on his career and personal life, discussing his approach to acting, working with mentors like Jack Lemmon, and the challenges he has faced. He also addresses past allegations, expresses remorse for mistakes, and reflects on the impact of his father's transformation into a white supremacist on his childhood.

Insights

Kevin Spacey faced allegations of sexual abuse but was acquitted in all trials, highlighting the challenges of balancing personal actions with professional achievements.
Spacey's approach to acting involves deeply understanding and embodying characters, aiming to bring them to life authentically, emphasizing the importance of serving the writing.
Directors like David Fincher and Sam Mendes focus on stripping away unnecessary elements in acting to enhance performances, emphasizing pace, timing, movement, and clarity.
Spacey reflects on his childhood experiences, including his father's transformation into a white supremacist, highlighting the impact of family dynamics on personal growth and career development.

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Recent questions

What are Kevin Spacey's notable roles?
"Se7en," "The Usual Suspects," "American Beauty," and "House of Cards."
What controversy surrounds Kevin Spacey?
Sexual abuse allegations and legal battles.
How does Kevin Spacey approach acting?
By deeply understanding and embodying characters.
What is David Fincher's directing style?
Stripping away unnecessary acting elements for authenticity.
How does Kevin Spacey reflect on his career?
By acknowledging mistakes, striving for improvement.

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Summary

00:00

Kevin Spacey: Dark Roles, Controversy, and Redemption

Kevin Spacey, a two-time Oscar-winning actor, starred in "Se7en," "The Usual Suspects," "American Beauty," and "House of Cards," known for portraying characters embodying the dark side of human nature.
Spacey was cut from "House of Cards" and faced allegations of sexual abuse by Anthony Rapp in 1986, leading to a $40 million lawsuit, but he was acquitted in all trials.
The conversation with Spacey aims to clarify his actions and includes references to additional interviews by Dan Wootton and Alison Pearson.
The podcast's principle is to engage with guests honestly, exploring their life's work, stories, thoughts, and actions, without whitewashing or demonizing them.
The goal is to understand individuals at their best and worst, fostering compassion and wisdom, while acknowledging mistakes and striving for improvement.
Spacey initially didn't get the part in "Se7en" but was called last minute to replace another actor, choosing not to have billing to maintain the film's suspense.
Director David Fincher encouraged Spacey to shave his head for the role, emphasizing control and confidence in portraying the terrifying character of John Doe.
The ending scene in "Se7en," where Spacey's character reveals the last two deadly sins, showcases the subtlety and control in his performance, contrasting with Brad Pitt's emotional turmoil.
Fincher's directing style focused on stripping away unnecessary acting elements, pushing actors to deliver lines with authenticity and meaning, as seen in Jack Lemmon's anecdote.
Spacey reflects on the complexity of tragedy in the film, where characters operate without complete information, leading to ambiguous and unresolved outcomes, highlighting the challenges of portraying subtlety and control in acting.

16:14

"Fincher's Focus: Pace, Timing, Realism, Engagement"

David Fincher is known for doing numerous takes, averaging 25 to 65, compared to most directors who do less than 10.
Fincher's focus on timing and pace in scenes, often using a stopwatch to ensure scenes move quickly and naturally.
Fincher dislikes dramatic pauses and indulgence in acting, preferring realistic, fast-paced dialogue.
The goal in Fincher's work is to keep the audience engaged through pace, timing, movement, and clarity.
Directors like Fincher and Sam Mendes aim to strip away unnecessary elements in acting to enhance the performance.
Kevin Spacey believes in serving the writing as an actor, aiming to bring characters to life authentically.
Spacey finds the highest compliment as an actor when audiences refer to his characters as if they were real people.
Spacey's approach to acting involves deeply understanding and embodying the characters he portrays.
Improvisation in acting can be valuable during rehearsals to explore different choices and boundaries.
In theater, the live and evolving nature allows for constant growth and improvement in performances, unlike film.

33:02

Theater's Family Bond: Jack Lemmon's Influence

Theater encourages risk-taking and a sense of family among actors, unlike the more disjointed nature of movie filming.
Observing and learning from experienced actors like Jack Lemmon is valuable in theater.
The emotional bond formed in theater productions leads to a bittersweet goodbye at the end of a show.
Improvisation can help actors understand their characters better, but the focus should still be on serving the written script.
Theater acting demands a different kind of energy and vocal stamina compared to film acting.
In theater, actors must fully embody their characters without breaks, even when fellow actors try to make them laugh on stage.
Jack Lemmon played a significant role in Kevin Spacey's career, influencing his path to major film roles.
Working with a mentor like Jack Lemmon in intense scenes can elevate performances to exceptional levels.
Kevin Spacey's persistence and unconventional methods led to him securing a role in a significant theater production.
Jonathan Miller's direct involvement in casting decisions helped Kevin Spacey secure a pivotal role in a play he had long prepared for.

47:27

"Evolution of Acting: Jack Lemmon's Influence"

In August 1985, the speaker found himself rehearsing with Jack Lemmon at 890 Broadway, working on four scenes together.
Jack Lemmon praised the speaker's performance, calling it "a touch of terrific" and expressing surprise at the speaker's talent.
The speaker spent a year working closely with Jack Lemmon, who inspired and encouraged him significantly.
Sam Mendes, the director of "American Beauty," incorporated theatrical techniques into the film's production, including using elements of theater in the filming process.
To maintain Lester's character evolution in "American Beauty," the speaker utilized different hairpieces, costumes, and makeup to show a gradual shift in appearance.
The speaker's physical transformation in "American Beauty" was crucial to portraying Lester's evolution, aided by a trainer named Mike Tosher.
Jack Lemmon's influence on the speaker's acting was evident in the film, with Sam Mendes referencing Lemmon's performance in "The Apartment" to guide the speaker's portrayal of Lester.
The speaker's portrayal of Lester in "American Beauty" aimed to show evolution rather than sudden change, reflecting Lemmon's approach in "The Apartment."
The speaker emphasized the importance of humor in dramatic roles, citing examples of dark humor in challenging situations.
Working with Annette Bening in "American Beauty," the speaker highlighted the importance of the dynamic between actors in creating powerful scenes, praising Bening's performance and their on-screen relationship.

01:04:20

"Sam's Drive-Through Reshoot Boosts Confidence"

Sam decided to change the setting to a drive-through, leading to reshooting the first two days.
This decision boosted Sam's confidence, as he faced the worst scenario early on.
The original script included a trial opening and closing the movie, which was later removed.
Flying sequences and the trial were eliminated from the film, altering its direction.
Sam recorded the entire narration in a hallway using a cassette tape recorder, opting for a natural delivery.
The movie's theme revolves around finding beauty in simple, overlooked things.
A bulletin board message saying "Look closer" inspired the movie's poster, emphasizing attention to detail.
The film explores mortality, with the protagonist embracing life's beauty despite facing death.
Kevin Spacey addresses past allegations, clarifying that he never engaged in sexual misconduct with minors or exchanged favors for career advancement.
Spacey acknowledges past mistakes, expressing remorse and commitment to never repeating such behavior.

01:21:40

Kevin Spacey: Fame, Betrayal, and Redemption

Kevin Spacey discusses the challenge of determining if people like him for himself or for his fame.
Spacey reflects on trusting his instincts regarding people's intentions and acknowledges instances of betrayal in his industry.
Despite facing accusations and challenges, Spacey highlights the support and kindness he has received from the majority of people.
Spacey takes responsibility for his past actions, expresses remorse, and has privately made amends with those he has hurt.
Spacey regrets not being open about his sexuality earlier in his life and the impact it had on him.
Spacey addresses the controversy surrounding his social media post in response to accusations, clarifying his intentions.
Spacey discusses the lack of public support from individuals who privately show support due to fear of backlash in the current climate.
Spacey shares insights into his approach to portraying Frank Underwood, drawing inspiration from his experience in theater.
Spacey explains the technique of direct address he used in portraying Frank Underwood to create intimacy with the audience.
Spacey reflects on the complexity of his characters, including the comedic aspects that add depth to their darkness.

01:38:08

Actors adapt tones, accents; directors guide style.

Directors often suggest actors deliver lines with specific tones, like irony or humor, to enhance a character's portrayal.
An actor may need to adjust dialogue to fit a character's accent or speech rhythm for better delivery.
Bill Clinton's speaking style differs from Frank Underwood's, with the latter being more direct and less poetic.
Kevin Spacey shares a story of Bill Clinton attending a play he was in, where the content made the audience uncomfortable.
Working with director David Fincher on "House of Cards" maintained a consistent style throughout the series.
Creative control over the show shifted as Netflix became more involved, leading to conflicts over casting and writing decisions.
Disagreements with executives over creative choices, like adding music to a scene, can arise during production.
Al Pacino's role in "The Godfather" was initially questioned until a pivotal scene proved his talent.
Jack Nicholson's bold acting style and willingness to portray flawed characters set him apart as an actor.
Kevin Spacey shares a humorous anecdote about Jack Nicholson involving a wardrobe mishap on set.

01:53:11

Kevin Spacey's Rise from Regional Theater

Kevin Spacey shares his experience of meeting Mike Nichols after years of regional theater work in New York.
Nichols invites Spacey to audition for a play called "Hurlyburly" after watching him perform.
Spacey auditions and is asked to understudy Harvey Keitel's role in the play.
Despite being young, Spacey learns the role of Phil and sneaks onto the stage to rehearse.
Spacey is asked to learn multiple roles in the play and becomes a versatile understudy.
Nichols later offers Spacey a role in a film alongside Mandy Patinkin and Meryl Streep.
Due to changes in the film's cast, Spacey ends up acting with Jack Nicholson instead.
Spacey reflects on his interactions with Christopher Walken and their shared experiences.
Spacey discusses his approach to playing complex characters without judgment.
Spacey delves into his father's transformation into a white supremacist and its impact on him growing up.

02:10:28

Childhood trauma and political reflections discussed

The speaker recounts their childhood experiences, including finding solace in extracurricular activities to avoid returning home due to their father's troubling behavior and their mother's enabling attitude.
They reflect on the lack of love and protection from their parents, particularly noting the absence of their father expressing love towards them.
The speaker recalls a psychological experiment involving infants seeking attention from their parents, drawing parallels to their own childhood yearning for parental affection.
The conversation shifts to the portrayal of politics in "House of Cards," with the speaker sharing opinions on its accuracy and discussing techniques to elicit honesty from politicians, drawing comparisons to the character Frank Underwood.

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