Renowned character actor Steve Buscemi, celebrated for his iconic roles in films like Reservoir Dogs and Fargo, recently opened up about some painful audition mishaps from before he became a household name. His stories serve as a reminder that even Hollywood’s most celebrated stars once faced their own share of rejection.
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Ignoring a Legend: Repeating the Same Performance for a Master Director
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last week, Steve Buscemi confessed that he often struggled to connect with casting directors and filmmakers in his early years.
“It was always hit or miss,” Buscemi stated. “Sometimes I would go in with nothing prepared and it would work, and then I’d try that again and it would spectacularly fail.”
One of his most memorable failures occurred during an audition for the 1987 film Tin Men, helmed by the legendary director Barry Levinson (Rain Man). Buscemi recalled arriving feeling “very prepared.”
“I came in, I did the reading, and he said, ‘That was great, Steve. Really, really good. Okay, let’s do it again. But this time…’ and he gave me this really specific direction,” Buscemi explained.
Despite the clear instructions, Buscemi delivered an identical performance. “I did the exact same reading,” he recounted with a self-deprecating laugh. “There was this awkward silence, and we were just looking at each other. I think I was the one who said, ‘That was the same, wasn’t it?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, it was. But that’s okay.'” Needless to say, he did not get the part.
A Scathing Remark from a Top Casting Director
On another occasion, Buscemi auditioned for EGOT-winner Mike Nichols and the famed casting director Juliet Taylor, despite knowing he was unavailable for the shooting dates.
“My agent at the time was like, ‘Just go! When are you ever going to get a chance to meet these people?’” he said. While the audition went well, the mood shifted when he revealed his scheduling conflict. Taylor stared at him intently and asked bluntly:
“What is wrong with you?”
Overcoming Failure to Become a One-of-a-Kind Actor
Of course, Buscemi’s subsequent career speaks for itself. He has showcased his immense talent in a diverse range of projects, including Fargo, 30 Rock, Reservoir Dogs, and his acclaimed leading role in Boardwalk Empire. His work has earned him eight Emmy Award nominations, with one win. Today, he is so recognizable that he has made cameo appearances as himself alongside legends like Martin Scorsese and Charlize Theron.
Buscemi Isn’t the Only Star with Audition Woes
Buscemi is hardly alone in his history of tough auditions. Hugh Jackman, now globally famous as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise and as a musical theater star, described his audition for Miss Congeniality as “humiliating.” He was reading for the role eventually played by Benjamin Bratt, opposite Sandra Bullock herself.
“Nobody knew X-Men yet,” Jackman recalled. “I was a nobody.” He continued, “She was amazing and quick and witty. I was not at that level. I was not on my game, and I hadn’t prepared enough to be able to just go with it.”
“It’s Called Acting, Honey”
Lena Dunham, who shot to fame with her series Girls, had an unforgettable audition experience at age 12 for Penny Marshall’s 2001 film Riding in Cars with Boys.
Marshall would ask the young actors their name and where they were from, followed by the simple direction: “Now, smile.” Dunham’s response was, “I’m Lena, I’m from New York, and I don’t smile on command.” Marshall’s retort was swift and instructive: “It’s called acting, honey.”
Reflecting on the moment, Dunham, now a successful director herself, admitted, “She was right. Who’s going to hire an actor who’s like, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t smile on command’?… I feel like Penny was right in that one.”
These anecdotes from Hollywood’s elite are a powerful testament to the fact that behind every great success story lies a history of countless failures and valuable lessons learned.