[Behind the Lens: A Journey Through Iconic Roles and Hollywood Realities]-[Domhnall Gleeson on Harry Potter, Star Wars, About Time and The Paper ｜ For the Record ｜ Esquire]

Esquire · B1 ·

📋 Summary

Navigating the Industry: Reflections on a Career in Hollywood

In this candid reflection on his career, the actor provides an intimate look at the reality of working on some of the world's most famous film franchises, balancing the glamour of the red carpet with the grueling, often humbling, nature of life on set.

The Illusion of Grandeur: Harry Potter and the Red Carpet

One of the most striking revelations in the discussion is the disparity between public perception and the actor's actual experience on massive sets like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As he notes, being "number seven on the call sheet" rather than "number one" meant he was often "a small part" of a "ginormous" production. This reality check was punctuated by a humiliating red carpet experience where, amidst a sea of photographers, no one recognized him—they were only interested in the whereabouts of Emma Watson. He recalls this moment as "devastating," a stark reminder that even in a "big thing," one can feel like a "little thing."

Emotional Demands and Physical Tolls

Reflecting on his work in Black Mirror, the actor highlights the technical and physical challenges of portraying a character based on "social media interactions." The process involved a "spray thing" to create a matte finish for his clone-like role, which resulted in the painful consequence of taking the skin off his eyelids.

Similarly, in About Time, he reflects on the deep emotional weight of the father-son dynamic. Working alongside the "generous" Bill Nighy, the actor found it "very difficult to shake off" the heaviness of the scenes. He admits to finding his own reaction to the work "pathetic," as he spent time crying long after the cameras stopped rolling, illustrating the profound connection he felt to the script’s exploration of mortality and love.

The Craft of the Bully and the "Forevenant"

Discussing his role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actor describes his character as a "bully" who is "sniveling" when around those more powerful than him, but "maniacal" when he holds the upper hand. He views this as a "good description of what people like that can do in the world."

Transitioning to the notoriously difficult shoot of The Revenant—jokingly dubbed the "forevenant" because "it felt like it was never going to end"—he praises Leonardo DiCaprio’s leadership. Despite the "relentlessness of the shoot," he notes that DiCaprio "led from the front" by example, never complaining or demanding special treatment, which made the difficult production "worth it."

Ensemble Dynamics and The Office

Touching on his role in The Office (US) creator Greg Daniels’ show Upload (referred to as The Paper), the actor emphasizes the importance of the "incredible ensemble of actors." He notes that the success of such shows relies on the strength of the group, stating that they are "only as strong as the weakest link." His reverence for the original Office remains high, even leading to a humorous, self-deprecating apology for misremembering a scene involving Michael Scott and Meredith, acknowledging that "the office stans are gonna come for me."

Ultimately, these reflections reveal an actor who remains grounded, appreciative of the "privilege" of his work, and deeply dedicated to the craft, despite the lack of physical souvenirs to take home from his legendary sets.

🎯Key Sentences

This is for the record.

Let me know if this looks cool.

It's all I care about.

Maybe the truth was different, but it was devastating.

I haven't watched this in ages.

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📝Key Phrases

for the record

by far

come frighteningly close to

in ages

shake off

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📖 Transcript

I got to keep nothing from set and I got to keep nothing from the set of Harry Potter.

And that's what happens when you're, like you know, number seven on the call sheet and not number one.