The one actor who overawed William H Macy: “I felt so cool”
It’s easy to assume that those in the film industry would be impervious to the allure of fellow actors and directors in Hollywood. Yet, starstruck moments and stunned reactions remain common on the red carpet, whether it’s celebrities encountering each other for the first time or a young actor meeting their idol.
It might seem unlikely that someone could leave a lasting impression on an actor like William H Macy. While not a household name, his recognisable smile and kind eyes are familiar to many. Known for sharing the screen with industry heavyweights, Macy’s breakthrough role in the Coen brothers’ Fargo saw him act alongside Frances McDormand and Steve Buscemi. His collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson further cemented his status, pairing him with stars like Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, and Tom Cruise.
This isn’t even to mention his Academy Award nominations, which would have put him in the same room as the biggest names in Hollywood, or that he’s married to Felicity Huffman. All in all, it’s safe to say that the actor has had quite a baptism into Hollywood. And therefore, you’d expect him to be assured of his own stardom. However, surely, no one is immune to the charms of Sylvester Stallone.
When asked by HeyUGuys if he still gets that feeling of awe when he meets someone he admires, it was a definitive yes. Why? He had one man to point to. “I went to dinner last night, and Sly Stallone was sitting at the table, and we nodded at each other, and I felt so cool [laughs]. That’s Sly Stallone, just nodding at me. So yes, I haven’t lost my sense of awe when I see these magnificent, iconic movie stars.”
I mean, wouldn’t you feel cool if not only you could call Sylvester Stallone ‘Sly Stallone’ without feeling embarrassed, but the man himself nods at you casually across a restaurant? For an actor like Macy, who became known for his earnest and awkward portrayal of Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo, it must feel especially cool, knowing you haven’t been boxed in by that nice guy demeanour.
And while Stallone might not exactly be known as a master of his craft, he’s one of the most iconic action stars of his, or any, generation. No matter how big of a star you are in your own right, you’d probably feel cool if Rocky nodded your way.
This was off the back of Macy working with another massive – yet controversial – star, Mel Gibson. Starring as the AA sponsor of Gibson’s character in the action film Blood Father, Macy told the blog that a chance to star alongside Gibson was his main motivation for taking the role, despite his distaste for violent films. So while you or I might feel super cool if William H Macy nodded to us across a restaurant, the actor himself is still not over the awe of starring with and being recognised by other huge stars.
