Jack Nicholson on the “terrible thing” about being an American actor
There isn’t a definitive answer when deciding who the greatest and most famous actor of all time is; however, it’s unlikely that people will have that conversation without bringing up Jack Nicholson. Through classics such as The Shining, A Few Good Men and Chinatown, he has cemented himself as one of the very best to take to the silver screen.
Nicholson experienced the highs of Hollywood, wracking up awards from every corner of the movie industry and being heralded as one of the greats by all his peers. Of course, what Hollywood gives, it also takes away, and no one understands the harsh reality of being a famous actor more than Nicholson. As someone who has made himself known by appearing in movies that land and others that don’t, Nicholson is well aware of how cutthroat the industry can be.
It’s not unusual for an actor to take to the screen, dominate it and then disappear. This isn’t often the actor’s fault; instead, it reflects the industry and the public’s perception towards it. Actors enjoy exploring range, and when they become known for something specific, casual viewers are hesitant to watch anything that might portray them in a different light.
Jack Nicholson spoke about this, saying that the repetition that comes with success is one of the worst parts of being an American actor. “The terrible thing for American actors is, if they have a success, everyone that they collaborate with wants them to repeat that success,” he said, “And then maybe they’re successful again and they repeat it again.”
Of course, while success is nice, actors are keen to work with various people and embrace multiple acting styles. Subsequently, this repetition becomes a blessing in disguise, as while they might have security in what can be an insecure industry, they also don’t find as much satisfaction in their work.
“By the third or fourth time, it begins to wear thin,” said Nicholson, “So now they try a departure from the formula, and if it doesn’t work, they’re dead. They have to go back to repeating what they did that once worked. Years go by. They may never get free again.”
You see it a lot: famous actors taking on another role in a movie completely separate from their previous one but where they play an almost identical character. It’s comforting for some audiences, as they feel like they have a pre-established connection with a character before a film has even started, but actors end up trapped in the confines of this persona, pressed down so hard that their performance becomes entirely one-dimensional.
It’s a difficult decision that many actors have to face. Not all will be as successful as Nicholson, so choosing roles specifically depending on what work you want to be involved in could see some budding hopefuls miss out on essential paydays and pivotal performances.
