Sebastian Stan names his favourite actor of all time: “He’s so great in everything”
Sebastian Stan could have easily rested on his laurels following his casting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He joined the franchise during its first phase, playing Steve Rogers’ best friend, Bucky Barnes, in Captain America: The First Avenger, growing into ‘The Winter Soldier’, a super-powered killing machine who played an increasingly integral role in the saga as it progressed towards its grand finale. Stan was a made man, but that wasn’t enough.
The Romanian-born star began expanding his repertoire in the mid-2010s. He took on roles in films like Logan Lucky and I, Tonya, before doubling down on his prestige credits in 2024. He starred in two critically-acclaimed movies that year: A Different Man, in which he played a man who struggles to adapt after being cured of a facial disfigurement, and The Apprentice, which saw him take on the role of Donald Trump. That second role landed him an Oscar nomination, and both gigs reminded everyone just how good he was outside of a superhero setting.
Stan has come a long way since his pre-Marvel days, which he admits were “a struggle”. It’s clear that he has aspirations to be one of the greats, taking his cues from those icons that came before him. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, he revealed that one screen legend in particular was a major source of inspiration. When asked about his five favourite films, he chose Five Easy Pieces and had some strong words of praise for its star.
“I mean anything with Jack Nicholson kind of got me from the get-go,” he said, adding, “He’s so great in everything. I’ve always related with the anti-heroes in a way, with those guys that were not totally perfect. But they were just out there in the world, always walking on the edge.”
Released in 1970, Five Easy Pieces stars Nicholson as Bobby Dupea, an oil rig worker with a secret past. On the surface, he is a rough-and-ready product of the working class, as blue-collar as they come. However, it is revealed that he was once a talented pianist in his youth and that he actually grew up in very esteemed circles. The film challenges several ideas about privilege, about what it means to have potential and whether it’s ethical to ‘waste’ one’s talent. It scored well with critics and was nominated five times at the Academy Awards, including a nod for Nicholson in the ‘Best Actor’ category.
You don’t need us to tell you that Nicholson is one of the greatest movie stars to have ever lived. He is an unquestionable screen presence, seemingly able to take on any challenge and get positive results. His versatility is remarkable, as he is just as comfortable in a psychological horror as a cheesy rom-com. He’s even stepped into the world of comic books, famously portraying the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman.
With his own versatility becoming more and more apparent, it’s not hard to see just how much of an impact Nicholson has had on Stan’s career. We could be talking about them both in the same tone when all is said and done. Although Nicholson was never in Gossip Girl, so who’s the real winner?
