The important acting advice Tom Hanks gave Matt Damon
Tom Hanks is widely seen as a loveable mentor and positive light within the film industry, with decades of iconic performances that have made him one of the most experienced yet generous performers in the business. Through years on screen, starring in films such as Forrest Gump, Castaway, Big and Saving Private Ryan, the actor has become known for being both endearing and deeply accomplished at his craft, often sharing tidbits of his learnings and wisdom that he has gained over the years.
Many actors might become conceited or arrogant with this level of experience, but Hanks has consistently earned praise from his co-stars for his humility and generosity. Known for inspiring those around him and warmly welcoming budding actors into the industry, Hanks left a particularly strong impression on Matt Damon, who worked alongside him in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 film Saving Private Ryan.
After making his feature debut in Mystic Pizza in 1988, Damon slowly began his rise to fame, culminating in his devastating yet charming performance in Good Will Hunting in 1997, which he wrote with long-time collaborator Ben Affleck. While shooting the picture with the great Robin Williams, Spielberg happened to drop by the set while shooting another film nearby, describing how he was casting for an epic war film. The director then met Damon and realised that he would be perfect for the ultimate role of Private Ryan, later casting him in the project and joining his eclectic ensemble.
Hanks famously stars in the harrowing WW-II drama, with the crew going through a gruelling training process in order to prepare for the high-stakes action of the battle sequences. While the shoot was extremely challenging and emotionally difficult, with the cast and crew being immersed in a recreation of the pain that swept over these soldiers during the battle of Normandy, it was an incredibly rewarding project for all of them, especially for a newcomer like Damon.
When describing the shoot, Damon also revealed how much he learnt from starring alongside Hanks, explaining the advice that he shared with his co-stars and one line in particular that stood out to him. Damon said, “All us young actors were sitting there with Tom in between takes and he said, ‘You are all one movie away from being the biggest movie star in the world. That’s the good news. The bad news is your mailman is one movie away from being the biggest movie star in the world.’”
It’s a strange piece of advice because it isn’t immediately inspiring or motivating, if anything, it almost comes across as the opposite. But, when you untangle these words, Hanks is saying something crucial that highlights the reasons for his own success in the industry. You can never taken anything for granted, and even when you think you’ve made it, you have to keep working and push yourself to the next challenge.
While you might be on the edge of greatness, there is also someone else in the same position, and you have to keep going. This might deter someone who is starting out in the business, but Damon seemed to take this on the chin and continued to work outside the box with his future roles.
