The Emmy-winning actor recalls an unconventional approach taken by a director on his first professional acting gig and his eventual realization of his passion for acting.
- December 24, 2024
AceShowbiz - During a recent appearance on the podcast "SmartLess", Kieran Culkin, best known for his role as Roman Roy in HBO's "Succession", shared a bizarre experience from his first commercial shoot at the tender age of six.
According to Culkin, the unnamed director employed a controversial Method acting technique to evoke a reaction from him. "He starts going, 'Dummy, idiot, stupid,' " Culkin recounted, amidst bewildered laughter from the podcast hosts. "Even then I'm thinking like, 'Stand here and look sad.' I'm not f**king Method. I'm 6. Like, what's wrong with you?"
Despite the director's extreme measures, Culkin's career took off. He made his film debut alongside his brother Macaulay Culkin in "Home Alone" (1990), reprising his role in the sequel. He also appeared in the "Father of the Bride" films.
In a candid conversation with co-star Jesse Eisenberg at the Tribeca Festival, Culkin admitted to having initially felt a lack of agency in his acting career. However, after filming the first season of "Succession", he realized his genuine passion for the craft. "I came home and I was having a talk with my wife, and I was like, 'I think I know what I want to do for a living. I want to be an actor,'" he said.
Culkin's unorthodox directorial experience serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of Method acting, while also highlighting the unexpected journey he embarked on to discover his true calling.
