Sebastian Stan says playing Donald Trump was similar to another of his roles

Sebastian Stan says playing Donald Trump was similar to another of his roles

As a fervent supporter of the arts and an ardent admirer of transformative acting performances, I find myself utterly captivated by Sebastian Stan‘s portrayal of Donald Trump in The Apprentice. Having had the privilege of witnessing his chameleonic abilities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he effortlessly donned the mantle of Bucky Barnes, it is truly mesmerizing to see him delve into yet another complex character.


You may consider portraying someone similar to Donald Trump as a distinct acting challenge – however, as per Sebastian Stan, there were some similarities between playing the controversial ex-US president in the upcoming film The Apprentice and one of his more recent roles.

He mentioned that he found it intriguing as he delved deeper into discussing the two movies, he noticed some similarities in their themes. Specifically, he spoke about topics such as integrity, understanding acceptance and self-abandonment, figuring out how much one should suppress truths to uphold a personal version of reality, and he believes these are vital questions.

“The other day I witnessed something intriguing; it was fascinating because discussing ‘why’ often leaves us without an answer. However, when we focus on ‘how’, we can find solutions and progress. It might be more beneficial if we ask ‘how’ more frequently instead of ‘why’.

Regardless of any physical similarities with Trump, Stan seamlessly embodies the character, aided by prosthetics but also by his exceptional ability to mimic facial expressions, body language, and speech style.

According to Maria Bakalova, who portrayed Ivana Trump, it was quite unusual for her to watch him excel at playing his role.

As a fan who’d known Sebastian prior to his transformation into Donald, it was quite uncanny to witness and listen to him during filming. You see, he would spend hours in the makeup chair before any of us, due to the extensive prosthetics, wigs, and other transformations he underwent. And more often than not, we were accustomed to seeing him embody this character on screen.

In a moment of casual stroll through our shared abode, I stumbled upon an individual I hadn’t given a second thought. Little did I know, that was Sebastian. His transformative portrayal was so striking, I failed to recall his physical appearance or voice, for he embodied the character with such authenticity and skill.

She commented: “Absolutely, I agree it’s impossible to perfectly copy another human being. However, if one can infuse humanity, add depth with specific traits like mannerisms, accent, body language, and appearance, that’s the best one can achieve. He does an excellent job.

During the film’s production, Bakalova noted that Sebastian was an “extremely helpful and excellent collaborator.” She described the experience as “exceptionally enjoyable,” but admitted there was once when she had to remember that his actions were merely part of the character he was portraying.

Initially, we find ourselves in a setting featuring Oprah and Donald. Upon witnessing his presence, I must confess, Sebastian appears to be an individual I admire deeply. However, when I saw him there, I couldn’t help but exclaim internally, ‘Oh, dear God.’ The scene is so emotionally charged that I found myself questioning whether it was truly Sebastian or the character he was portraying. It felt as though we were engaged in a sort of back-and-forth exchange, each giving the other a strong, assertive vibe.

The Apprentice is released in UK cinemas on Friday 18th October 2024. 

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2024-10-16 19:33