Josh Brolin is a stunningly versatile performer with a lot of excellent insight on actors and acting. Speaking to The Great Creators podcast, he shared a lot about his experience before and during stardom. On the subject of other performers, he stated, “We know now bad actors can have great careers, and great actors can have no careers.” While he didn’t name any of those underrated performers, Brolin unquestionably expressed his fascination with the fate of his fellow actors.
Josh Brolin Never Phoned It In
To hear Josh Brolin tell it, the 56-year-old actor gave 110%, even in his “C- movies.” His take on Hollywood is a bittersweet note to any aspiring performers looking for a break. He notes that plenty of terrible actors have found success, while loads of generational talents go underrated. To highlight his point, Brolin points to Sir Anthony Hopkins, who found his most iconic role at 54. Josh Brolin notes that Hopkins is “literally one of the great living actors and was one of the great living actors before that.” This acknowledgment of the unpredictable element of Hollywood success hits hard for Brolin. The star of Goonies and Avengers: Infinity War, among a million others, experienced a 22-year gap in his career. He stated, “That’s the thing about our industry is you don’t know.” His understanding of the fickle nature of stardom speaks to his years in the business.
Josh Brolin knows talent and hard work, and his takes on actors are often invaluable. When preparing for the next Knives Out sequel, he expressed genuine fear that he couldn’t handle the part. Hollywood found Brolin several times, and whether he’s a grim cowboy or a galactic titan, the world sees him succeed. Let’s all be thankful he isn’t one of those great actors who never got to have a career.