Sebastian Stan recently opened up about his challenging portrayal of Donald Trump in The Apprentice, a biopic exploring the businessman-turned-politician’s life and path to becoming the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
For Stan, the decision to take on such a polarizing figure wasn’t easy.
“What essentially started with my sort of dismissive, judgmental attitude of this guy started to shape into something bigger,” he shared with The Hollywood Reporter on Nov. 4, revealing that the role became about examining “a certain mindset and this idea of the American dream as we know it.”
Stan, who immigrated to the U.S. from Romania at age 12, explained that his own journey deepened his fascination with the American dream—a theme he found pivotal to Trump’s story.
“My mom, in New York City, pointed to the Twin Towers, and all around us, and said, ‘This is the promised land, this is the land of the free, this is the land of opportunity,’” he recalled.
His mother’s sacrifice shaped his view of America, saying, “I am sort of an example of the American dream. I’ve lucked out.”
This isn’t Stan’s first time portraying a public figure.
He underwent a dramatic physical transformation to play rocker Tommy Lee in the 2022 series Pam & Tommy, committing to rigorous exercise and fasting routines.
Earlier, he portrayed Jeff Gillooly in I, Tonya (2018), describing his fascination with the infamous story that shocked the figure skating world.
Also read: Quincy Jones Lived For 50 Years After Attending His Own Memorial Service
