Guy Pearce 'Wanted to Punch' a 'Snobby Actress' Who Had a 'Horrible Attitude' About Him Starring in a Soap

Mar. 15, 2025

Guy Pearce in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 5, 2025.Photo:Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Guy Pearceis not ashamed of his soap-opera past.

In fact, after the 57-year-old actor got his start on the Australian soapNeighboursin the 1980s, he later reprised his character Mike Young on the original series' 2022 finale and in its 2023 return.

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Pearce played Mike Young onNeighboursfrom 1986 to 1989, marking his first screen role, before reprising the character for the 2022 finale and in its return from 2023 to 2024.

In his interview withThe Times, the actor admitted he has “many feelings about that show.”

“In the old days you were eithera theatre actoror a film actor, and if you got stuck in a soap you were the lowest of the low — but what an opportunity," Pearce said. “I had no clue what I was doing but learnt a lot. When young actors ask me for advice, I shrug and say, ‘Get lucky?’ Because I got lucky.”

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Guy Pearce in New York City on Jan. 8, 2025.Michael Loccisano/Getty

Michael Loccisano/Getty

Pearce is now vying for anAcademy Awardfrom his first-ever nomination, as he competes for the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his performance inThe Brutalist.

Adrien Brodyleads the period drama as László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who emigrates to the U.S. to flee the Holocaust. Pearce plays wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren whileJoe Alwyncostars as Harrison’s son, withFelicity Jonesas László’s wife.

Pearce — who previously appeared in hit films likeL.A. Confidential(1997),Memento(2001)andThe Hurt Locker(2008) — toldThe Timeshe has “an instinctual response” to choosing his projects.

source: people.com