In a poignant and introspective interview, Guy Pearce's voice wavered with emotion as he recounted the uncomfortable encounters he had while working alongside Kevin Spacey on the 1997 cinematic classic, L.A. Confidential, directed by Curtis Hanson. More than two decades later, while in London, Pearce was moved to tears by a "wake-up call" that made him realize the profound impact those experiences had on him.
During a recent episode of the Awards Chatter podcast hosted by Scott Feinberg, the executive awards editor of The Hollywood Reporter, Pearce, who recently received an Oscar nomination for his critically acclaimed role in Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, opened up extensively about Spacey and the flood of sexual misconduct allegations that derailed the House of Cards actor's career. This was the first time he had spoken at length about these matters.
In 2018, Pearce briefly mentioned Spacey, describing him as "a handsy guy" to Australian talk show host Andrew Denton, but he quickly clarified his comments. "I understand all too well that this is a delicate subject that cannot be dismissed lightly," he stated later. "While I was not sexually assaulted or molested, I did feel uneasy. I addressed the situation when it arose, which is why I regret bringing it into the public domain now."
Today, Pearce is far more forthcoming, though he still chooses his words with care. He hesitated to label himself a victim, stating, "Though I might have been a victim to some extent, I was certainly not victimized to the degree that others have been by sexual predators."
Despite this, Pearce's response to Spacey's alleged advances on the set of L.A. Confidential was to brush them off, thinking to himself, "Ah, that's nothing. Ah, no, that's nothing," he recalled. "I did this for five months, genuinely fearing Kevin because he is an aggressive man. He is incredibly charming and exceptional at what he does, truly impressive. He commands a room like no other. But I was young and vulnerable, and he targeted me, there's no doubt about it."
Hanson's neo-noir masterpiece, L.A. Confidential, follows three Los Angeles policemen as they investigate a series of murders amidst corruption within the police department in the 1950s. Pearce portrayed one of the cops, Ed Exley, alongside fellow leads Spacey and Russell Crowe. While he remains on amicable terms with his fellow Aussie Crowe, whom he considers "a great friend," the same cannot be said for Spacey.
While shooting on location in Los Angeles, Pearce was accompanied by his then-wife, Kate. He recounted a poignant moment when he confessed to her, "The mere days I feel secure are those when Simon Baker is on set, for I'm swiftly discarded like a hot potato, while Kevin's attention is solely riveted on Simon, tenfold more charming than I." It took Pearce many years to fully grasp the gravity of his experiences.
In October 2017, as Hollywood stood on the precipice of transformation amidst the #MeToo movement, veteran actor Anthony Rapp courageously revealed that Spacey had made unwanted sexual advances towards him at a party in New York City in 1986, when Rapp was just 14. (Rapp pursued legal action but Spacey was deemed not liable.) This revelation triggered a deluge of accusations spanning film sets, production hubs, and even the Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey had held the esteemed position of artistic director.
Pearce admitted that he was deeply affected by the headlines. "I was in London, engrossed in a project, and upon hearing the reports, I broke down in tears, unable to halt my sobbing. It was then that the full impact of my encounter hit me, realizing how I had dismissively swept it under the rug. It served as a profoundly stirring wake-up call," he recounted, his voice wavering with emotion.
While he refrained from disclosing the exact date or specifics of his encounter, Pearce shared that he had since engaged in "a few contentious confrontations with Kevin," which turned ugly. Reflecting on his talk show revelation, Pearce found himself in a paradoxical situation—he was hesitant to dwell on his personal encounter with Spacey, yet he was steadfast in his resolve, stating, "I refuse to let him evade the consequences of his actions."
Adopting a new approach, Pearce now vows, "I strive to be more candid about it, calling it as I see it." THR reached out to Spacey's representative for a response to Pearce's statements. Spacey has consistently denied any allegations of misconduct. Following his acquittal in the Rapp case and a subsequent British jury's verdict clearing him of all nine sexual assault charges in 2023, marking the conclusion of a prolonged legal battle that derailed his once-thriving Hollywood career, Spacey remarked, "I am deeply humbled by the outcome."
In the typical Awards Chatter format, Feinberg's interview with Pearce was an intensive exploration of the actor's illustrious career. From his early days in Australia, where he gained local fame on soaps like Neighbours and Home and Away, to his iconic role as a drag queen in the cult classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Pearce became a favorite among top directors after his breakthrough performance in Christopher Nolan's Memento. His decades of high-profile work culminated in his current Oscar nomination for The Brutalist. Notably, in the A24 film, Pearce portrays Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr., a wealthy American industrialist who sexually assaults a pivotal male character. A substantial portion of the Awards Chatter interview delved into his role in this epic film, which is nominated for 10 Oscars and stars fellow nominees Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
