The esteemed actor, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who portrays the charming Richie in the highly anticipated third season of the FX series premiering on June 27, is still adjusting to his newfound celebrity status. Despite having graced the stage for over two decades, the fame of this beloved Chicago-based show has catapulted Moss-Bachrach into the global spotlight.
"I remember standing atop a scenic mountain outside Kyoto, and a charming Korean couple approached me, expressing their love for the show," he shared with The Guardian. Moss-Bachrach revealed that the attention sometimes comes on days when he's not quite sure how to handle it. "I receive countless comments," he added. "People call out 'Cousin!' to me throughout the day. But there are times when I'm not having my best day, and it's like, 'I'm sorry, man, I don't have much for you right now.'"
In "The Bear," Moss-Bachrach stars as Richie, a tough Chicagoan transformed into a passionate fine dining host, affectionately nicknamed "Cousin." As the third season looms on the horizon, the actor offered his candid thoughts on how the show's wildly popular first two seasons have altered the audience's perception of his career.
"There's a convenient narrative that I often find myself resisting," Moss-Bachrach confessed. "People like to believe that I've been waiting in the wings or something, and it's just a romanticized and oversimplified view. Truthfully, I've always considered myself pretty successful. I'm not sure what percentage of my union colleagues are working, but it's definitely a small number. Yes, nothing has connected with audiences like 'The Bear,' but I've been doing just fine."
Elsewhere in the profile, the actor delved into the differences between his character and himself. "I believe Richie is a remarkable father," he said. "Being a dad is incredibly significant to him, much like it is to me. It's one of the defining aspects of my life, one of my primary identities. One of Richie's greatest strengths is his candor; he expresses himself fully. When he feels something, he mostly speaks his mind without censoring himself. He's still working on it. Perhaps because I hail from New England or work in a highly collaborative environment surrounded by people, I feel overly socialized. Sometimes, I wish I could be a bit less self-censoring and polite."
