Guy Pearce Breaks Down Over Past Encounter With Kevin Spacey on LA Confidential Set
In a powerful new interview, Guy Pearce opened up about his uncomfortable and emotional experiences with Kevin Spacey while filming LA Confidential back in 1997. The actor, now Oscar-nominated for his role in The Brutalist, got choked up as he recalled the “wake-up call” he had decades later that made him realize the lasting impact of his troubling encounters with Spacey.
Pearce reflected on how Spacey “targeted” him during the production of the neo-noir thriller, where they both starred alongside Russell Crowe. “He’s quite an aggressive man,” Pearce shared. “He’s extremely charming and brilliant at what he does… but I was young and susceptible, and he targeted me, no question.” Pearce was just beginning his career at the time and admits that while he brushed off the incidents, he was “scared” of Spacey’s intense charm and presence.
Pearce revealed that during filming in Los Angeles, he felt unsafe. “The only days I feel safe are the days when [Simon Baker] is on set because I’m dumped like a hot potato, and [Kevin] focuses on [Simon] because he was ten times prettier than I am,” he recalled. Pearce tried to laugh it off at the time, but he couldn’t escape the discomfort that lingered.
It wasn’t until the #MeToo movement took the world by storm that Pearce truly processed the effect it had on him. In 2017, when actor Anthony Rapp publicly accused Spacey of sexual misconduct, Pearce had a breakthrough moment. Hearing the allegations left Pearce “sobbing in London.” “I broke down and sobbed, and I couldn’t stop. I think it really dawned on me the impact that had occurred,” he confessed, his voice shaking with emotion. It was a “wake-up call” that made him realize how deeply the experience had affected him.
While Pearce clarified that he was never sexually assaulted, he described his encounters with Spacey as troubling. He’s now choosing to be more open about it, admitting that while he didn’t want to focus on his personal experience, he also doesn’t want Spacey to escape accountability. “I just try to be more honest about it now and call it for what it is,” Pearce said.
Despite the painful memories, Pearce has gone on to achieve great success, with his career taking off in films like Memento and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. His latest Oscar-nominated role in The Brutalist has earned him rave reviews, but it’s clear that Pearce’s past with Spacey still weighs heavily on him.
As Spacey faces numerous allegations, including a legal battle that continued into 2023, Pearce’s brave admission sheds light on the uncomfortable realities that many actors have endured in Hollywood.
