In a surprising revelation that has captivated his fans, actor Jeremy Allen White has disclosed that the name which propelled him to global recognition isn't the one he personally identifies with. The 34-year-old star, best known for his leading role in Hulu's critically acclaimed series The Bear, made the candid confession during a recent Zoom interview with Vanity Fair from his Los Angeles home.
The Name Behind the Fame
Jeremy Allen White explained that his famous moniker was born out of necessity rather than choice. He revealed that he only added his middle name, 'Allen', to his professional identity because there was already another 'Jeremy White' registered with the SAG-AFTRA union. "That's not how I understand myself," he told the publication, adding, "It does feel like people are talking about someone I don't know."
This personal disconnect from his stage name comes despite his character in The Bear catapulting him to international fame and making 'Jeremy Allen White' a household name. The actor's star has continued to rise with his latest project, where he takes on another iconic figure.
Portraying The Boss: A Psychological Challenge
White is currently starring as the legendary Bruce Springsteen in the new biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. The film chronicles the rock star's life during the early 1980s as he grappled with the pressures of success while recording his seminal album 'Nebraska'.
The actor confessed that embodying the isolated and depressed version of The Boss took a significant toll on his own mental wellbeing. "I feel like I'm pain for hire," White said candidly. "Like I'm getting paid to put myself in painful places."
He described the filming process as "incredibly difficult," particularly being separated from his two young daughters—Ezer, seven, and Dolores, four. "I was in isolation. I was far from my children. I didn't travel home much," White revealed. "It made me unwell, and when I came out of it, I thought, 'There has to be a better way.'"
Springsteen's Guilt and On-Set Presence
Adding to the pressure was Springsteen's frequent presence on set, which initially made White nervous. The rock legend himself expressed guilt about this during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. "I felt really guilty about that because not only did Jeremy have to play me, but he had to play me while I am sitting right there watching him," Springsteen admitted.
White acknowledged the challenge, saying, "In the beginning, I didn't know what to expect and I was a bit nervous. You're trying to drum up some delusion and imagination, and seeing the man you are playing in the corner was hard." However, he noted that Springsteen's regular visits eventually became normal, and he praised the musician for being "incredibly tolerant and generous."
The actor jokingly added that if Springsteen had given him direct acting notes, "it might have broken me." Springsteen reassured that he largely stayed away during White's preparation, saying, "He prepared in private, so I stayed away. On set, I rarely said anything, I just enjoyed myself."
