Bruce Springsteen Praises Actor's Portrayal of His 'Troubled' Father
Bruce Springsteen praised Adolescence star Stephen Graham’s performance as his “troubled” father in Deliver Me From Nowhere during an interview with Spotify (via Variety).
Springsteen Praised Graham's Performance
Scott Cooper’s biopic, which stars Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen, charts the musician’s life during the production of his 1982 album Nebraska. Graham plays Springsteen’s father, a “troubled” man with whom the musician had a contentious relationship. Springsteen praised the British actor’s performance, saying he “really embodied the physicality [and] emotional complexity of my father.
“He was very troubled, an alcoholic, bipolar, and quite mentally ill,” Springsteen said. “Stephen just naturally inhabited his skin and his soul, particular as an older man—he’s the spitting image of him!”
But the Portrayal Isn't Black-and-White
Springsteen added that, despite their troubled relationship, Cooper’s portrayal of his father is nuanced. “Towards the end of the film, you get a sense of my father’s invulnerability and his sweetness.”
White, who was also present on the panel, revealed that he was likewise inspired by both Graham and Springsteen’s work ethic while making Deliver Me From Nowhere. He even learned to jump rope so that he could maintain Springsteen’s singular energy between takes. “For some reason, I thought my stamina would be more than Bruce’s,” he said. “It turns out it was completely unnecessary—that sweat comes naturally, that heart rate gets lifted and the adrenaline gets going. So I didn’t need to use it—Bruce-level energy comes naturally when you’re up there.”