Jeremy Allen White says playing Bruce Springsteen in biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere was ‘incredibly difficult’ and made him ‘unwell’ as he admits: ‘I feel like I’m pain for hire’

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Jeremy Allen White has shared how much playing Bruce Springsteen in his new movie, *Deliver Me from Nowhere*, affected him, saying the experience left him feeling sick.

The movie tells the story of the famous 76-year-old rock star as he deals with the challenges of fame and his difficult past while creating his album ‘Nebraska’ in the early 1980s.

Jeremy, 35, has admitted he found it difficult portraying Bruce Springsteen’s more withdrawn and unhappy side, and that it started to affect his own emotional state.

Oh my god, Jeremy Allen White *is* Carmy Berzatto. Seriously, that role… it’s just incredible how he embodies all that raw anger, pain, and self-destruction. It’s completely captivating! And it’s launched him to superstardom – three Golden Globes in a row! I can’t even begin to tell you how obsessed I am with his performance; it’s just… everything.

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the actor from Shameless revealed that portraying characters with mental health struggles has taken a toll on his own well-being.

Jeremy shared that he was relieved filming on Deliver Me from Nowhere had finished. He found it really challenging being away from his daughters, Ezer, seven, and Dolores, four, during the shoot.

You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we often trade discomfort for income. It’s a strange feeling, isn’t it? Sometimes it feels like my job – and I suspect many of yours – involves willingly stepping into challenging or even painful situations, and getting paid for the emotional toll. It’s like I’m professionally ‘feeling’ things for others, and it’s something I’ve had to really come to terms with.

Watching ‘The Bear,’ people often ask if I relate to the intense outbursts. It’s not that I’m going around smashing things or yelling into my clothes, but honestly, that raw energy is always *there*, simmering beneath the surface, and it’s definitely unsettling. Filming the movie about Bruce was especially tough because of it – it really brought that feeling to the forefront.

Being separated from my kids and not being able to travel home often took a real toll on my health. After going through that difficult time, I realized there had to be a better way to manage things.

This follows Bruce Willis admitting he felt “really guilty” while watching Jeremy Renner portray him while filming the movie about his life.

Bruce Willis surprised everyone by getting very involved with filming the movie, often visiting the set. At first, this made Jeremy a bit uneasy, as they appeared together on The Graham Norton Show to discuss it.

He explained to Graham that he spent a lot of time on set, which made him feel bad. He felt guilty because Jeremy Renner not only had to act as him, but also had to do it while he was present and watching.

‘He was incredibly tolerant and generous of me, for which I am grateful. I had a great time.’

Let me tell you, stepping into a role can be surprisingly challenging! When I first started, I was definitely a bit nervous – you really have to convince yourself of something that isn’t real, and it was honestly unsettling to see myself – or rather, the character I was playing – just *there*, observing me. It takes a lot of mental work to pull that off!

He started visiting so frequently that it just became routine. He even joked that if the person had left him written notes, he might have fallen apart.

Bruce explained that he gave the other actor space to prepare, so he didn’t interfere. Once on set, Bruce mostly kept to himself and simply observed, finding the experience enjoyable.

Jeremy shared in the interview that preparing to play the singer-songwriter in the movie was challenging, but he trained consistently for months beforehand.

He admitted it was challenging to portray such a well-known artist, especially since he doesn’t consider himself a singer. He explained that he spent a lot of time preparing and initially struggled with the idea of taking on the role, as he’s a big fan of Bruce and wasn’t sure he could do him justice.

It was challenging, and I definitely had some nerve-wracking moments, but I practiced six days a week for half a year to try and capture Bruce’s voice. The rough, gravelly quality just developed from repeatedly singing the songs.

Bruce playfully remarked about watching Jeremy portray him, saying, ‘I don’t recall being that young or handsome!’

The singer also revealed that the actor was his top pick for the role, impressed by his natural and genuine performance in ‘The Bear’.

He explained that he’d been impressed with the actor’s work in ‘The Bear,’ particularly how the show visually conveyed his character’s inner thoughts and feelings. He felt the actor’s performance was incredibly genuine and authentic, making him the perfect fit for the role, and he was thrilled when he accepted the job.

Despite Jeremy’s efforts, critics gave the biopic mixed reviews, describing it as awkward and uninteresting.

I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, and I was so excited to see a movie inspired by Warren Zanes’ incredible book, *Deliver Me From Nowhere*. The book really dives into the making of *Nebraska*, and it’s fascinating to see that story come to life on screen.

The movie was mainly filmed in New York and New Jersey, with some additional scenes shot in Los Angeles. The cast features Jeremy Strong, Stephen Graham, Scott Cooper, Odessa Young, and Jon Landau.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the buzz around the new movie, and the first reviews are in! It’s interesting – critics seem pretty split on it. We’ll see what audiences think when it hits theaters next Friday, but it definitely sounds like it’s sparking conversation!

According to The Times, critics don’t see Jeremy as a replacement for Bruce, with Kevin Maher stating that Bruce is a dull main character.

The critic gave the movie only two stars and commented that the lead actor’s attempt to portray Springsteen felt incredibly off. He described it as a distracting imitation – like a poorly executed costume or dressing an animal up to look like the singer – and far from a convincing performance.

Ultimately, this film is really only for die-hard Bruce Springsteen fans. They’ll likely enjoy it the most, enthusiastically cheering him on throughout. It’s probably best suited for them anyway.

In a review for The Guardian, Adrian Horton rated the movie three stars, noting that the film explores an intriguing shift in Springsteen’s work, influenced by the writing of Flannery O’Connor and television dramas.

It’s hard to truly see what’s happening inside someone’s mind when they’re being creative, the struggles and breakthroughs. Instead, we mostly watch Bruce Willis repeatedly write lyrics with a thick marker, often exaggerating his feelings – like when he writes “Why???” while reading an old newspaper story about Charles Starkweather, a murderer whose crimes inspired a song. The reason? Starkweather was simply described as being “mad at the world.”

Tim Robey of The Telegraph complimented Jeremy’s performance as The Boss, noting he effectively conveyed Springsteen’s thoughtfulness, humility, and inner struggles.

He rated the movie four stars and commented that it wasn’t a flashy, over-the-top depiction, nor did it showcase Jeremy Allen White (from *The Bear*) in a typical leading role.

When White tries to replicate Springsteen’s energetic performance style – especially during a song like ‘Born to Run’ – he pushes himself so hard that he appears to be on the brink of collapse, visibly straining his muscles and looking exhausted.

In a recent review, Pete Hammond of Deadline cautioned viewers not to expect a simple collection of the best moments, suggesting the film offers something different than a typical ‘greatest hits’ experience.

He gave the biopic a glowing review, calling it authentic and highly praising the performance of lead actor Jeremy.

Despite having no previous musical experience, White spent five months taking vocal and guitar lessons. The effort clearly paid off – he performs with complete authenticity, and it’s much more than just a superficial copy of someone else’s style.

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2025-10-19 12:50