Jeremy Allen White on becoming Bruce Springsteen in ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’

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Colorado’s TELLURIDE – Jeremy Allen White found himself pondering like any ordinary individual might, when given the opportunity to embody Bruce Springsteen in the film “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” Set to hit theaters on October 24th, this movie delves into a captivating piece of the rock icon’s career. During a time when he was grappling with depression and creating the seminal work of alienation from 1982, “Nebraska,” an album that he wasn’t aware he was making while recording songs on a basic four-track tape machine in a rented New Jersey house. Surprisingly, it became his most cherished among all his albums.

The majority of these questions can essentially be summarized as: Why is it me? Despite not being proficient at playing the guitar, White cherishes singing and wouldn’t consider himself a singer. He maintains a connection with his audience, particularly those who have endured his award-winning performances as Carmy on “The Bear.” However, he emphasizes that this bond is significantly different from the one Bruce Springsteen has built with his fans over the past half century.

34-year-old White expresses, the day following the movie’s premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, that the bond between a musician and their fans is extremely personal. “You hear him in your car, attend his concerts. He’s right there in your earphones, just the two of you,” he explains. “It feels like a private conversation. Bruce holds such significance for countless individuals. I felt the weight of it. I didn’t want to let anyone down.

As our conversation unfolded, my apprehensions about not meeting expectations were already a thing of the past – and this wasn’t due to fear of letting anyone down, but because I had already won over the one individual whose validation truly mattered: Bruce Springsteen himself.

At a festival Q&A, Springsteen expressed his gratitude for Jeremy accepting him, stating that their collaboration on the film was continuous and crucial. He further mentioned that he found it straightforward to endorse director Scott Cooper’s vision for the movie, which he referred to as ‘an anti-western,’ due to its intense exploration of ‘Nebraska.’

“And I’m old and I don’t give a f— what I do,” Springsteen added, laughing.

We’re enjoying the sun outside his hotel after a rainy day, with him dressed in a worn Yankees cap, jeans, boots, and a blue pullover – typical festival attire, one might say, except perhaps for the Boss himself. He queries if it’s alright if he lights an American Spirit, reaching for his lighter as I nod affirmatively. The event has concluded, and his spirits are buoyant. We plunge into our conversation without delay.

Did there feel an instant relatability when conversing with Springsteen? As depicted in the film, his life was characterized by intense feelings of inauthenticity as a person, not necessarily in his work, and this is something I, too, have encountered.

It seems to me that there’s a shared sense of burden between Springsteen and Carmy in “The Bear,” two individuals grappling with generational trauma and emotional weight they struggle to manage effectively. Can you relate to this observation?

In essence, both characters share similarities as they navigate their complex relationships and the environments that have deeply affected them. For Bruce Springsteen, growing up felt incredibly perilous and trusting others proved challenging due to this perceived danger. As a result, his only genuine connection often came from the three hours he spent performing on stage.

So, if we’ve established that you connected with your Bruce identity in specific instances, the question remains: how did you manage the rest of your time? Well, I can relate to those sentiments as my childhood was filled with love and support at home. However, I had to come up with some creative means to maintain a connection with that part of myself.

Your query about Springsteen’s dad brought Carmy’s father to mind. Is it known if Carmy’s dad is still alive?
[Long exhale] I don’t have that information. The question of whether he’s still alive lies with [showrunner] Chris [Storer].

It’s above your pay grade.
Well above.

As a movie aficionado, I’d say it’s fascinating how you excel at portraying characters grappling with emotional complexities, often relying heavily on close-ups to convey their inner worlds. Do you enjoy this style of acting? Absolutely! It requires a deep comprehension that neither the camera nor the audience can miss if there’s no hidden emotion behind a blank stare.

After an afternoon of belting out “Born to Run” and “Born in the U.S.A.”, my vocal cords were less than thrilled. Later, when I met Bruce, he inquired about my day, to which I responded with a raspy voice, “I mustered up ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ today,” and he smiled and agreed, “Seems fitting.

Movies

This fall, you can anticipate watching a Bruce Springsteen biography film, a screen adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Running Man,” and the continuation of “Wicked.” Enjoy the upcoming cinematic experiences!

how to sing the songs sincerely and truthfully rather than merely sounding like him.

Which song served as your breakthrough?
“Mansion on the Hill.” Upon hearing it, Bruce remarked, “You indeed share a resemblance with me. Nevertheless, you are the one singing the tune.” This comment granted me the confidence, not only in recording the music, but also in creating a film where I could narrate his story without hesitation, yet still infuse myself into it.

As for a favorite song, it would be ‘My Father’s House.’ For me, it carries a sense of foreboding. There’s a hint of remorse in its lyrics. Essentially, it portrays a young man who fears he may regret not having reached out to his father, with whom he once shared a deep bond. The song has an urgent tone that you can also find in the relationship between Bruce and his father in the movie.

Did the recording of that song in Nashville inspire you to reach out to your father?
I contacted him immediately after recording that song, just like many sons do with their fathers. Although we share a warm bond, there have been times when our relationship has strained and communication was tough. Working on this project and singing this particular song helped me understand things differently. Moreover, as I mature and become a parent myself, it seems to coincide with the passage of time.

I appreciate you reaching out. At some point, those discussions become inappropriate.” Or alternatively, “The message in that song is about setting limits for such conversations at some stage.

Yesterday you mentioned a discussion between you and Springsteen about the song “Reason to Believe”. What caused the disagreement?
The debate centered around the interpretation of the song’s message, as Bruce feels it is often misconstrued as hopeful. He argues that this is inaccurate. The song depicts a woman who has been abandoned by her husband and spends each day at the end of their driveway, hoping for his return. I find this to be a heart-wrenching portrayal of love and longing, suggesting that one day, someone will drive down that road in response to her wait.

Either she’ll continue strolling along her driveway for the remainder of her days, or it might be that she’ll have nobody to keep her company. Whether this rings true for you or not depends upon your personal sensitivity to music.

But you choose to believe.
I choose to walk to the end of the driveway. Absolutely.

Would you call yourself an optimist?
No. [Laughs] Not really.

Originally released in 1982, the album “Nebraska” was inspired by the observation that a widening gap existed between the affluent and the less fortunate, with the American Dream appearing increasingly out of reach. Now, over four decades later, where do you believe this album fits within our contemporary landscape?

In today’s society, it seems that pervasive anger characterizes our nation, and it shows no signs of abating. The tracks on “Nebraska” will continue to resonate with us for generations, as they possess a timeless quality.

Was your prior dance training instrumental in helping you embody the character’s physical presence on stage and the way he moves both onstage and off? Indeed, it was crucial to master how he carries his weight, and I achieved this by adding small lifts to my boots, which altered my posture and made me appear taller. Additionally, wearing the pants higher, around the waist area, aids in centering one’s gravity in the navel region, as that is where I constantly maintain a crouched stance.

In many diner settings, he’s often found seated with one arm resting on the booth’s backrest, giving an impression that he’s about to leave at any moment. He seems partly invested and partly detached, as if his feet are partially inside and outside the booth.

In my twenties, as I delved deeper into the world of music, my musician friends introduced me to the film “Nebraska.” As for the tunes I was grooving to around that time, it was a diverse mix, just like Bruce’s playlist-from soulful Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, to the iconic beats of the Beatles and Rolling Stones, right up to the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.

My parents still maintain a substantial collection of records, which significantly influenced my musical journey growing up in Brooklyn during the ’90s. As a teenager, I developed a deep appreciation for hip-hop, discovering artists like Nas, Jay-Z, Big L, and Wu-Tang Clan, Tribe Called Quest, and De La Soul. The New York music scene was vibrant during that time, with the Strokes and LCD Soundsystem emerging. Although I was too young to fully immerse myself in the experience, I felt fortunate to be close to these influential movements as they unfolded.

It seems as though music plays a profound role in your life, almost like an integral melody. I find immense joy in its constant companionship during my road trips, especially when I play some classic Motown tunes. There are times when I find myself on repeat with just 20 songs for weeks at a stretch. Yet, my music library boasts thousands of liked tracks. The beauty of a long drive is the ability to shuffle through these, creating a sense of time travel. Music allows me to reconnect with past versions of you.

What is the most unforgettable road trip you’ve ever taken on your own? When I turned 24, I embarked on a journey from New York to Los Angeles by myself, expecting it to take around two weeks. The first week was fantastic; I reveled in my solitude and enjoyed lots of music. However, when I reached Utah, I suddenly felt incredibly lonely.

Was the vastness of the landscapes overwhelming for you? Perhaps. During my road trip, I found solace in maintaining a sense of anonymity, which I cherish. It’s liberating not to be known in these new towns, allowing one to assume different identities as they travel. However, upon reaching Utah, I craved familiarity. I encountered a flat tire in St. George, Utah – quite a predicament! My phone had died, and I didn’t have a spare. Stranded on the side of the road, I was borrowing someone’s phone to call for help. This incident felt like a sign. Once my car was repaired, I hurried to have dinner with a friend, as I felt an intense loneliness creeping in.

Springsteen believes that everyone has a defining moment, an encounter that sets the course for their life. For him, it was watching Elvis Presley perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956. Can you share your own pivotal experience or “genesis moment”? My personal breakthrough came when I was 14 years old, during a middle school group activity led by an inspiring teacher, John McEneny. In an improvisational exercise, my friend Yael and I were assigned roles: she as a mother, me as her speechless child. This experience, where I found myself expressing myself without uttering a word, had a profound impact on my future acting endeavors.

Indeed, I recall having my own pivotal moment as well. As a child, I often found it challenging to stay focused, to be fully present in the moment. Yet, there were times when silence seemed to resonate with a palpable energy, a sense of calmness that enveloped me. And oh, those eyes! I could feel them watching, anticipating my next move without any action or words from me. It was as if time stood still for a moment, and I just went, “Wow.” I felt at one with the world, completely present, and it stirred a sense of curiosity within me. I thought to myself, “Let’s see where this takes us, let’s explore and discover together.

In the movie, a scene occurs which is based on a real-life event. Springsteen is browsing through channels one evening and unexpectedly comes across “Badlands,” a film directed by Terrence Malick. This film later serves as an inspiration for “Nebraska.” In today’s streaming era, such fortuitous discoveries are not commonplace. Do you recall any instances like that in your life?

As a child, I can’t remember experiencing anything similar. However, my parents were fond of “Badlands” and introduced it to me when I was around 13 or 14 years old. Martin Sheen’s portrayal in the film was incredibly cool, and I found his dedication to the character truly remarkable. Furthermore, Sissy Spacek’s performance conveyed so much emotion with minimal dialogue.

The creation of “Badlands” was a challenge much like that of Nebraska. There was considerable disagreement and misunderstanding between Terrence Malick and his team about what he envisioned. However, it’s fascinating to learn that despite the obstacles, something as stunningly beautiful as this film emerged from such a difficult process.

What’s your preferred cinema in L.A.? I adore The New Beverly, where I recently watched “2001: A Space Odyssey” at the Egyptian. If I’m on the Westside, I opt for the Aero. I do miss the Cinerama Dome and the Arclight. For new releases, it’s likely the Sunset 5 for me. My favorite experience is catching a movie on a Tuesday around one in the afternoon. It’s quieter then, as you’re usually alone. I prefer watching movies solo. Some people tend to discuss a film right after seeing it. I appreciate the solitude that follows a movie.

Did you catch ‘Weapons’ this summer? That film left quite an impact on me as my top theater experience of the season. I found it both terrifying and humorous at times, with an ending that was truly mind-blowing. What really struck me, though, was the emotional resonance it held for me. The horror in the movie seemed to revolve around a child’s perspective, highlighting the ineptitude of adults-whether due to addiction or self-absorption.

Circling back, as I watch a film about children experiencing insecurity, it reminds me of the instances when Bruce felt the same way during his childhood and how challenging it was for him to mature and trust others. Yet, he managed to reach that point, which is incredibly moving. I hope viewers finish the movie feeling the same warmth and, if they’re currently struggling, perhaps thinking that healing connections can still be made.

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2025-08-31 16:31