Guy Pearce Explained Why He Once Wanted To "Punch" A "Snobby Actress," And It's Quite Something

I'm not going to mince words — Guy Pearce is incredible in The Brutalist. His performance is an undeniable highlight when it comes to Brady Corbet's ambitious American epic, and he's very rightly nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as a result of his efforts.

Guy Pearce in a vintage suit and tie with a fedora stands outdoors near industrial structures
Lol Crawley / A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

Guy's awards season press run has also been highly entertaining. Late last year, he revealed that a Warner Bros. executive apparently hated his acting in 2000's Memento so much that he barred him from appearing in any future films from director Christopher Nolan.

Guy Pearce in sunglasses with a beard wearing a pinstripe suit and tie, standing in front of large white letters
Dave Benett / Dave Benett/WireImage

In a recent interview with the Sunday Times, Guy revealed that he, too, believes he was "shit" in Memento. “I watched Memento the other day and I’m still depressed. I’m shit in that movie,” he said.

Guy Pearce sits at a table, examining a paper. He has multiple tattoos on his arms and chest

Guy, if you're reading this: I rewatched it recently — you're good in it! Don't let the haters (which, apparently, includes yourself) get you down.

Newmarket Releasing / ©Newmarket Releasing/Courtesy Everett Collection

In that same interview, Guy revisited his early acting days on the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours. He appeared on the show from 1986 to 1989, and you can watch a clip of some of his acting on the show below:

“I have many feelings about that show," he said. “In the old days you were either a theater actor or a film actor, and if you got stuck in a soap you were the lowest of the low — but what an opportunity. I had no clue what I was doing but learnt a lot. When young actors ask me for advice, I shrug and say, ‘Get lucky?’ Because I got lucky."

Guy Pearce with glasses, wearing a dark jacket over a shirt, stands outdoors
Joe Maher / Getty Images

But Guy also pointed out that acting in shows like Neighbours was also "frowned upon" amidst other Australian acting types — and he went on to share an anecdote about an encounter that proved just that.

Guy Pearce wearing glasses, sitting outdoors, reading a New Scientist magazine with the cover headline "Mind Over Body."
Umbrella Entertainment / Umbrella Entertainment/courtesy Everett Collection

“I did a play a year after I left and this snobby actress said, ‘How could you even do that?’ I wanted to punch her!" he recalled.

Guy Pearce in a suit with glasses at a formal event
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

"Now, obviously, I didn’t punch her," he said. (Thank God for that!) "But it was such a horrible attitude. And then, five years later, I saw her on some shit ad on TV. I so wanted to go and find her and say, ‘OK…’”

Guy Pearce with glasses wearing a dark jacket and a red emblem, seated indoors during an interview or discussion, with a blurred background
Nbc / Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Top-tier hater energy right there. Just remember, kids: Violence is never the answer, especially when in response to your soap opera past.