Whether it was through his leading role in the star-studded featureAngels in the Outfield, his run as teenage heartthrob Tommy Solomon on3rd Rock from the Sun, or even his cameo appearance onRoseanne, everyone has their own memory of when they sawJoseph Gordon-Levittperform for the first time. Over the last three decades, his star has only continued to brighten through his work in projects includingBrick,Looper,Inception, and500 Days of Summer– just to gently dust the surface. Working with big-time directors likeChristopher Nolan,Robert Rodriguez, and his pal and frequent collaboratorRian Johnson, as well as opposite fellow Hollywood legends likeLeonardo DiCaprioandBruce Willis, Gordon-Levitt has had his fair share of high-pressure performances. During a recent interview with Collider’sSteve Weintraub, while promoting his upcoming film,Flora and Son, the Emmy winning actor shared the role that gave him the most jitters.
As it would turn out – just being Gordon-Levitt is intimidating enough for the actor, as he revealed, “HostingSNLwas very nerve-wracking.” After so long in the industry, the actor says, “I don’t get easily nervous,” adding, “Playing oppositeDaniel Day-LewisinLincolnwas pretty exciting.” Sure, it makes sense thathostingSaturday Night Livewould be an anxiety-inducing experience but Gordon-Levitt admits that it’s his latest project through which he’s faced the most challenge on a set.
“Because I’msinging and playing guitar in [Flora and Son], I was way more nervous for those scenes than I usually am for a shoot day,” the actor says of juggling two separate talents in the same production. A dream come true and something to cross off his acting bucket list, Gordon-Levitt adds, “I’ve always wanted to make music in a movie and this is really kind of the first time I got to, and so I had been practicing and singing. We shot some of these scenes in a sort of unconventional way.”
The Unconventional Approach to Filming the Music Scenes Sets ‘Flora and Son’ Apart
Explainingwhat set this production apartfrom other musical titles that he’s appeared in, including Disney’s live-actionPinocchio, Gordon-Levitt revealed that the songs were performed with cameras rolling as opposed to first recording in a studio before lip-synching them during filming. With all eyes on him, he admits to feeling the pressure, commenting, “Those days I definitely had some nerves… That challenged me in a very thrilling way.”
InJohn Carney’s upcoming movie, a single mother named Flora (Eve Hewson) is having a difficult time reconnecting with her son Max (Orén Kinlan). In a desperate move to keep Max busy and away from dabbling with thievery, Flora finds him an old guitar and gets him on the path of musical recovery. Along with Hewson, Kinlan, and Gordon-Levitt, the film also features performances fromJack Reynor,Don Wycherley,Kelly Thornton, andSophie Vavasseur.
Flora and Sonis now streaming on Apple TV+. You canread more about the movie in our guide here.
Flora and Son
A single mom at war with her son is trying to find a hobby for him. One day, she rescues a guitar from a dumpster.
