THE BOSS

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE HAD NEVER PLAYED THE GUITAR. BUT HE HAD TO PLAY ROCK ICON BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. THE ACTOR TAKES US THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BECOMING THE BOSS IN HIS FIRST EVER MAINSTREAM LEAD ROLE.

- WORDS FARHAN SHAH PHOTOS DISNEY

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE IS HAVING A MOMENT.

I first watched him in the television series Shameless, which ran for 10 seasons from 2011 to 2021. White played the highly intelligent juvenile delinquent Lip Gallagher. The show was a comedy, yet also tragic and relatable in many ways. It followed the ups and downs of the Gallagher family, and the troubles each member of the clan got into, including Lip.

Then, White disappeared. There were occasional cameos on television and supporting roles in films. But nothing really stuck—until The Bear. White plays the lead role, an award-winning New York chef de cuisine who returns home to take over his late brother's sandwich shop. It boasted razor-sharp writing, portrayed the kitchen as a cauldron of stress and anxiety, and had incredibly relatable characters. It also catapulted White to mainstream success. Everyone wanted a piece of him, including Calvin Klein.

The actor starred in a sensuous commercial for the brand, dressed only in the iconic white trunks. The film showed off his lean physique and the rooftops of New York City, although I doubt anyone paid attention to the latter.

Now, White is poised to become an even bigger household name in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, a biopic of the legendary American musician. He plays the eponymous role, the first time he’s taken on a lead role of such magnitude. We spoke to White about the film, his preparations for the film, and how he had to steel himself mentally to play someone so well-loved by the American public.

How did you get involved with this film and what was your initial reaction when you first learned that the filmmakers wanted you to play Bruce Springsteen?