Jared Harris, known for his role in Foundation, has shared how advice from Danny DeVito during an early audition shaped his approach to acting. DeVito, star of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of being recognizable in the industry. This encounter helped Harris navigate his career from independent films to prominent roles in television and film.
Jared Harris, a two-time Emmy nominee recognized for his versatile performances, recounted a pivotal moment from his early career in an interview with IGN Nordic. While auditioning for a film directed by Danny DeVito, Harris received advice that influenced his professional path. DeVito, then an established actor from Taxi and later It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, told the young Harris: "Good luck, kid, because you're going to need it."
When Harris expressed confusion, DeVito explained: "You really need me to explain this to you? You're so different in everything you do." Harris replied, "Isn't that the idea?" DeVito responded, "A successful actor is a recognizable actor. You are trying to start from scratch every single time you appear in a role. You have to hope that one day it will catch up with you."
This conversation occurred when Harris was relatively unknown and focused on independent films. He later realized this approach might not sustain a long-term career in the entertainment industry. Over time, Harris built a reputation through roles in acclaimed series such as Mad Men, The Crown, Chernobyl, The Terror, and Foundation, as well as films including Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Lincoln.
DeVito himself has a diverse career, spanning sitcoms like Taxi, the crime biopic Hoffa which he directed and starred in alongside Jack Nicholson, and his portrayal of the Penguin in Batman Returns. Harris first discussed this encounter in a 2009 Daily Actor interview, noting it happened a couple of years earlier during an audition for one of DeVito's projects. Possible films include Death to Smoochy from 2002, Duplex from 2003, or the TV movie Queen B from 2005, though Harris did not secure the role in any of them.
The advice from DeVito, who admired Harris's chameleonic talent, highlighted the risks of constantly reinventing oneself in an industry that values familiarity.