Known for his groundbreaking work on films like Inception and The Dark Knight Trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s name has become synonymous with cinematic innovation and storytelling prowess. Throughout his career, the director has collaborated with numerous actors, even assembling an ensemble cast for his 2023 movie that comprised some of the industry’s most skilled and seasoned performers.
However, David Krumholtz believes that it is not always easy to work with Nolan. The actor, who portrayed Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Isidor Isaac Rabi in the 2023 film, said that even the most experienced actors could feel anxious while working with the filmmaker.
Christopher Nolan Has an Impact on His Cast
Known for starring in shows like Numb3rs, the Australian actor David Krumholtz got the opportunity to work with Christopher Nolan in the 2023 film Oppenheimer. The actor shared his experience working with the renowned filmmaker in a recent appearance on the Inside Of You podcast.
Krumholtz admitted that he was nervous performing among some of the best and most talented people in the industry. “I was really nervous. Everyone was,” he shared during the interview. The Wonder Wheel actor also recalled doing a scene with the Terminator Genisys star Jason Clarke. He shared that Clarke, starring as Roger Robb in the movie, was equally nervous during his scenes.
Noting that he had a substantial amount of dialogue and some “heavy moments” in the movie, he shared that he could still observe his commitment to the role. “He was up to the challenge and that he was gonna nail it,” David Krumholtz said before adding, “But it came from a place of, ‘I better nail it.'”
Reflecting on his own experience, the Oppenheimer actor suggested that Nolan’s directorial approach, combined with the presence of some of Hollywood’s finest actors, created an environment where everyone felt compelled to deliver their best performances.
David Krumholtz Feared Being Fired From Oppenheimer
During his interview, David Krumholtz also recounted his first day on the set of Oppenheimer, where he was filming a scene with Cillian Murphy. The actor shared that Christopher Nolan was observing his close-ups during the scene on a handheld monitor.
And the filmmaker was not satisfied with his performance. The actor recalled going through 14 takes for his first scene and nine for the subsequent one. Emphasizing that Nolan typically doesn’t exceed three takes for a scene, he shared that he was getting nervous.
When the Inception director remarked his performance, saying, “I don’t know what you’re doing,” the actor admitted to being so anxious that he feared being fired from the movie. Despite the apprehension, Krumholtz also claimed that Nolan’s remarks motivated him to enhance his performance and give his best in the movie.
