“I was deeply insecure, I didn’t enjoy it”: Walton Goggins Recalls His Early Struggle in Hollywood as an Actor

As Walton Goggins turns into the Hollywood highlight following his appearance in Fallout, the actor recalls his early years in the entertainment industry. Reminiscing the days of struggle that eventually catapulted him to prominence, Goggins got candid about the initial challenges he faced.

Although the actor has now explored almost everything, from TV crime dramas to blockbuster Hollywood films, Walton Goggins still remembers the day he first started working as an actor. With a mind full of dreams and a heart filled with passion, as Goggins eventually made it to the summit, the actor looked back on his career, during a recent interview.

Walton Goggins Recalls His Inception in Hollywood

From dominating the television with his performance in The Shield and Justified to stealing the spotlight with his appearance in the blockbuster MCU movie Ant-Man and the Wasp, Walton Goggins has come a long way in his career. Recently, the actor got hailed for his role as The Ghoul in Jonathan Nolan‘s Amazon Prime show Fallout. While the series turned him into headlines, Goggins took the opportunity to look back upon his career.

During an interview with The Independent, Walton Goggins thus took a walk down memory lane to recall his initial years in the competitive industry. While The Guardian recently described the actor as “the best character actor working today”, Goggins got candid about his initial experience in the industry. Speaking with the outlet, the actor therefore threw the spotlight on his inception.

Venturing into the entertainment industry in the early 1990s, Walton Goggins admitted struggling mightily in Hollywood. However, according to the actor, his struggles were quite different from his colleagues. While his co-stars struggled to land breakthrough roles, Goggins’ struggle was more internal, for he admitted struggling with insecurity.

Walton Goggins Admitted Starting Off as Insecure

Speaking with The Independent, Walton Goggins opened up about how he used to be uncomfortable with his roles, and his position in the glamorous industry. Often comparing himself with others and seeking validation in the process, Goggins mentioned how his insecurity almost got the best of him.

“When I first started acting, I was deeply insecure. I didn’t enjoy it. I wasn’t comfortable with it. I wasn’t totally sure what I was asking myself to do.”

Scared of the competition, Walton Goggins even admitted to overthinking his chances for a breakthrough in the entertainment industry. Watching his co-stars and colleagues gradually getting their breakthrough roles, Goggins admitted seeking external validation for his work. While describing his moments on set, the actor noted waiting by the monitor, hoping for someone to say, “Great job, Walton”, for he “needed that validation”.

However, while looking back at his career, Walton Goggins proudly mentioned how he has evolved in his career, for he no longer seeks “approval from anyone”. Goggins found his breakthrough role in 2002 when he was cast as the racist, corrupt police thug Shane Vendrell in the gritty and compelling show The Shield.