Guy Pearce has delivered many memorable performances over the years. Still, his role as Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan’s breakout thriller ‘Memento‘ has remained a cult classic that audiences still revisit today.
But while fans still praise the movie, Pearce now feels very differently. After watching Memento again recently, the actor admitted he was deeply unhappy with his on-screen performance.
Guy Pearce Says He “Hates” His Work In ‘Memento’
Pearce rewatched ‘Memento‘ and the experience hit him harder than expected. He admitted to The Sunday Times the rewatch sent him into what he described as an existential crisis and left him feeling depressed afterward. As the film played, Pearce realised he strongly disliked his own performance as Leonard Shelby.
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Pearce said he hated what he did in the movie and explained that this was the first time he had ever felt that way about Memento. Watching himself on screen made him question the acting choices he made at the time. That moment also changed how he views his professional history with Christopher Nolan.
For years, Pearce believed that studio politics, often blamed on a Warner Bros. executive, were the reason he never worked with Nolan again. He now says that the explanation no longer holds up.
Critics and Fans Strongly Disagree With Pearce
Pearce’s criticism of his performance doesn’t sit right with the audience, though. The movie was released in 2000, and at that time, critics praised both the film and Pearce’s portrayal of a man struggling with memory loss, calling it gripping and emotionally effective. The awards response reflected that praise only.
Pearce earned Best Actor nominations from the Chicago Film Critics Association and also won Best Actor at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards. More than two decades later, ‘Memento’ is still regarded as one of the most influential thrillers of its era. While Pearce now focuses on what he thinks went wrong, many viewers continue to see his performance as a major reason the film still works.
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Despite his regret over ‘Memento‘, Pearce’s career has remained strong and varied. Over the years, he has appeared in films and TV series such as ‘Priscilla’, ‘Queen of the Desert‘, ‘L.A. Confidential‘, ‘Prometheus‘, ‘The King’s Speech‘, ‘The Hurt Locker‘, and ‘Mare of Easttown‘. Most recently, Pearce earned major award recognition for his supporting role in The Brutalist, and the performance brought him an Academy Award nomination.
While Pearce now struggles to accept one of his most famous roles, the industry continues to celebrate his work. Whether he ever makes peace with ‘Memento‘ or not, the film remains a defining part of his legacy.
