Bronson Pinchot Reflects on Acting, “The Residence,” and a Career-Defining Pause

Bronson Pinchot, a seasoned stage and screen actor, shares his insights on acting, his role in Netflix’s “The Residence,” and a pivotal moment in his career where a seemingly insignificant pause nearly derailed a performance.

Pinchot recounts a director’s request to incorporate a pause before a key monologue. Despite his initial reservations, he complied, only to witness the disastrous results firsthand. A chance encounter outside the theater solidified the experience’s impact. A theatergoer directly expressed their disappointment, leading to an unexpected and humorous exchange.

With extensive experience in various mediums, Pinchot offers a pragmatic perspective on his craft. He expertly differentiates between acting and “being,” although he playfully deflects inquiries about his character-building process.

In “The Residence,” Pinchot portrays Didier Gotthard, a composed White House pastry chef harboring a secret. This role marks a significant departure from his iconic portrayal of Balki Bartokomous in “Perfect Strangers,” providing a chance to explore the nuances of a layered character.

In an interview, Pinchot described his initial reaction to the script as one of excitement. He recognized the script’s strength in suggesting as much as it explicitly stated. This economy of language created a fertile ground for acting and a unique playground for an actor.

Pinchot further elaborated on how this approach applied to his character. He embraced the challenge of portraying an unemotional individual, contrasting his usual preference for more demonstrative roles. He reflected on his journey as an actor, noting the crucial difference between excessive display and genuine fullness of emotion.

Filming “The Residence” provided Pinchot an opportunity to utilize a restrained approach. He likened his performance to a shopkeeper locking an iron door, metaphorically shielding his character’s emotions. The director’s team didn’t express any concern, indicating the success of his method.

Pinchot emphasizes the importance of talented scene partners. He states that with gifted actors, the focus shifts from “acting” to simply “being.” His experiences working with the cast of “The Residence” confirmed this principle, resulting in a truly collaborative process.

A particularly memorable moment involved a scene with A.B. Wynter. The actor shared behind-the-scenes details, highlighting the differences in the shared scenes with Andre Braugher and Giancarlo Esposito, and how these differences contributed to the scene’s depth.

Pinchot discussed the layered storytelling of “The Residence.” Multiple versions of each scene were filmed, showing the events from varying perspectives. This approach enriched the storytelling and added layers of complexity to the narrative, even to the point of adding another dimension of “guilt” to each character.

Away from the screen, Pinchot found joy in personal projects. He described the extensive renovation of his Pennsylvania houses, culminating in the creation of a private oasis. This act of creation mirrors his approach to acting—a deliberate process of carving out a specific reality.

[[img alt=”Giancarlo and Bronson Pinchot in ‘The Residence'” src=”/_next/image”]][[img alt=”Netflix” src=”/_next/image”]]