Bronson Pinchot Discusses His Craft, “The Residence,” and the Art of Being

Bronson Pinchot, a seasoned actor with extensive experience on stage, screen, and in voice acting, shared his insights on acting and his latest role in Netflix’s “The Residence.”

Pinchot recounted a pivotal moment in his career where a seemingly innocuous directorial suggestion—a pause before a monologue—resulted in an unexpected audience reaction. He humorously described encountering theatergoers who voiced their disapproval of his performance. This experience solidified his pragmatic approach to his craft.

In “The Residence,” Pinchot plays Didier Gotthard, the White House pastry chef. This character contrasts sharply with Pinchot’s iconic role as Balki Bartokomous in “Perfect Strangers,” providing him with an opportunity to explore the nuances of a less demonstrative persona.

The actor revealed his initial reaction to the script: the writing’s economical style, leaving much unsaid, presented a unique opportunity for nuanced performance. Pinchot described the script as a playground for acting, praising the writer’s ability to convey depth of feeling with minimal dialogue.

Discussing his character, Pinchot highlighted the challenge and excitement of portraying an unemotional character, a departure from his typically demonstrative roles. He contrasted his approach to acting in theatre versus film, emphasizing the importance of “being” fully present rather than over-acting, particularly in film where the camera captures subtle emotions.

Pinchot discussed a specific moment during filming where he deliberately chose to underplay his performance. He explained that his character, Didier, was reserved and guarded. The directorial team approved of this interpretation, indicating a successful embodiment of the character’s personality.

He praised his scene partners and his collaborative approach to acting, noting the importance of strong collaborators to allow for authentic, rather than overly-acted, performances.

Pinchot also highlighted a memorable scene involving a gingerbread replica of the White House, recalling a poignant moment shared with co-star Giancarlo Esposito, connecting their shared experience in the industry.

He described the multi-layered approach to filming, which included multiple versions of scenes, adding another dimension to the mystery. Pinchot also talked about his own ability to quickly discern who the culprit is in mystery stories.

Concluding the interview, Pinchot shared his current source of joy—the creation of a personal room and garden, a project that demonstrated his creative skills. He likens this to the skill of creating an oasis of calm amidst chaos, a skill he honed throughout his years as an actor.