Bronson Pinchot Discusses Acting, “The Residence,” and the Importance of “Being”

Bronson Pinchot, a seasoned actor, recounts a pivotal moment in his career where a seemingly minor pause in a play led to a disastrous performance. A post-show encounter with audience members solidified the impact of this mistake. He shared the humorous anecdote, highlighting his pragmatic approach to his craft.

Pinchot’s career spans stage, screen, and voice acting, including narrating over 400 audiobooks. He skillfully distinguishes between acting and simply “being,” although he playfully refuses to disclose his character-building techniques.

In Netflix’s “The Residence,” Pinchot portrays Didier Gotthard, the White House’s pastry chef, a complex character with a hidden secret. This role marks a departure from Pinchot’s iconic portrayal of Balki Bartokomous in “Perfect Strangers.”

In an interview, Pinchot discussed his initial reaction to the script, noting its layered narrative and economical writing style, describing it as a haven for acting. He explains how the script’s subtlety allowed for a significant amount of unsaid information.

He then delves into the nuanced portrayal of his character, contrasting his current role with his more demonstrative past performances. Pinchot emphasizes his personal preference for less-is-more acting, especially in film, explaining how the camera’s intimacy impacts performance.

The actor shares an anecdote from a past musical where a malfunctioning prop led to an unexpectedly powerful moment. This experience reinforced his understanding of the importance of genuine emotion over overt theatricality.

Pinchot discusses his approach to his role in “The Residence,” explaining how he created a sense of emotional distance for his character, comparing it to a shopkeeper locking up their shop at the end of the day. He notes the positive response from the crew, suggesting his method was successful.

He praises his fellow actors, highlighting the collaborative nature of their work and emphasising the value of exceptional scene partners. Pinchot dismisses unnecessary acting, preferring a focus on authenticity. He explains that the collaborative process enabled him to simply “show up” and “be”.

A standout scene involved a gingerbread house replica of the White House, shot with two different actors. A personal anecdote during the filming with Giancarlo Esposito created a poignant moment in the scene, enriching their performances.

Pinchot details the multifaceted approach to filming, involving multiple versions of each scene, reflecting different perspectives and interpretations of events. He describes the overall narrative structure, noting every character has a degree of culpability. Pinchot highlights his enjoyment of whodunits but his talent for quickly identifying the culprit.

Finally, Pinchot discusses his current passions outside of acting, focusing on his recent landscape design project. This personal endeavor acts as an oasis of calm, a skill honed over years of acting.