Bronson Pinchot Discusses Acting, “The Residence,” and Personal Fulfillment

Bronson Pinchot recounts a pivotal moment in his stage career: a director’s request for a pause before a key monologue. Despite his reservations, he complied and the result was a disaster. A chance encounter with audience members later revealed the impact of his decision.

Pinchot’s experience highlighted the challenges and nuances of his profession. He shares his perspective on acting versus simply “being,” though he’s tight-lipped about specific techniques.

In Netflix’s “The Residence,” Pinchot portrays Didier Gotthard, a White House pastry chef with a secret. This role differs significantly from his well-known character, Balki Bartokomous, in “Perfect Strangers.”

In an interview, Pinchot discussed his initial reaction to the script’s subtlety and layered complexity. He highlighted the economical writing style, which encouraged a focus on unspoken emotions. He described it as an actor’s playground, particularly enjoyable due to the murder mystery element and Paul William Davies’ writing.

The actor discussed the challenge of portraying an unemotional character, a departure from his usual demonstrative roles. He noted the contrast between stage and film acting; the need for restraint on screen, in contrast to the expressive nature of theatre.

He recounted a memorable theatrical experience where a malfunctioning prop forced improvisation, leading to an unexpectedly powerful audience reaction. This further illustrated his understanding of conveying emotions through authenticity rather than overt displays.

Discussing “The Residence,” Pinchot emphasized the deliberate choice to underplay his character, Didier. The director’s lack of feedback suggests he successfully conveyed the character’s reserved nature.

He praised his scene partners, highlighting the importance of strong collaboration in acting. He described his coaching philosophy, advocating for “being” over “acting” when working with talented co-stars.

A particularly memorable scene involved a gingerbread replica of the White House, filmed with two different actors. A shared history and impromptu reminiscence deeply enhanced the performance.

Pinchot described the multi-layered approach to filming, where different perspectives of events were captured. The production’s creative process encouraged exploration and different interpretations of the narrative.

He expressed his love of whodunits, but also his knack for quickly identifying the culprit in these stories. He jokingly shared an anecdote about deducing the killer solely from a brief glimpse of a maid.

Finally, Pinchot shared his current source of joy: renovating his Pennsylvania homes and creating an oasis-like garden. He views this personal project as a parallel to his acting career, applying the same focus and creativity.