Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump, Gaining 15 Pounds and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
Sebastian Stan portrays Donald Trump in The Apprentice, a film that explores Trump’s rise to fame and the development of his persona. Despite the film’s critical acclaim, Hollywood has been hesitant to release it due to Trump’s legal team’s attempts to block it and the potential backlash from a future Trump presidency. Stan’s portrayal of Trump aims to provide insight into the former president’s character and the American dream.
Sebastian Stan Variety Cover Story
Heather Hazzan for Variety
It started with the most famous voice on the planet, the one that just won’t shut up.
Sebastian Stan, in real life, sounds very little like Donald Trump, whom he’s portraying in the upcoming film The Apprentice. Sure, both he and Trump share a tristate accent—Stan has lived in the city for years and attended Rutgers University before launching his career—but their manner of speaking is completely different. “I think he’s a lot smarter than people want to say about him,” Stan notes. He credits Trump’s repetitive messaging as a key part of his success. “He repeats things consistently, and he’s given you a brand.”
Heather Hazzan for Variety
We’re sitting over coffee in Manhattan, and Stan is dressed casually in a black chore coat and tee. As we talk, he frequently references the vast research that went into his preparation for playing Trump. His phone is filled with over 130 videos of Trump, labeled “DT” and “DT PHYSICALITY,” capturing Trump’s voice, movements, and gestures over decades. “It wasn’t just about how he spoke,” Stan explains, “but how he moved, how he presented himself.” This extensive study of Trump’s mannerisms helped him improvise entire scenes under the guidance of director Ali Abbasi.
Stan recalls Abbasi asking him to improvise lines about taxes during a scene set in the 1980s. “Ali could come in on the second take and say, ‘Why don’t you talk a little bit about the taxes and how you don’t want to pay?’” For Stan, this meant understanding not just Trump’s public persona but also his views during different periods. “Every night, I’d go home and prepare not only for the next day but for wherever Ali might take us.”
Heather Hazzan for Variety
Stan also underwent a rapid physical transformation for the role, gaining 15 pounds to replicate Trump’s figure during the height of his New York real estate career. “You’d be surprised how much weight you can gain in two months,” he laughs. For Stan, this physical transformation was crucial in portraying Trump’s evolution from a relatively unknown developer to a national celebrity. “Trump’s size is a part of his story,” he explains, referencing how Trump’s physicality became as much a part of his public image as his speeches.
Stan’s Trump is not a caricature, but a fully realized, complex figure. He describes his approach to the role as deeply empathetic, and he was determined to portray Trump as a human being, rather than a “cartoon villain.” Working closely with Abbasi, Stan even improvised several key scenes based on real-life statements made by Trump, adding a level of authenticity to the portrayal.
Heather Hazzan for Variety
Despite the film’s success at Cannes, where it garnered critical acclaim, The Apprentice faced significant challenges due to Trump’s legal team attempting to block its U.S. release. “I am quite shocked, to be honest,” Abbasi admits. Hollywood, often seen as politically progressive, seemed hesitant to touch a project that depicted Trump’s rise to power, especially with a potentially renewed presidential bid looming. “This isn’t a hit piece,” Stan emphasizes. “It’s about his character and his relationships, not his politics.”
Stan remains optimistic, however, about the film’s potential. He sees The Apprentice as a necessary reflection on Trump’s journey to becoming a global figure. “There are a lot of people who love reading the [film’s] Wikipedia page and throwing out their opinions,” he says, “But they don’t actually know what they’re talking about.”
After years of supporting roles in projects like I, Tonya and Pam & Tommy, Stan views this year as a defining one for his career. “This fall, I’m doing two roles that are wildly different,” he says, referencing both The Apprentice and A Different Man, in which he plays a disfigured man seeking a transformative treatment. “It’s an opportunity to show what I’m capable of.”
Heather Hazzan for Variety
As Stan reflects on his preparation for The Apprentice, he admits that the project pushed him to his limits, both physically and emotionally. He credits Abbasi for pushing him beyond the script, creating moments that felt real and unscripted. “Ali wanted us to live in the moment,” Stan recalls. “We improvised a lot, and that brought out a different side of Trump.”
For Stan, the greatest challenge of the role wasn’t just mimicking Trump’s voice or gestures—it was capturing the essence of a man whose influence has reshaped American politics. “You can take a Bach or a Beethoven, and everyone’s going to play that differently on the piano, right?” Stan says, smiling. “This is my take on Trump.”
Stan’s upcoming projects also include a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thunderbolts. “It’s kind of like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” he says, describing his role as Bucky Barnes leading a group of misfit heroes. Despite the scrutiny that Marvel movies have faced in recent years, Stan remains protective of the franchise. “Marvel films allow us to have smaller movies too,” he says. “They feed the entire machinery of Hollywood.”
Maria Bakalova and Sebastian Stan in The Apprentice Pief Weyman
With The Apprentice poised to drop in the midst of a highly polarized election cycle, Stan acknowledges the risk involved in taking on such a controversial figure. But for him, the project was never about politics. “The way to deal with something is to confront it,” Stan says firmly. For audiences, The Apprentice offers a visceral look at Trump’s early years, one that forces viewers to reconsider the man behind the brand.
The Cinema Group on Stan's upcoming Films
Sebastian Stan is proving to be one of the most versatile actors of his generation. His performances in The Apprentice and A Different Man demonstrate a level of commitment and range that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. In The Apprentice, Stan goes beyond impersonation, offering a nuanced portrayal of Trump that captures the complexities of his rise to fame. This isn’t just a political film—it’s a character study that forces viewers to reconsider the man behind the headlines.
In A Different Man, Stan delivers an equally impressive performance, this time shedding his physical appearance to explore the depths of identity and transformation. His ability to disappear into a role—whether it’s a disfigured man or one of the most famous figures in modern history—speaks to his dedication as an actor.
Finally, Stan’s return to the Marvel Universe in Thunderbolts is something fans are eagerly awaiting. The recent trailer has teased an exciting new chapter for Bucky Barnes, and Stan’s ability to balance blockbuster action with deep character work ensures that this will be a must-see film.
At The Cinema Group, we’re excited to see where Stan’s career takes him next. His commitment to challenging roles and his refusal to be typecast make him one of the most intriguing actors working today.
Source: Variety
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