Summary
- Samuel L. Jackson takes his work seriously and works hard to make his roles believable, choosing projects he is passionate about.
- Unlike some actors, Samuel enjoys watching his own movies and finds it important for performers to be able to watch their own work.
- While he didn't mention any names, Samuel's comments about actors who refuse to watch their own films could be seen as a dig at Johnny Depp and others who share the same view.
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most prolific and versatile actors of his era, with more than 180 acting credits to his name. After so many years in the industry, and countless nominations plus wins of various awards (including a nomination for one Oscar), Jackson is something of an expert in his craft.
Not all of his projects have been successful, but Jackson has clearly learned from his few mistakes. So leave it to the hilariously foul-mouthed actor to throw some not-so-subtle shade at his fellow actors for one habit that he just can't stand in the industry.
Samuel L. Jackson Takes His Work Seriously
Anyone who's watched a Samuel L. Jackson flick recently knows that the man is a serious actor. He works hard to make his roles believable, taking on projects that he's passionate about.
As a result, Jackson is known for some heavy-hitting roles among his 100+ film roles throughout his career.
Most notable were his roles in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Pulp Fiction, and of course, starring as Marvel's Nick Fury, though it's hard to truly pick a "top" project of the veteran actor that's representative of his career as a whole.
He was also critical of a director who he thought ruined his odds of winning an Oscar by leaving Jackson's best scenes on the cutting room floor—proving that the actor has a lot of opinions about his work.
Not only that, but Samuel has also passed on roles that weren't right for him for whatever reason. Once, he even turned down a gig because he wasn't thrilled about working with 50 Cent.
Jackson has also gotten a bit heated when experiencing a case of mistaken identity; he lost it on a reporter who thought he was Laurence Fishburne. By this point in his career though, Jackson is probably right to be indignant when reporters don't recognize him.
He's come a long way from his early career days, and he also doesn't hold back when asked about things that other actors are uncomfortable about.
Samuel L. Jackson Has Always Watched His Own Movies
Samuel L. Jackson has a reputation for being something of a tough guy, and that quality was apparent when he sat down for an interview on 60 Minutes. In the interview, Jackson was asked whether he watched his own films.
Plenty of actors refuse to watch their own projects, from Reese Witherspoon with her massive back catalog of films to Pamela Anderson circa her Baywatch days. Samuel, though, had a very different answer to this question than many of his fellow actors.
When asked if he watches his movies, Samuel answered, "Yes I do." When asked to elaborate, Samuel admitted that he thought people who said "I can't stand to watch myself" were talking "some bull****."
In classic Samuel L. Jackson style, he dropped a cussword and a side-eye, noting, "It's like 'really? It's a watch-me business and if you can't watch it, why should people pay $13.50 to watch you do it'?"
Samuel didn't call out any actors by name while making his somewhat judgmental admission, but fans already know he doesn't shy away from tough questions. The actor also explained that acting was perfect for him because of the expectation that he would watch his work.
He recalled acting in stage plays in his younger years and wanting to be able to watch the stage production with him in it, which wasn't always possible because of logistics. While other actors might be uncomfortable watching themselves, Samuel seems to enjoy it—and not just because he wants to try and improve his performance.
The way he spoke about viewing footage of his work, Jackson sounded as if he was proud of everything he had done, not that he needed notes or do-overs after watching the footage back.
Maybe other actors aren't quite as confident in their work, but for Samuel, that's definitely a non-issue.
Was Samuel L. Jackson Making A Dig At Johnny Depp?
Some viewers who rewatched the old interview clip assumed that Samuel was actually taking a dig at a fellow actor who has famously said he won't watch his own work. Johnny Depp has been quoted as saying he doesn't like to watch his projects, and that it's 'none of his business' what fans experience.
Unlike Samuel, who wants his work to stand as something of a representation of him and his skill, Johnny's explanation for why he won't watch his films suggests that it's up to the viewer to find the magic in his work—and it's not his job to experience that.
Of course, since Samuel didn't name Johnny specifically, it's not known whether he was truly referring to him. Either way, Jackson could have offended a handful of different actors, but there's no telling who he was thinking of when imitating someone who "can't stand" to watch themselves on screen.
