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Harold Perrineau: The Struggles They Don’t Tell You About in Acting

2025/5/22

Living The Red Life

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Harold Perrineau

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Harold Perrineau: 我来自布鲁克林 Cypress Hills 的一个普通社区，那里没有人从事演艺事业。我的演艺之路充满了曲折，从舞蹈演员到演员，我一直在不断学习和尝试。我很高兴当初我并不知道成为演员需要付出什么，这反而让我勇往直前。我相信自己能成为演员，即使别人觉得我不适合。即使取得了一些成就，我仍然在不断追求新的目标，因为我不想感到无聊，喜欢尝试新鲜事物。我喜欢不断挑战自己，因为每个挑战都是新的和有趣的。演员和企业家面临着许多相似的挑战，都需要努力奋斗和不断学习。你必须相信自己，才能不断前进。即使是微不足道的角色，也能激励你不断前进。我现在做着自己喜欢的事情，并且感到非常幸运。我希望我的孩子们看到我努力工作并取得成功，这样他们也能成为伟大的人。我渴望成功，也愿意为此做出牺牲。参演《罗密欧与朱丽叶》对我来说是一个重要的时刻。摩根·弗里曼和丹泽尔·华盛顿对我的认可让我感到非常荣幸。《From》的成功超出了我的预期，观众能在剧中人物身上看到自己的影子。

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Chapters

Harold Perrineau shares his incredible journey from his early struggles and unique path in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn to achieving success in Hollywood. He emphasizes the importance of belief, perseverance, and pivoting to overcome obstacles and achieve one's dreams. His story highlights the non-linear nature of success.

Harold Perrineau's early life in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn
His early struggles and unique path to becoming an actor
His belief in himself and persevering despite challenges
The importance of pivoting and adapting to achieve success
The non-linear nature of success in acting and entrepreneurship

Shownotes Transcript

Harold Perrineau, acclaimed actor best known for roles in Lost, Oz, and Romeo + Juliet, joins the show for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation. From humble beginnings and being misunderstood as a “weird dancer” to becoming a staple in some of television and film’s most groundbreaking projects, Harold opens up about the grit, passion, and occasional luck that shaped his path. He reflects on his time in theater, challenges in breaking out of typecasting, and what it was like to work with legendary talents like Baz Luhrmann, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Anthony Hopkins.

Throughout the interview, Harold dives into his evolution not just as an actor, but as an entrepreneur and creator. He shares unforgettable moments—like being recognized by Morgan Freeman and getting praise from Denzel Washington—and how they affirmed his journey. He also discusses his recent hit show FROM, what’s next for his production projects, and drops empowering advice for anyone building a career or business from the ground up: stay engaged, stay interested, and never stop building. It’s a masterclass in passion and perseverance.

CHAPTERS

02:12 – Early Struggles and Theater Roots

04:46 – Being Typecast and Breaking Out

07:11 – Acting in 'Oz' and Its Challenges

09:32 – Playing Mercutio in ‘Romeo + Juliet’

12:07 – Working with Leonardo DiCaprio & Baz Luhrmann

14:29 – Landing Iconic Roles and Staying Grounded

16:59 – The Power of Luck in an Acting Career

19:03 – Meeting Morgan Freeman & Denzel Washington

21:00 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

23:17 – ‘FROM’ and Unexpected Success

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