Actor Stanley Tucci has not shied away from discussing his career difficulties. In an interview piece published by Vanity Fair on October 22, 2024, the actor revealed that he faced difficulty in finding a suitable role after doing The Devil Wears Prada in 2006, in which he played the role of Nigel.
His character in the film was one of Runaway magazine’s fashion authorities and a close associate of Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep. While speaking to Vanity Fair about his career, he said,
“After The Devil Wears Prada, I couldn’t get a job, and I didn’t quite understand that, but that’s just the way it was. So I went and did stuff that I didn’t necessarily want to do, but I did it.”
Stanley Tucci didn’t specify which past projects he had avoided but mentioned that his acting career had experienced fluctuations, sometimes due to the nature of the business and other times for personal reasons.
He reflected on being ill six years prior, which disrupted his work for a while. Although he eventually returned, he admitted that financial necessity forced him to start working sooner than he should have, lacking the energy after his treatments. The actor was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2017. Over time, however, he gradually regained his footing.
Stanley Tucci has appeared in numerous projects throughout his career, including The Lovely Bones, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as well as Julie & Julia, Spotlight, Patient Zero, and The Hunger Games series.
Stanley Tucci was tight-lipped about The Devil Wears Prada sequel
When asked about the sequel to the Meryl Streep starrer film, Stanley Tucci said he couldn't provide an answer, noting he wasn't permitted to discuss it. He speculated there was likely interest in making it happen but emphasized uncertainty, as it may not occur.
As he discussed the way he approached any role in his career, Stanley Tucci explained that excessive research could sometimes be counterproductive, leading to overthinking, which can negatively impact performance. He said,
“In any art form, the important thing is that you’re not thinking. When you’re painting, you’re not thinking. You can’t think. You have to have done all your thinking before and now you’re just making a connection and you’re living really in the moment because that’s what we do in real life.”
However, Stanley Tucci expressed that while acting was enjoyable, the long periods of waiting to perform could feel like a waste of time. He acknowledged that delays are often necessary for preparation, but with directors like Edward Berger or the Russo brothers, the process is more efficient.
Despite that, he added that on many other sets, poor organization or overthinking could lead to extended waiting periods in the trailer, which could be boring. Since actors never know when they will be called, they must remain in a state of emotional and intellectual limbo, unable to fully engage in anything except small distractions like a crossword puzzle or social media.