During a recent interview, Glen Powell shared details about an uncomfortable encounter he had with famed actor Dustin Hoffman, shedding light on the unpredictable realities of the film industry. Discussing the Glen Powell Dustin Hoffman meeting, Powell recounted how a promising connection with the Hollywood legend quickly turned awkward following a script reading.
Powell Discusses His Early Impressions of Show Business
Appearing on the popular show Hot Ones with host Sean Evans, Glen Powell, known for roles in Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick, reflected on his bumpy road in Hollywood. Evans asked Powell to describe his journey from having hopeful expectations about the industry to experiencing its challenges firsthand. Powell responded by recalling a personal encounter he had with Dustin Hoffman that stood out in his memory.
According to Powell, his first meeting with Hoffman happened at a dinner where he was surprised to learn that Hoffman had watched his early movie, The Great Debaters.
“The fact that he saw this movie just like blew my mind,”
said Powell, expressing his disbelief at the time. He further noted the significance of the moment, stating,
“This is the coolest moment of my entire life.”
— Glen Powell, Actor
From Praise to Discomfort at a Script Reading
Powell revealed that Hoffman had complimented his acting during their initial meeting, which thrilled him. Hoffman encouraged him to stay connected after the event, building Powell’s confidence even further. However, things took a turn when, a few days later, Hoffman invited Powell to participate in a script reading session.
During the script reading, the atmosphere shifted. Powell admitted that despite starting to read, he was distracted by Hoffman sitting directly across from him, someone he deeply admired.
“He’s one of my favorite actors of all time,”
said Powell. As the session went on, Powell noticed Hoffman’s enthusiasm waning, describing it candidly:
“As I’m reading, I’m watching the life drain from his eyes being like, ‘This guy sucks so bad.’ And I was like, ‘Oh no.’”
— Glen Powell, Actor
Feeling the pressure, Powell said he became acutely aware that he was losing Hoffman’s attention with every moment.
“And you can like [it]—I’m watching him, I’m losing him. And then I’m being like, ‘Yeah, you’re losing him,’ and then I look back and I’m losing him even more. And I left so defeated.”
— Glen Powell, Actor
Learning Through Discomfort: Powell’s Changed Perspective
Reflecting on this sour experience, Powell explained that it gave him a new outlook on fame and creative collaboration. He came to realize that even legendary actors like Dustin Hoffman, who once seemed larger than life, were ultimately collaborators with the shared goal of entertaining audiences.
While the meeting didn’t go as planned, Powell emphasized that his excitement for the industry has not faded, though his view of show business has matured. The encounter demonstrated to Powell that everyone in the industry, regardless of status, is working together to entertain, and that moments of discomfort can lead to significant personal growth.
Details of this story were originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad for Mandatory.
