James Marsden Talks About How Being a Westworld Host Is a Lot Like Being an Actor

Recommended Videos

Today I learned that even James Marsden, the World’s Handsomest Man, isn’t safe from the male plague that is Matthew McConaughey impressions (right up there with Christopher Walken, Bane, etc.)—though he deserves credit acknowledging that it’s the one “everybody does” and for not going to the obvious “Alright, alright, alright” bit.

His impression is the big selling point of this clip from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but he also talks a lot about his role as Teddy on Westworld and the themes of the show. Apparently he and Evan Rachel Wood discovered it’s not too hard to play a robot when you realize how similar it is to acting:

We as actors, are robots. We’re the hosts. We come in, someone gives us lines to read, we have a narrative, we do the scene, we make out with someone who’s not our real girlfriend, we die, sometimes. And they yell, “Cut! Let’s do it one more time. Let’s reset and start over again.” We went, “That’s what we do for a living as actors!”

Marsden also shares an anecdote about a fan who told him a heart-warming story about his experiences watching the shows and reading the comic with his father and thanks Marsden for being a part of the tradition he now continues with his own child—right before Marsden realized he’s talking about Star Trek and not X-Men. The actor confesses to Colbert he just didn’t have the heart to tell the man he’s not Chris Pine.

You can check out the whole clip for some old photos of Colbert and Marsden too, where the 43-year-old actor confesses to being somewhat of a theater nerd (but handles it with significantly more composure than Eddie Redmayne).

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google+.


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article ‘Cruel Summer’ Season 1 Ending Explained
Cruel Summer poster
Read Article Where Is Rocky From ‘Below Deck’ Now? Explained
Raquel 'Rocky' Dakota from Below Deck
Read Article ‘The Jinx,’ Revisited: Everything You Need To Remember Before Part Two
Robert Durst in 'The Jinx'
Read Article ‘Miss Scarlet’ Doesn’t Need To Introduce a New Love Interest—It’s Already Got the Perfect Candidate
Felix Scott as Patrick Nash and Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet in Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 3
Read Article Meet ‘Sweet Tooth’s New Friends and Enemies
Gus (Christian Convery), a boy with antlers, in Sweet Tooth
Related Content
Read Article ‘Cruel Summer’ Season 1 Ending Explained
Cruel Summer poster
Read Article Where Is Rocky From ‘Below Deck’ Now? Explained
Raquel 'Rocky' Dakota from Below Deck
Read Article ‘The Jinx,’ Revisited: Everything You Need To Remember Before Part Two
Robert Durst in 'The Jinx'
Read Article ‘Miss Scarlet’ Doesn’t Need To Introduce a New Love Interest—It’s Already Got the Perfect Candidate
Felix Scott as Patrick Nash and Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet in Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 3
Read Article Meet ‘Sweet Tooth’s New Friends and Enemies
Gus (Christian Convery), a boy with antlers, in Sweet Tooth