Ebon Moss-Bachrach has a clear philosophy for sustaining a creative career: commitment cannot depend entirely on perfect material or pure motivation.
In a 2024 interview with The Talks, the actor reflected on the challenge of finding inspiration in every job, including projects that may not immediately generate artistic excitement.
“You have to be a perennial! It’s very important when you work as an actor, or in any kind of collaborative media, to be able to fool yourself and trick yourself into thinking that the thing you’re working on has some value or some potential. Even if it doesn’t!” Moss-Bachrach said.
He continued: “One of the hardest challenges for me is when the material or the writing is not so good, or maybe when my motives are not so pure, I have to figure out ways in, ways to find inspiration.”
His point was not that every role provides the same degree of creative fulfillment. Instead, Moss-Bachrach described the effort required to respect the work while it is being made, regardless of any private reservations he might have about it.
“You need to be able to fool yourself for that amount of time that you’re working on it, to be able to show up and honor it and do service to your own work,” he explained.
Balancing idealism with practical realities
Moss-Bachrach said he does not feel “cynical” about acting, although he acknowledged that some of his “idealism” has faded with age. His approach is to avoid condemning a project before completing the work it demands.
“I try not to judge the material too harshly,” he added.
The actor also addressed the economic considerations that can shape professional choices. While he recognizes the financial realities attached to any career, he said the pursuit of wealth was not what drew him to acting.
“I mean, listen, if I was interested in making a lot of money, I never would have become an actor!” Moss-Bachrach said.
What continues to appeal to him is the range available across different forms of performance. “What I’ve always been attracted to most is the variety of experiences that you can have between the three medium — film, television, and theater — but also with different kinds of writing and different kinds of parts,” he said.
That emphasis on varied experiences also surfaced in a separate 2024 interview with The Guardian. Moss-Bachrach said he wanted to continue working for the rest of his life and make the most of his expanding opportunities.
“I love my job, and I want to do it to the day I die,” he said. “I would love to, you know, keel over on set. That’d be fun. I feel like I’ve just gotten started in experiencing things. I have more opportunities now than I’ve ever had before, and I want to maximize them, and I want to work with all kinds of people all over the world, and just keep growing and having different experiences. I guess just keeping my hands dirty.”
An actor who refuses to judge his characters
Moss-Bachrach has applied a similar no-judgment principle to the people he portrays. In a 2023 interview with Daily Actor, he said he is not concerned with whether his roles are likable and prefers to remain firmly on a character’s side.
He argued that a story benefits when the performer pursues the character’s desired outcome rather than concentrating on that person’s weaknesses. The failures and shortcomings, he said, can emerge naturally through the events and actions of the story.
He has also spoken about shutting out expectations while performing. In his interview with The Talks, Moss-Bachrach said that thinking about being “good” or “great” can pull an actor away from the immediate work. His solution is to remain inside the scene, focus on the other performer and pursue what his character needs. That concentration, he said, makes the surrounding pressure and noise disappear.
The reflections come amid prominent recognition for Moss-Bachrach’s performance as Richie Jerimovich in “The Bear.” The role has brought him two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, as well as two Golden Globe nominations.
His television credits also include “Girls,” “NOS4A2,” “The Punisher,” “The Last Ship” and “Andor.” On film, he has appeared in “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Higher Ground” and “No Hard Feelings.”
Moss-Bachrach also plays Ben Grimm/The Thing in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” He is set to reprise the role in “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” — further opportunities for an actor determined to keep finding value, inspiration and new experiences in the work.