Movies

Stanley Tucci Was Horrified by His Own Role in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones

Stanley Tucci Was Horrified by His Own Role in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Image credit: Paramount Pictures

Seems like the iconic role wasn't an enjoyable experience.

Most of us know the talented actor Stanley Tucci for his performance in Peter Jackson's movie, The Lovely Bones. In the film, Tucci played the sinister character of George Harvey.

Even though he got an Oscar nomination for his acting, Tucci shared during a chat with Entertainment Tonight that he's never going to take up a role like that one more time. He straight up called the whole experience "horrible" and really "tough."

Interestingly, Tucci wasn't really into the idea of playing this part at first. He actually tried to bail on being George Harvey before they even began shooting. Back then, he needed a gig, so he straight up asked Peter Jackson, the director, why he got picked for this messed up character.

Guess what? When Tucci asked Jackson about it, the answer was totally surprising. Jackson said he picked Tucci because he's got a sense of humor. He figured Tucci wouldn't go all super serious with the role.

Tucci’s portrayal of George Harvey is a stark contrast to other roles he has cherished. He fondly recalls his experiences playing Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada and Paul Child in Julie and Julia, roles that he would "happily" reprise.

Stanley Tucci Was Horrified by His Own Role in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones - image 1

These characters, unlike George Harvey, are ones that Tucci enjoyed embodying and would love to revisit in the future.

Tucci's character is a serial rapist and killer. One of the people he messes with in the story is 14-year-old Susie Salmon, played by Saoirse Ronan.

Following her demise, the spirit of Susie keeps a vigilant eye on her family and the person who ended her life. Struggling between a yearning for retribution and a longing for serenity, she finds herself in a complex and burdensome position.

The dark and heavy nature of this role weighed on Tucci, making the filming experience challenging and emotionally taxing. However, despite the distressing nature of his character in the movie, Tucci’s performance was so nuanced and chilling, that it got him an Oscar nomination.

However, the same year, Christoph Waltz got a nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in Inglourious Basterds. And if you've seen the movie, you probably get why the Oscar ended up in Waltz's hands.

Source: ET