An emotional and introspective Guy Pearce became visibly choked up during a recent interview as he recalled unsettling experiences while working with Kevin Spacey on Curtis Hanson’s 1997 classic L.A. Confidential. He also reflected on a “wake-up call” moment more than 20 years later in London when he fully grasped the impact of those encounters.
Speaking with executive awards editor, Scott Feinberg, on a new episode of the Awards Chatter podcast, Pearce—who is currently Oscar-nominated for his critically praised performance in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist—discussed his experience with Spacey in greater depth than ever before.
He also addressed the wave of sexual misconduct allegations that ultimately derailed the House of Cards actor’s career.
Pearce had previously touched on the subject briefly in a 2018 interview with Australian talk show host Andrew Denton, where he referred to Spacey as “a handsy guy.”
However, he later clarified his remarks, stating, “I very much understand that this is too sensitive a topic to be brushed off. While I was not sexually assaulted or molested, I was made to feel uncomfortable.” He further explained, “I addressed and handled the situation when it took place, which is why I now regret making it public.”
Now, Pearce is speaking more openly, though still carefully choosing his words. He hesitated to label himself a victim, stating, “Even though I probably was a victim to a degree, I was certainly not a victim to the extent that others have been to sexual predators.”
Reflecting on his time filming L.A. Confidential, Pearce recalled initially dismissing Spacey’s advances, repeatedly telling himself, “Ah, that’s nothing. No, that’s nothing.”
However, he admitted, “I did that for five months, and honestly, I was kind of scared of Kevin because he’s quite an aggressive man. He’s incredibly charming and immensely talented—really impressive, no question. He has a powerful presence in any room. But I was young and impressionable, and he absolutely targeted me.”
Hanson’s neo-noir film follows three Los Angeles police officers investigating a string of murders against the backdrop of 1950s-era police corruption.
Pearce starred as one of the detectives, Ed Exley, alongside Spacey and Russell Crowe. While Pearce remains close friends with Crowe, calling him “a great mate of mine,” the same cannot be said about his relationship with Spacey.
During filming in Los Angeles, Pearce was accompanied by his then-wife, Kate. He recalled telling her, “The only days I feel safe are the days when [Simon Baker] is on set, because then I’m discarded like a hot potato and Kevin focuses on him instead—probably because Simon was ten times better-looking than I am.”
Guy Pierce and Kevin Spacey
Years later, Pearce finally confronted the emotional weight of his experiences. In October 2017, as the #MeToo movement gained momentum in Hollywood, actor Anthony Rapp came forward with allegations that Spacey had made sexual advances toward him at a New York party in 1986 when Rapp was just 14.
(Rapp later sued, though Spacey was found not liable.) This revelation triggered a cascade of accusations spanning film sets, production sites, and even London’s Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey had once served as artistic director.
Pearce vividly recalled his reaction. “I was in London working on something when I saw the reports. I just broke down and sobbed, and I couldn’t stop. That’s when it really hit me—the impact of what had happened and how I had brushed it off, suppressed it, or blocked it out. It was a truly eye-opening moment,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.
While he did not disclose specific details, Pearce admitted that he has since had “a couple of confrontations with Kevin” that “got ugly.”
Looking back on his 2018 comments about Spacey, he acknowledged the difficult position he found himself in. “I didn’t want to make it about my personal experience, but at the same time, I also don’t want him to get away with what he gets away with.”
Now, Pearce has adopted a more straightforward approach: “I just try to be honest about it and call it what it is.” On Tuesday, Spacey addressed the comments, dismissing Pearce’s statements and saying, “Grow up, you are not a victim.”
Spacey has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In addition to being cleared in the Rapp case, he was acquitted in 2023 of nine sexual assault charges by a British jury, concluding a lengthy legal battle that upended his once-thriving Hollywood career. “I am humbled by the outcome,” Spacey said at the time.
Feinberg’s Awards Chatter interview with Pearce was an extensive deep dive into the actor’s career, covering his early rise to fame in Australian soap operas such as Neighbours and Home and Away.
The conversation also touched on his breakout role as a drag queen in the cult hit The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, as well as his transition into Hollywood stardom with Christopher Nolan’s Memento.
Pearce has since built a career working with some of the most esteemed filmmakers in the industry, culminating in his current Oscar-nominated performance in The Brutalist.
Notably, in the A24 film, Pearce portrays Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr., a wealthy American industrialist who sexually assaults a central male character.
A significant portion of the Awards Chatter discussion focused on his work in the sweeping epic, which has earned 10 Academy Award nominations and features Pearce alongside fellow nominees Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
