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Wed 19 August 2026 21:45, UK
Even though he was driven by the desire to be the best actor that he possibly could, Paul Newman wasn’t the jealous type, but there’s a reason why they say that every rule has an exception.
Unlike some of the other big names of his era, the ‘New Hollywood’ icon didn’t play politics, he wasn’t a back-stabber, and he wasn’t a saboteur. Like any self-respecting movie star, Newman was always looking out for number one, but he wasn’t the kind of guy who’d leave a trail of destruction in his wake to do it.
For the most part, he wasn’t a difficult customer, he definitely wasn’t a diva, and his antics were more harmless than duplicitous, although you can understand why so many directors were wary of working with him, given his habit of pulling pranks on set and occasionally faking his own death for a laugh.
There were a couple of things that pissed him off, though, apart from The Silver Chalice. Newman bristled at the suggestion that he owed his entire career and the success that followed to James Dean’s death, with many theorising that nobody benefited more, since he stepped into a couple of roles that had been earmarked for the timeless Rebel Without a Cause star, which propelled him forward.
Another was those unforgettable blue eyes of his, with the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting alum constantly batting away accusations that he was more than just a pretty face with a phenomenal pair of peepers, and being one of the best actors of his era certainly helped in that regard.
Last, but by no means least, was Marlon Brando. The pair were born less than a year apart, both emerged at around the same time in the late 1940s before being pegged as two of the industry’s fastest-rising stars throughout the following decade, and were both devoted followers of the method.
Inevitably, they were often lumped into the same conversation, but as much as Newman loathed being directly compared to Brando, he recognised greatness. “I’ve always envied Marlon’s talent, which was always so much greater than anybody else’s,” he confessed. “I feel cheated that he hasn’t made more films, but I understand his reason.”
Further reading: Cutting Room Floor
While Newman continued digging his feet in as one of the best around, Brando kept distancing himself from the business, and when he could be bothered acting, he was usually a nightmare to deal with. “I think he felt acting was not a manly profession sometimes, and sometimes, I feel the same way,” the former demurred. “But with Marlon, it’s more that he’s too good for any of this.”
He might have despised being mentioned in the same breath as the single most influential thespian who’s ever lived, but he was still so good that his mere existence made Newman turn green with envy.
