12-Year-old Sebastian Stan Was “so traumatised” After Moving to America He Did the Most Extreme Things to Fit In

After playing the brave and bold Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sebastian Stan is on the lookout for more challenges. His next venture is playing the infamous Donald Trump in the movie The Apprentice. No amount of preparation could have equipped Stan to take on such a massive undertaking, but he did so anyway.

Stepping into someone else’s shoes even for a movie is demanding. You have to talk like them, walk like them, and behave like them. In all of this chaos, there’s a possibility you might lose yourself completely, but not Stan. The actor clearly knows where to draw the line and explore the nuances of the character without losing his grip on his personality, thanks to his childhood experiences.

Sebastian Stan’s experience moving to America

Sebastian Stan is able to go from one character to another seamlessly all because of his versatile childhood experiences. The actor was born in Romania and went on to also live in Vienna and the United States of America. His mother raised him by herself, teaching him how to be independent and adaptable in the process.

Stan shared in an interview with GQ how he hated moving from one place to another. Without stability, he found it harder to make friends and find his path in life. However, this taught him adaptability and the skill of molding himself according to his surroundings without letting go of his grounded reality. Stan added,

I was so traumatized by being different. I wanted to change my name to Christopher. I wanted to be as normal in America as anybody else. I became popular in high school through acting. I went on dates. I found my path.

The Pam & Tommy actor shed light on how he tried his hand at drama, debates, and sports among others to find his calling in life. Nevertheless, after many sleepless nights and anxiety-ridden thoughts, Stan’s time has finally arrived as he handpicks roles for himself to stand out in an incredibly cluttered industry.

School Plays to Hollywood: Sebastian Stan Found his Calling

Stan further adds how much fun he had while participating in school plays and drama as a kid. Even though he moved around quite often, he was able to make sense of the world around him through stories and the plays he participated in. The actor shared,

You’re 14, 15, and you’re playing parts where you have to be, like, 35 years older than you are, you have to change your appearance, you have to change everything, and you have to walk a certain way. That shit was fun.

This also explains why Stan loves challenging and pushing himself out of his comfort zone consistently. His filmography contains various differentiated roles that are always better than the last. Fans are sure his upcoming projects will deliver something even more enchanting to the masses.

The Apprentice releases in theatres on October 11, 2024.