Sebastian Stan talked about his role as Donald Trump

Sebastian Stanbest known for his role as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently took on one of his most challenging roles yet: that of a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, written by Gabriel Sherman and directed by Ali Abbasi.

The film follows Trump’s rise as a real estate mogul in 1970s and 1980s New York City, exploring the ambitions, power struggles and personal contradictions that shaped his early career.

Sebastian Stan’s portrayal offers a closer look at Donald Trump’s formative years, depicting the complexities of a man who would later become one of the most polarizing figures in modern political history.

At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, where Stan won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in The Other Man, he was asked about his most challenging role to date.

Without hesitation, he pointed to “The Apprentice”.

“Definitely the man in orange, right? Donald Trump is definitely the hardest,” Stan said, translated people with a wry smile before acknowledging the challenges of her Golden Globe-winning role. “And that doesn’t detract from why I’m here talking to you right now. I think that in itself is very difficult. There was a big risk in terms of what it was talking about and trying to step into the shoes of someone else who has more -osis like Adam Pearson. It had its problems too, and I wanted to do it right.”

Stan continued, considering the weight of playing such a controversial figure. “But when I look back at the sleepless nights and the responsibility I felt I had — and still feel — about The Apprentice and wanting to do whatever I could to honor the head of the department and offer further perspective on what which I think we must all inevitably do.”

When the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, it was met with both praise and controversy – and these reviews continued after its official release in October 2024. Its stark portrayal of Trump’s personal and professional life includes a deeply disturbing scene involving Trump, played by Stan, and his first wife, Ivana, played by Maria Bakalova.

One of scenes taken from Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce filingwhere she described a harrowing encounter with her then-husband. “Once in 1989, Mr. Trump and I had a marital relationship in which he behaved very differently toward me than he did during our marriage,” Ivana said, according to reports Guardian. “As a woman, I felt offended… I called it rape, but I don’t want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.”

After the May premiere, Stephen Cheng, the Trump campaign’s communications director, issued a statement to Peoplestating, “We will be suing to address the blatantly false claims made by these bogus filmmakers.”

“This garbage is pure fabrication sensationalizing a lie that has long been debunked,” Cheng added, referring to the rape scene. “This ‘movie’ is pure malicious slander, should never see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the direct-to-DVD section of the bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store. . This is the place for a dumpster fire.’

During a screening in Los Angeles in November 2024, Sebastian Stan revealed that he was invited to participate in Diversityfamous TV series Actors on Actors, but ended up not being able to participate due to difficulties in finding a suitable match. A sincere confession, informs v Buzzfeedsheds light on the challenges actors may face when implementing projects with complex or sensitive subject matter.

“They were too scared to go and talk about the movie, so I couldn’t do it,” Stan shared at the Nov. 19 event. “And it doesn’t matter, it’s okay. This is not to point the finger at anyone – I have a lot of great things to do.’

Stan clarified that no one was to blame for the missed opportunity. Instead, he suggested that representatives and publicists may have been shy about engaging in discussions about the film’s themes. “We couldn’t get past the publicists or the people who represent them because they were too afraid to talk about this movie,” he explained.

The famous actor was nominated twice at Sunday’s ceremony, once for his role in The Apprentice and once for The Other Man, beating the latter over notable contenders such as Jesse Eisenberg, Gabrielle Labelle, Hugh GrantJesse Plemons, and Glen Powell.

In his acceptance speech, Stan addressed the profound impact of The Other Man and the societal attitudes it confronts. Calling the film “difficult” to make, he emphasized the need for greater understanding and representation.

“Our ignorance and discomfort with disability and mutilation must end,” Stan said passionately. “We have to normalize it and continue to expose ourselves to it and encourage acceptance in our children. One way to do that is by continuing to champion inclusive stories.”

Both The Apprentice and The Other Man are now available to rent or buy on demand, allowing audiences to experience the vivid performances and important stories that Stan brought to life on screen.