Even Oscar-winning actors like Tom Hanks feel intimidated from time to time.
The prolific actor was a guest on the Sept. 5 episode of the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast and discussed overcoming impostor syndrome while working with Hollywood icon Paul Newman on the crime drama 2002 “Road to Perdition”.
During the lengthy chat, host Dax Shepard asked if Hanks had watched HBO Max’s six-part documentary about Newman and fellow legendary actor Joanne Woodward, with whom he shared a 50-year marriage, titled “The Last Movie Stars”.
When Hanks shared that he hadn’t seen the documentary yet, Shepard seemed slightly disappointed. But, Hanks quickly lifted his spirits when he recalled co-starring with Newman in “Road to Perdition.”
“I did a movie with Mr. Paul Newman,” Hanks began. “It took me a little while to come to terms with that fact – I’m in a movie with Paul Newman.”
Shepard wondered if Hanks suffered from impostor syndrome while filming scenes with Newman.
Hanks replied, “Oh, absolutely.” He went on to describe Newman as “very calm” and recalled the first day on the set of “Road to Perdition” when they shot a scene with 60 extras in Chicago.
“He’s just arrived and he’s the lowest maintenance guy you’ve ever met and easy to talk to,” Hanks said. “There wasn’t a soul on the soundstage that didn’t think, ‘This is the first take of the movie I’m with. Paul Newman. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.'”
The ‘Pinocchio’ star continued, “He did (the scene) and there was a moment of silence. Then he looked at all of us and said, ‘The first day you feel a little awkward , is not it ?’ And everyone was freed from any kind of honor bondage that we felt. That was the guy.”
Hanks also recalled experiencing some “pinch” moments on set whenever he saw Newman and award-winning cinematographer Conrad L. Hall – who also worked on “Road to Perdition” – interact.
The ‘Elvis’ star called Newman and Hall “giants who left footprints in the lava that will remain for the rest of time.”
He said: “I felt like David Copperfield in a magic shop to be here doing this and being trusted to just follow my instincts and try to follow or just try to remember my lines in the same scene with Paul Newman. (It was) just pinched-ya.
As he continued to reminisce about his conversations with Newman, Hanks explained that the “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” actor told stories about Hollywood’s Golden Age.
“Films looped at 5 o’clock,” Hanks said. “Everyone had a cocktail in their hands at 4:30 p.m. It was like that. And there wasn’t a picture that could be taken before 9 a.m. because the lights and makeup (were) so heavy.
After work, Newman and Woodward went out to dinner with their children and friends. They would return home at 11 p.m., ready to fall asleep and repeat the day.
Shepard chimed in and said Newman once mentioned that he would soak his face in ice water every morning to help him recover from the long nights.
“That’s funny you should say,” Hanks replied. He ended their commemoration by revealing the most important technique he inherited from Newman.
“You know what I learned from Paul Newman and use to this day? First thing in the makeup trailer – your face in a bucket of ice water,” Hanks said.
With nearly 100 acting credits under his belt, it’s clear the tip has to work.