Guy Pearce Recalls Disturbing Kevin Spacey Encounters

Academy Award nominee Guy Pearce has opened up about his troubling experiences while working with Kevin Spacey on the set of the 1997 neo-noir film L.A. Confidential.

In a recent interview, Pearce described feeling targeted by Spacey and later breaking down in tears when he fully processed the impact of those interactions.

Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Pearce reflected on how Spacey's behavior toward him during filming left a lasting impression. While he emphasized that he was not sexually assaulted, Pearce stated that he was made to feel "uncomfortable" and "scared" by Spacey's aggressive demeanor.

"He's extremely charming and brilliant at what he does — really impressive, etc. He holds a room remarkably. But I was young and susceptible, and he targeted me, no question," Pearce said.

Pearce, who played the ambitious detective Ed Exley in L.A. Confidential, described a tense working relationship with Spacey, who played a fellow officer.

At the time, Pearce was 29 years old and still early in his Hollywood career. He recalled brushing off Spacey's advances, convincing himself that it was "nothing" despite dealing with it for five months on set.

"I did that for five months, and really I was sort of scared of Kevin because he's quite an aggressive man," Pearce said.

He also recalled telling his then-wife Kate that he only felt safe on set when another actor, Simon Baker, was around. "The only days I feel safe are the days when [Simon Baker] is on set because I'm dumped like a hot potato, and [Kevin] focuses on [Simon] because he was ten times prettier than I am," he said /

A Wake-Up Call Years Later

Despite feeling uneasy about the encounters at the time, Pearce admitted that he didn't fully process the impact of the situation until years later. In 2017, as the #MeToo movement gained momentum and numerous sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey came to light, Pearce had an emotional realization.

"I was in London working on something, and I heard [the reports] and I broke down and sobbed, and I couldn't stop. I think it really dawned on me the impact that had occurred and how I sort of brushed it off and how I had either shelved it or blocked it out or whatever," he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

Pearce has previously spoken about his experiences with Spacey but has chosen his words carefully. In 2018, he referred to Spacey as "a handsy guy" during an Australian talk show interview, but later walked back the comment, clarifying that while he wasn't assaulted, he regretted making the issue public at the time.

"I very much understand that it's too sensitive a topic to be brushed off. Although I wasn't sexually assaulted or molested, I was made to feel uncomfortable. I addressed and handled the situation when it took place, hence my regret at making it public now," Pearce said in a follow-up statement.

'Ugly Confrontations' with Spacey

Pearce also revealed that he has had 'ugly confrontations' with Spacey since their time on L.A. Confidential, though he did not specify when these occurred.

While Pearce has hesitated to center himself in discussions about Spacey's misconduct, he made it clear in his latest interview that he does not want to downplay his experiences.

"I don't want him to get away with what he gets away with," Pearce said.

Spacey's Response and Legal History

Spacey has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2023, a British jury acquitted him of all nine charges of sexual assault brought against him. He was also found not liable in a lawsuit filed by actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused Spacey of making unwanted advances toward him when he was 14 years old.

Despite the legal rulings in his favor, Spacey's once-thriving Hollywood career remains in limbo. Since the allegations surfaced, he has been dropped from major projects, including Netflix's House of Cards and Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World, in which his role was famously recast with Christopher Plummer.

Pearce, who has maintained a steady acting career over the years, is currently enjoying critical acclaim for his role in The Brutalist, a film for which he has received an Oscar nomination.