Even the world’s biggest stars get starstruck.
Tom Hanks says he was forced to face his impostor syndrome while working with the late Paul Newman.
The two-time Oscar winner appeared on the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast where he explained: what it was like to film the 2002 crime drama “Road to Perdition” with the Hollywood legend.
The beloved actor and philanthropist died of cancer in September 2008 at the age of 83.
Hanks, 66, revealed his experience working with the icon on the silver screen in the hit film, which won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 2003.
When asked if he had experienced imposter syndrome while filming, Hanks said “definitely.”
The film follows a hit man, played by Jude Law, who is on the loose after his son witnesses a murder committed by his boss. Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, while Newman plays Irish mob boss John Rooney, who raised Hanks’ character.
“I made one movie with Mr. Paul Newman. It took me a while to come to terms with that — I’m in a movie with Paul Newman,” Hanks said.
“He just came in and he’s the least maintenance man you’ve ever come across and easy to talk to,” said the Forrest Gump star.
“There wasn’t a soul on the soundstage that didn’t think, ‘This is the first shot of the movie where I star with Paul Newman. I’m going to remember this moment for the rest of my life.’”
“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 self-conscious, don’t you?” And everyone was liberated from every form of bondage to honor that we felt. That was the guy.”
Shepar said Newman would splash ice water on his face every morning to help him recover from the night before.
“It’s funny you say that,” Hanks replied. “You know what I learned from Paul Newman and I use it to this day? First thing in the makeup trailer – your face in a bucket of ice water.