Jesse Plemons on Playing the Good Brother in ‘Power of the Dog’

One of actor Jesse Plemons’ first roles was to embody the younger version of Matt Damon in Billy Bob Thornton’s All the Pretty Horses. Later, during a breakthrough role on AMC’s Emmy-winning Breaking Bad, Plemons’s resemblance to Damon caused fans of the series to nickname him “Meth Damon.” But those days are far behind him.

Plemons continued to thrive in film and on television, amassing dozens of credits playing a wide variety of characters. This year, Disney’s Jungle Cruise saw him take on perhaps his most daring role as the cartoonish villain Prince Joachim. It was role he performed with full-bodied gusto and enthusiasm, taking the kind of chances with his performance that lesser actors would shy away from.

But it’s his stunningly quiet and observational turn in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog that has critics and audiences praising Plemons’s performance. Plemons plays George, the shy and reserved brother of the disturbed and angry Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch). As George, Plemons finds compelling ways to play the internal anguish, heartbreak, and resentment against his abusive brother. He’s also given moments of sweet adoration of Rose, played by real-life partner Kirsten Dunst.

Here, in an interview with Awards Daily, Jesse Plemons talks about his involvement with the brilliant The Power of the Dog. He dives into his interpretation of the character, how he prepared for the role, and how challenging it is for him to portray reserved characters. He also talks about George’s questionable actions within the story when he is positioned as the “good” brother against the menacing Phil. Finally, he talks about the challenges and fun in taking on a project like Disney’s Jungle Cruise.

The Power of the Dog is currently streaming on Netflix. Jungle Cruise is currently streaming on Disney+.