Ed Harris Opens Up About His Westworld Regrets
Ed Harris shares rare honesty about his time on Westworld, revealing why the changes to his infamous character left him less than thrilled. Find out what made the role so tough for the acclaimed actor.
It’s not just the punters who get caught up in the drama of a character—sometimes, the actors themselves end up tangled in the emotional mess. Think about the way Leo DiCaprio’s performance in Titanic left viewers gutted, or how Alan Rickman’s on-screen villainy made it hard to see him as anything but the bad bloke for years. But it’s not all one-way traffic; the people behind the roles can cop a fair bit of emotional whiplash too.
Ed Harris knows this all too well. Early in his career, he was often cast as the straight-laced, all-Aussie hero type—stoic, reliable, and, let’s be honest, a bit on the dull side. Films like The Right Stuff, The Abyss, and Apollo 13 had him pegged as the poster boy for old-school masculinity. But as time went on, Harris started to show he was capable of much more than just playing the good guy.
From Hero to Villain: A Career Shift
In recent years, Harris has made a name for himself taking on darker, more complex roles. He’s been the unsettling presence in films like Mother!, where he played a mysterious stranger, and Snowpiercer, where he was a chilling corporate boss. His turn as a menacing father in Love Lies Bleeding was so memorable, even his hairdo could’ve scored an award.
But it was on the small screen where Harris really rattled a new generation. In the dystopian world of Westworld, he became ‘The Man in Black’—a ruthless figure who spent decades wreaking havoc in the park. Harris nailed the part, but things took a sharp turn when the show’s creators decided to shake things up.
Unwelcome Changes and Creative Frustration
By the third season, Harris found himself juggling multiple versions of his character, with little clue as to where it was all heading. While viewers might enjoy piecing together the mystery week by week, for the actor, it was a different story. He’d signed on to play a clear-cut villain, only to have the ground shift beneath him.
As Harris put it,
I wasn’t the happiest camper to tell you the truth, because I really enjoyed the part I was playing, and I was hoping that he, ‘The Man in Black’, would continue to somehow be prevalent in the story
. When the very core of the character was suddenly up for debate, Harris found it tough to get on board, much like the audience did.
Speaking Frankly: No Sugar-Coating
Most actors would probably trot out a safe line about embracing new challenges, but Harris didn’t bother with that.
To tell you the truth, it was hard to enjoy. In other words, I didn’t like it. I still don’t. But that’s my problem.
His bluntness is a breath of fresh air, especially in an industry where people usually play it safe.
It does make you wonder how many other actors have quietly fumed when showrunners, desperate to spice up a flagging storyline, throw in a wild twist without much warning. Harris’s honesty about his experience is rare, and it’s a reminder that even the most seasoned performers can be left scratching their heads by a sudden change in direction.