Steven Spielberg talks of an emotional experience shooting The Fabelmans

Virgin Radio

5 Mar 2023, 19:55

Seeing Michelle Williams and Paul Dano in character made him weep.

Steven Spielberg was reportedly overcome with emotion when he saw actors Michelle Williams and Paul Dano in character together for his film, The Fabelmans.

The film, which is based on Spielberg's own childhood, has been nominated for multiple Oscars.

In an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Spielberg revealed how a "routine" first day of filming turned into an emotional moment for him.

As he explained, "[Costume designer] Mark Bridges came over to me and said, ‘I’ve got Paul and Michelle here in their hair and make-up and costumes.' I turned around and there was my father and mother, and I just burst into tears. Just like that, I didn’t even think about it, it just happened."

The film is dedicated to the memories of Spielberg's real-life parents, Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg, who died in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

The Jurassic Park director noted he had seen the two stars separately in costume but not together before that moment, and they were both quick to offer him support.

He said: "Michelle ran to me, hugged me. Paul came around the back of me – he’s really tall – hugged me around the shoulders and just held me.”

Speilberg admitted that he had previously "given speeches" to Michelle and Paul in which he told them not to "worry" about how he'd feel seeing his own life being played out in front of him because he'd had the opportunity to let out his emotions when he was working on the script.

He said: “I had given them speeches long before the first day of shooting. I got all my tears out writing the scripts with Tony Kushner.

“I’m a professional. [I told them,] ‘Don’t worry about me. You don’t have to take care of me. My job is to take care of you and guide you to giving some great performances.’ And, it wasn’t to be.”

Anyone got a tissue?