, but I was so in awe that Dustin Hoffman was sitting across from me. He’s one of my favorite actors of all time.” As Powell began to read, he noticed a stark reaction from Hoffman. The actor recounted, “He’s watching the life drain from his eyes being like, ‘This guy sucks so bad.’ And I was like, ‘Oh no,’” he chuckled. “I’m watching him, I’m losing him.
And then I’m being like, ‘Yeah, you’re losing him,’ and then I look back and I’m losing him even more. And I left so defeated.”
Learning to Navigate the Industry
Powell’s experience taught him valuable lessons about navigating the competitive world of Hollywood. He reflected on his journey, saying, “What you start to realize is that all this business is play. You start looking at these guys as legends and then you start looking at them as collaborators who are just trying to make magic for audiences around the world.” Powell’s journey from a young actor struggling to break into Hollywood to his current status as a leading man in blockbuster films like Top Gun: Maverick serves as an inspiration for aspiring actors everywhere.
With his upcoming hosting debut on Saturday Night Live, Powell is poised to take another significant step in his career. His story is one of perseverance and the importance of remembering that even legends can be impressed by talent and hard work—no matter how young or inexperienced you may feel.