The Actor Whos Confidence Collapsed in Front of Robert de Niro

Success for Matthew Macfadyen has reached such heights that it is easy to forget his path to the elite tier of Hollywood was not without its awkward hurdles. Before he was collecting a staggering array of Emmys, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes for his definitive portrayal of Tom Wambsgans, he found himself in the intimidating position of auditioning for Robert De Niro.

Facing the legendary actor and director was a significant milestone for Macfadyen, who was just beginning to gain international recognition following his breakout turn as the brooding Mr. Darcy. The encounter occurred when Macfadyen was being considered for the 2006 intelligence thriller The Good Shepherd.

While the initial meeting went remarkably well, the actor recalled that the follow-up later that same day took a sharp turn for the worse. “I auditioned for Robert De Niro. It’s not really a horror story, but I auditioned for him in London… The first time around was really good, and I got called back the same day, and it was really bad,” he admitted during an interview.

He described the shift from a successful first impression to a second, far more difficult session as an excruciating experience. Despite the setback, the role in the CIA drama—which ultimately featured a massive ensemble including Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie—did not define Macfadyen’s trajectory.

He continued to build an enviable resume with roles in Frost/Nixon and Anna Karenina, steadily proving his versatility across period dramas and contemporary thrillers. This resilience eventually led him to the career-defining success of Succession, where he mastered a complex blend of comedy and tragedy that resonated with audiences globally.

Macfadyen is once again at the forefront of the television landscape with the premiere of the surreal sci-fi dramedy The Miniature Wife. Debuting on April 9 on Peacock, the series stars Macfadyen alongside Elizabeth Banks as a couple navigating a literal power imbalance after a scientific accident shrinks her to just six inches tall.

Critics have praised his performance for its deadpan humor, marking a significant departure from the historical intensity of his previous projects. The actor is also receiving continued acclaim for his work in the Netflix miniseries Death by Lightning, which premiered late last year.

In that historical drama, he delivered a chilling performance as Charles J. Guiteau, the eccentric assassin of President James A. Garfield, played by Michael Shannon. The series has become a major contender in the awards circuit, further solidifying Macfadyen’s reputation as one of the most reliable dramatic talents currently working in television.

Looking forward, Macfadyen is deep in production for the highly anticipated BBC and MGM+ series Legacy of Spies. This ambitious adaptation of John le Carré’s work features him as the iconic spymaster George Smiley, a role famously inhabited in the past by legends like Alec Guinness and Gary Oldman.

Starring alongside Charlie Hunnam and Daniel Brühl, the series is expected to be a cornerstone of a new espionage franchise, proving that Macfadyen’s days of “excruciating” auditions are firmly in the past.

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