The Quentin Tarantino Role Samuel L. Jackson Loves Most

Samuel L. Jackson and Quentin Tarantino have maintained one of cinema’s most prolific partnerships since their first meeting on the set of Pulp Fiction in 1994. Over the decades, Jackson has stepped into the director’s stylized worlds six times, inhabiting diverse characters that range from philosophical hitmen to cold-blooded bounty hunters.

While many fans might point to Jules Winnfield as his definitive work, Jackson himself holds a surprising preference for a much more controversial figure from Tarantino’s 2012 Western, Django Unchained.

In a candid discussion with Esquire, Jackson confessed that he has a profound affection for the character of Stephen, the manipulative and senior house slave at the Candyland plantation.

Though Leonardo DiCaprio’s Calvin Candie is the public face of the estate’s cruelty, Jackson views Stephen as the true architect of the operation. He argued that Stephen was the one who actually ran that f******g plantation, managing everything from the crops to the financial ledgers.

Jackson found a grim fascination in the character’s villainous complexity and his distorted sense of loyalty toward his master. He noted that Stephen essentially viewed Candie as his own child, having raised him from birth, and was prepared to do whatever was necessary to protect his own elevated status within that dark world.

For Jackson, the role offered a unique challenge in portraying a man who was the real brains behind a system of oppression, making it his favorite collaboration with Tarantino to date.

As of February, Jackson remains a central fixture in the Hollywood landscape, currently celebrating the massive theatrical success of the August Wilson adaptation, The Piano Lesson.

In this period drama, he reprises his Tony-nominated stage role as Doaker Charles, starring alongside John David Washington in a story that explores a family’s complex history and resilience.

The film has been a mainstay of the awards season, with critics noting that Jackson’s performance provides the emotional backbone for the entire production. Additionally, he has recently joined the cast of J.J. Abrams’ highly secretive science-fantasy epic, The Great Beyond, which is currently slated for a November release and features a star-studded ensemble including Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega.

On the small screen, Jackson is expanding his reach into the “Sheridan-verse” with a leading role in the Tulsa King spin-off titled NOLA King. The series, set in the corruption-filled underworld of New Orleans, marks his first major venture into the gritty, character-driven television dramas that have defined recent years.

Given the sheer range of characters Samuel L. Jackson has portrayed across his legendary career, do you think his performance as the villainous Stephen in Django Unchained truly represents the peak of his acting abilities? Share your thoughts in the comments.