The Adam Friedland Show WILLIAM H. MACY Talks Fargo, Auditions, PTA
Nov 19, 2025
William H. Macy, the Emmy-nominated actor known for his roles in Fargo and Shameless, shares captivating stories from his career. He vividly recalls crashing a New York audition for Fargo and the pivotal lessons learned under David Mamet. Macy discusses the art of ensemble filmmaking, his preparation for iconic roles, and fond memories from Boogie Nights. He also touches on balancing family life and upcoming projects, all while emphasizing the importance of genuine performance over method acting.
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Crash Audition That Won Fargo
- William H. Macy crashed a New York audition for Fargo and begged for the role, even jokingly threatening Ethan Coen's puppy to be cast.
- His bold, unfiltered approach worked but he doesn't recommend using threats as a tactic.
Acting: Do The Objective, Not Emote
- David Mamet taught Macy to focus on objectives and actions rather than emotions while acting.
- Mamet's rule: if anyone treats you with disrespect, quit and leave the room.
Read Scripts By Visualizing The Film
- Macy reads scripts in one sitting and visualizes the film to decide what works, skipping stage directions he calls 'nonsense.'
- He uses that mental movie to choose the parts worth pursuing.
