Jeremy Allen White’s transformation into “the Boss” was not simple.
The actor, who took on the larger-than-life role of Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” in theaters Oct. 24, said he dove into the job with vocal lessons, guitar lessons and months of practice.
White, who actually sings as Springsteen throughout the film, has been open about his lack of experience coming into the role and the musical assistance it took to pull it off.
Macall Polay/20th Century Studios via AP – PHOTO: This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in a scene from “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.”
“They’re such big shoes to fill, and I just wasn’t sure,” Allen said in an interview with “Good Morning America” earlier this month.
He said he initially asked if the film’s producers preferred to cast someone who had musical skills already. “I don’t play guitar, I don’t sing,” he said.
In a separate interview with “GMA” earlier this month, White discussed learning guitar.
Jeremy Allen White talks playing Bruce Springsteen in front of Springsteen
“I never picked up a guitar before I started preparing for this movie. So it felt very alien to me,” he said, adding that, in total, he was given “about six months” to learn the instrument.
He noted that he learned to play on a guitar gifted to him by Springsteen, a 1955 Gibson J200.
“I got together with a wonderful teacher,” White said. “I told him, ‘I’m so excited to play the guitar and learn how to do this with you.'”
He said his instructor responded, “We don’t have time to learn how to play the guitar, I’m going to teach you how to play these five Bruce Springsteen songs and that’s it.”
In an interview with the Associated Press, White said learning to sing was easier than learning the guitar.
“I’ve spoken before. I haven’t sang a whole lot, but I understand the concept of singing,” White said at the time. “I’ve been a fan of music and singers.”
He added, “But the guitar, I remember holding it in my hands for the first time and trying to wrap my fingers around the right strings for the chords and it just feeling completely alien to me.”
20th Century Studios – PHOTO: Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in a scene from the movie, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.”
In August 2024, White gave an interview to GQ, in which he discussed the work that went into making sure he could sing like the Boss for the film.
“I’m really lucky that there’s sort of a team of folks now in place to help young actors portray rock stars,” he said at the time. “I’ve got a really talented group of people helping me train vocally, musically, to get ready for this thing.”
White said he also parsed through a trove of old Springsteen videos to prep for the role.
“There’s just so much footage. It’s really great to go down a YouTube rabbit hole and find him at all these different periods in his life and be able to listen to his speaking voice as well as his singing voice,” he said.
Jeremy Allen White opens up about playing Bruce Springsteen
Speaking with “GMA” this month, White also touched on the value of having Springsteen on set.
“It was hard when I’m looking at the man across the way, and I know I’m not him, because I’m looking at him,” he said. “He kept showing up, and it became more and more normal. And then I feel like it was necessary. His presence was giving us all a lot of permission and making sure that we were staying on the honest path.”
20th Century Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News and “Good Morning America.”
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