William H. Macy is getting brutally honest about what it’s really like behind the scenes in Hollywood — and according to the veteran actor, some stars make life “miserable” for everyone around them.
During a candid appearance on the We Might Be Drunk podcast, hosted by comedians Mark Normand and Sam Morril, the Shameless star opened up about difficult personalities he’s encountered throughout his decades-long acting career.
Macy, who has starred alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Mark Wahlberg, and Julianne Moore, didn’t completely hold back when the conversation turned to difficult actors.
At one point, the hosts directly asked Macy which actors he hated working with and specifically brought up Tommy Lee Jones, who appeared alongside him in the 1994 thriller The Client.
“He was rough,” Macy admitted, before adding, “I’m not letting out any secrets.”
The conversation later shifted to Jim Carrey, with the hosts asking Macy what he thought about the comedy superstar’s reputation.
“I did not work with him, but I’ve just heard he can be really tough,” Macy said.
Carrey himself has previously spoken publicly about clashes with Tommy Lee Jones while filming Batman Forever.
According to Carrey, Jones once bluntly told him, “I cannot sanction your buffoonery,” and allegedly admitted, “I hate you. I really don’t like you.”
Carrey later suggested the tension may have come from personality differences and professional jealousy.
Macy used the conversation to vent about actors in general who create toxic working environments behind the scenes.
“There are a lot of actors out there who make life miserable for a lot of people, and they don’t get busted for it,” Macy said.
“And it p—es me off. Life is too short.”
The actor suggested that many difficult celebrities are ultimately driven by fear and insecurity.
“I think they’re frightened,” he explained. “I’ve seen it.”
Macy also made it clear he believes actors should appreciate how fortunate they are to work in the entertainment industry at all.
“We’re the luckiest people in the world,” he said. “We could be working for a living, so be grateful.”
Despite discussing difficult co-stars, Macy had nothing but praise for Harrison Ford, whom he worked with in Air Force One.
“Harrison’s the real deal,” Macy said, calling the Hollywood legend “intense” but enjoyable to work with.
Over the years, Macy has built one of Hollywood’s most respected careers, earning multiple Emmy Awards for projects like ER and Sports Night.
He also earned an Oscar nomination for his unforgettable role in Fargo and recently appeared in the acclaimed Netflix film Train Dreams.
Outside Hollywood, Macy has been married to actress Felicity Huffman since 1997, and the couple share two daughters together.