The Bear star Jeremy Allen White isn't worried about comparisons to his role as Phillip "Lip" Gallagher in the long-running dark comedy Shameless. The Bear premiered its eight-episode first season for FX On Hulu in late June and became an overnight hit, receiving high streaming numbers and a bevy of positive reviews, with White's performance receiving particular praise. The series also stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colon-Zayas, and Abby Elliott.
The Bear follows White's Carmy, a professionally trained chef who leaves the world of fine dining to run his family's sandwich shop in Chicago. Similar to his role in Shameless, White plays a gifted young man in a dysfunctional working-class family in Chicago, trying to keep a handle on the chaos around him. With White at the center of The Bear instead of in a supporting role, the comparisons might be a bit more obvious since so much attention is on his character.
In an interview with GQ, White talks about how he was concerned about comparisons when he first read the script. However, he says he was so impressed with the writing of the series that he agreed to the role, saying he would've been disappointed if anyone else played the part. He also talks about how Carmy's own loneliness was informed by his own lack of direction after playing one character for over a decade. Read his quote below:
I think I was too concerned with what other people might think. I also knew that if I said no to this, that whoever ended up doing it, I would hate them forever. So there was some spiteful stuff going on, too.
Though The Bear has yet to be renewed for a second season, its quick success will hopefully lead to a renewal, allowing White to explore the character even deeper. White mentions how he had to take a crash cooking course and learn under an experienced chef to prepare for the role, suggesting a lived-in quality to inform his character. The sheer dedication to the series shows how White can go beyond his role on Shameless, and find ways to make this new character unique.
The Bear is one of the unqualified surprises of the summer, balancing restaurant drama with compelling character study, with White's magnetic acting at its center. White manages to hit all the notes from quiet to loud in a range that shows how much an actor can bring to a role, and how many layers can be placed on a single character. In the end, The Bear is a strong vehicle for White, and he certainly doesn't need to worry about any comparisons to Shameless, flattering or otherwise.
Source: GQ