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Why Some Smallville Scenes Make Lex Luthor Actor Cringe
Lex Luthor actor Michael Rosenbaum discusses why watching himself in some Smallville scenes makes him cringe. Rosenbaum played a young version of the iconic villain for seven seasons before departing the show. He starred alongside Tom Welling, who portrayed a pre-Superman Clark Kent, with their characters' complex relationship a cornerstone of the series. This was especially true in the first few seasons, as their dynamic was key to establishing the show's tone.
In the years since his Smallville exit, Rosenbaum has turned to podcasting with Inside of You, a show that delves deep into celebrities' lives and work experiences. Rosenbaum and Welling are now engaged in a Smallville re-watch podcast where they revisit every episode of the show chronologically. They share behind-the-scenes details from their time on the series along with analysis of the individual episodes, which includes their own performances.
In the episode of Talk Ville where they look back on season 1, episode 9 "Rogue," the pair discuss working with actor Kelly Brook. In the episode, Brook guest-stars and plays Luthor's ex-girlfriend Victoria Hardwick. While Welling was quick to praise the two actors' performances and chemistry, Rosenbaum reflected on his feelings about playing romantic scenes, expressing some unease. Check out his quote below:
Quote:
You know I have to say, I was a little bit embarrassed. You know sometimes with those scenes with her I just felt like, I mean some of them were good, I just felt like whenever I’m watching myself be romantic or flirty or something, I just kind of cringe a little.
Rosenbaum is hardly alone in his dislike for watching himself onscreen, at least in some scenes. Many actors have been vocal about refusing to watch their own performances as it makes them overly critical of their work and leads them to second guess themselves. Romantic scenes can be particularly sensitive, so it makes sense those make Rosenbaum especially uncomfortable. However, as his Lex Luthor performance is widely seen as one of the best takes on the classic DC villain, it's clear his work on Smallville, including in season 1, remains beloved by audiences to this day.
Rosenbaum's comment highlights the candid nature of Talk Ville and why celebrity re-watch podcasts are quickly becoming a popular genre within the field. It's interesting to hear two actors far removed from a series revisit it in this way, in Rosenbaum's case, perhaps admitting something he may not have been comfortable sharing soon after season 1 aired. Luckily, despite any qualms Rosenbaum may have about watching certain scenes, both he and Welling clearly share a lingering affection for their time on the show, even working on an animated Smallville sequel series that could be the perfect companion to their podcast.
