Jason Bateman is not shy about admitting that he reads every review that comes his way.
In a new interview with giftThe actor talked about why he cares about audience reaction and how he learned to handle criticism, even when it hurts.
“I’m a people pleaser. I care about what people think of me,” Bateman shared, explaining that he checks what critics and viewers say about his projects.
Because he creates television and movies for the public, he believes their opinions matter. But, more than anything, he wants to protect his own peace of mind.
“The most important thing is that the weather inside is 72 degrees and breezy,” he said.
Staying happy and grounded takes work, and he joked that you can try to escape the toughest feelings, but “you’re sober in the morning and you have to live those hours too.”
There’s One Review You’ll Never Forget: A Brief Review of Ozark by The New York Times.
Bateman recalled laughing at the creativity of the negative take: “Mike Hale basically said it was so boring to watch that it reminded him of the person you buy a ticket from at the airport.”
He said he “laughed out loud” because he can appreciate an intelligently written review.
The review called her performance “the aggressive smoothness of an airline gate agent,” while praising Laura Linney as the show’s true standout.
But Bateman’s career path told a different story.
As ozarks became a huge hit on Netflix, earning four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor, along with several Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.
For Bateman, feedback, good or bad, comes with the job. What he really cares about is staying proud of the work and keeping his inner world stable, even when someone else tries to shake it.
