Marvel actor talks about his career at the Miami Film Festival GEMS

By Bryce Johnson •

PHOTO BY MIA ALVARADO
Actor Sebastian Stan receives the Precious Gem award at the Miami Film Festival GEMS on Nov. 3.

Alicia Ponds, resident of Lake City, drove six hours to see actor Sebastian Stan at the Miami Film Festival GEMS on Nov. 3. She likes the diversity of Stan’s roles.

“He can go from being a brainwashed soldier to a psychopath who likes to eat women, which is weird, but it’s awesome,” Ponds said.

The Current attended the event, where Stan received the Precious Gem Award at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. Previous winners are Sheryl Lee Ralph from “Abbott Elementary,” Penélope Cruz from “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and Amy Ryan from “Only Murders in the Building.”

Stan also sat down with Scott Feinberg, executive editor of awards at The Hollywood Reporter, for a live recording of the “Awards Chatter” podcast, where they discussed Stan’s life and career.

Originally from Romania, Stan is known for his roles as Carter Baizen in “Gossip Girl,” Jeff Gillooly in “I, Tonya” and Tommy Lee in “Pam & Tommy.” Stan also plays Bucky Barnes in Marvel projects like “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and the upcoming “Thunderbolts*” in May 2025.

Stan talked about the experience of playing such different characters.

“I think no matter how big the project is, it still goes back to those inner, core rules, which is what is the emotional need of these characters, and what is the honest moment? And you got to commit to it,” Stan said.

In 2024, he portrayed Edward Lemuel / Guy Moratz, a man with neurofibromatosis, in “A Different Man,” released Sept. 20. Stan said people were afraid to be near him due to the prosthetics he wore for the film.

“Some days I would have three or four hours before I would have to go to set, fully as Edward, and I would just go walking around the city. It informed everything, but the feeling was extremely isolating. It was powerless,” Stan said.

He also portrayed young former President Donald Trump in “The Apprentice,” released on Oct. 11. When approaching the film, Stan said it reminded him of the American dream and when he first came to America at 12 years old.

“The movie was asking the question of what is the cost?” Stan said. “This man was sort of a really good example of what can happen as a result when you lose who you are, because you are so focused on one thing that nothing else matters, not even your humanity.”

Lauren Cohen, director of programming for the Miami Film Festival, said his performances in “A Different Man” and “The Apprentice” are the best of the year.

“It’s pretty much, in my opinion, Sebastian Stan competing against himself for the best performance of the year,” Cohen said. “I don’t think any actor has had a better year than Sebastian Stan.”

Madeleine Foy, 2026 film and production major at Los Angeles City College, traveled to Florida just for Stan’s talk.

“I loved hearing him get passionate about certain things when he was answering, especially talking about ‘The Apprentice,’” Foy said. “I know he has a lot to say about it, I can tell. I agree with him and it’s just cathartic to see it happen.”