Anthony Mackie Credits His Acting Repertoire to His Early Career Foundation
Anthony Mackie is one of the most buzz-worthy stars in the world, with the highly anticipated debut of the new Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on everyone’s mind. For Mackie, who has been active in the entertainment business for two decades, the adulation that he is receiving is nothing new, but through it all, he has managed to keep a level head. Recently, Mackie appeared on the popular YouTube series “Hot Ones,” chatting with Sean Evans about his career thus far, and the huge role that his early education played in his success.
Anthony Mackie attended a prestigious drama school
Mackie was born in Louisiana in 1978. He has built an impressive career over the past several decades, working in everything from Broadway and Off-Broadway productions to major motion pictures and television shows.
Everyone has to start somewhere, however, and for Mackie, he learned the basics of acting at several prestigious drama schools, including the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, the high school drama program at the North Carolina School of the Arts, and finally, the Juilliard School’s Drama Division.
By the early 2000s, Mackie had started acting in television and film projects. A few of his early roles included an acclaimed turn in Eminem’s 8 Mile, the independent film Brother to Brother, and a head-turning part in the 2009 movie The Hurt Locker. During the early years of his career, he also appeared in stage productions like A Soldier’s Play and Talk, for which he won an Obie Award.
What is Anthony Mackie best known for?
In 2014, Mackie became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he was cast as Sam Wilson/Falcon. Over the years, he has appeared as Falcon in movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
He recently debuted in the exciting new series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As one of the most vibrant and exciting stars in the MCU, Mackie has a bright future ahead of him in the comic book film franchise and has become a true fan-favorite.
Through it all, Mackie has continued working on other projects that inspire him, including movies for HBO and Netflix. Recently, Mackie sat down for an interview with Sean Evans on an episode of “Hot Ones,” where he opened up about the high value that he places on his education.
What did Anthony Mackie say about his drama school background?
In his “Hot Ones” appearance, Mackie revealed that while some professions tend to place a higher value on on-the-job experience rather than on education, he wouldn’t trade his time at drama school for anything.
Mackie said: “I’ve learned a lot, being on set in the business….there’s nothing more important to me than the training I got at drama school.”
Mackie continued, stating “I’m a firm believer that to be is to study…you would not go to a hospital and let someone cut on you who didn’t go to medical school. If I didn’t have my training, I wouldn’t be able to play Tupac, Martin Luther King, Papa Doc, and The Falcon. I would only be playing Tupac in every movie….that training is something that gives you an extra leg to stand on.”
