‘This Is Us’: Milo Ventimiglia Reveals Why Jack’s Speeches Often Require a Few Takes
This Is Us Season 6 recently closed the door on the Pearson family’s story, with the finale ending with some stunning wisdom from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia). That’s not exactly surprising, since Jack is known to inspire the other characters — and the audience — with his words. He has quite a few iconic speeches from the NBC series. And according to Ventimiglia, those often require a few takes to get right.
Jack Pearson offers plenty of wisdom throughout ‘This Is Us’
Milo Ventimiglia delivers more than a few speeches as Jack Pearson over the course of This Is Us. Whether he’s expressing his love for Rebecca (Mandy Moore), comforting one of the Big Three, or offering wisdom to a stranger at the hospital, Jack’s known for his words. And they remain with the characters long after his season 2 death.
In fact, the final episodes of the NBC series emphasize Jack’s impact on the people around him years and years later. Not only does Dr. Marcus Brooks (Luke Forbes) recall Jack’s advice from the hospital — and use it to pursue his own career — but Rebecca allows Jack to guide her transition to the afterlife.
Needless to say, Jack knows his way around a monologue. But according to Ventimiglia, they don’t always come easy. Frequently, his character’s speeches take multiple attempts to get right.
Milo Ventimiglia shares why Jack’s speeches sometimes need more than 1 take
Although Jack Pearson’s This Is Us speeches appear seamless in the show, Milo Ventimiglia told Vanity Fair that they sometimes take a few tries. According to the actor, that’s because he needs to turn down his own emotional response to what’s happening.
“I really had to keep my own modern-day emotions in check,” Ventimiglia said of Jack’s heavier scenes.
He even told the outlet that Jack’s eulogy for his mother in This Is Us Season 6 Episode 4 took five or six takes. He also admitted that’s a regular occurrence. In fact, for many impactful scenes, Ventimiglia revealed that “the first take or two are the higher emotional takes and then we back off there.”
“Where we kind of land is about right from Jack,” the actor continued. “It’s almost like I gotta get it out of my system at times.”
It sounds like a process, but it’s certainly one that pays off. After all, both fans and the other characters look up to Jack.
Milo Ventimiglia believes his ‘This Is Us’ character is ‘a hard man to live up to’
Jack Pearson sets a high bar for those who look up to him, and This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia knows it. During a 2019 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he admitted that it’s difficult to be the type of parent or partner that Jack is.
“He’s a hard man to live up to for myself, for husbands around the world, for fathers around the world,” Ventimiglia mused.
That said, the actor told THR that he doesn’t think viewers need to be like Jack to make a similar impact:
“I get a lot of bereavement for people who are like, ‘Man you’re ruining my marriage.’ Everybody sees Jack and they’re like ‘I got to be Jack.’ And I [say], ‘No man, just be yourself. You can truly impact your wife, your family, your community, whatever you choose to put your positivity towards.’”
Of course, Jack’s speeches can certainly serve as motivation for those hoping to touch others’ lives. And viewers can rewatch them over and over now that all six seasons of the NBC series are out.
This Is Us is currently streaming on Peacock and Hulu.
