Actor Jeremy Allen White underwent a significant physical transformation to portray Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere. A key part of this change involved altering his distinctive blue eyes to match Springsteen's natural brown hue, a process that required specialized custom contact lenses and extensive preparation.
Key Takeaways
- Jeremy Allen White wore custom brown contact lenses for the Bruce Springsteen biopic.
- Special-effects ocularist Jessica Nelson spent approximately 20 hours perfecting the lens color.
- The director contacted Springsteen directly for an updated eye photo to aid in lens creation.
- White's performance gained a new dimension without his usual intense blue eyes.
- The custom lenses contained microscopic weights and required frequent lubrication during filming.
Crafting Springsteen's Gaze
The transformation of Jeremy Allen White into Bruce Springsteen presented unique challenges, particularly regarding the actor's eye color. White is known for his striking blue eyes, a feature often highlighted in his previous roles, such as in the acclaimed series The Bear. For Deliver Me from Nowhere, the goal was to replicate Springsteen's honey-olive brown eyes with precision.
Jessica Nelson, a special-effects ocularist from Veiled Optics, was tasked with creating custom contact lenses for White. This was not a simple task. Nelson reported that it took approximately 20 cumulative hours to achieve the correct color match.
"I missed the mark the first couple of times," Nelson stated, explaining that initial attempts relied on older, grainy images of Springsteen. This made it difficult to capture the exact shade and striations of his natural eye color.
Direct Input from The Boss
To overcome the challenge of inaccurate reference photos, the film's director, Scott Cooper, reached out directly to Bruce Springsteen. The musician provided an updated, close-up photograph of his eyes for Nelson's consultation. This direct input proved crucial in perfecting the lenses.
Interesting Fact
Jeremy Allen White's eldest daughter, Ezer, was reportedly "heartbroken" when she saw her father wearing the brown contacts, believing they had lost the shared trait of blue eyes.
Nelson noted that this new, high-resolution image allowed her to capture the subtle details and striations necessary for a convincing match. The accuracy of the color was essential for White's portrayal, helping him embody the character more fully.
The Intricate Process of Custom Lenses
Creating custom contact lenses for a specific eye color, especially when transforming a bright blue eye to a darker brown, involves complex color theory. Nelson explained that she ended up producing lenses that appeared pinkish and veiny off the cornea. These seemingly unusual colors were designed to interact with White's natural blue eyes to create the desired shade of brown once worn.
Each custom lens also included microscopic weights. These weights were essential for keeping the lenses correctly oriented on White's eyes throughout filming. This detail ensured the painted iris remained in the right position, preventing any unnatural rotation that could break the illusion.
Background Information
Jeremy Allen White had never worn contact lenses for a role before Deliver Me from Nowhere. This added another layer of adjustment to his acting process, requiring him to adapt to the physical sensation of wearing the specialized lenses.
On-Set Lubrication and Actor Adjustment
Due to the unique nature of these weighted lenses, White required constant eye lubrication during filming. He recalled having a dedicated crew member whose job was to administer eye drops every 20 minutes. This frequent interruption, while necessary, created a unique on-set dynamic.
"It was a strange thing. There was this man who was in charge of giving me eye drops every 20 minutes, and he was a lovely man, just doing his job, but I remember having this Pavlovian response to him," White shared in an interview. He described being in the middle of a scene only for the eye drop specialist to approach.
Nelson observed a noticeable shift in White's demeanor once he put the lenses in. She described how his posture and even his breathing seemed to change, suggesting a deeper embodiment of the character. She also noted that looking through painted lenses tints the world slightly, much like tinted sunglasses. White would have been viewing the world through a "honey tone," which might have contributed to his ability to strike a nostalgic and tortured mood for the role.
The Impact on Performance
The decision to change White's eye color was not merely aesthetic; it had a profound impact on his performance. Without the piercing intensity of his bright blue eyes, White's portrayal of Springsteen took on a different quality. Nelson suggested that the brown eyes allowed him to project a more "buzzier, more tortured tone" for the character.
For many viewers, White's blue eyes have become a recognizable part of his on-screen persona. Transforming this fundamental feature allowed him to break free from previous associations and inhabit the role of Bruce Springsteen more completely. It highlights how subtle details in character design can significantly influence an actor's portrayal and audience perception.
- Visual Authenticity: Matching Springsteen's eye color was crucial for visual accuracy in the biopic.
- Character Depth: The change allowed White to explore different facets of Springsteen's personality.
- Audience Immersion: Removing a familiar visual trait helped viewers see White as Springsteen, not as his other famous characters.
Nelson, who specializes in ocular effects, expressed her personal preference for brown eyes. She commented that she has always appreciated the beauty of dark brown eyes, even suggesting that the widespread fascination with blue eyes might have made her "rebel against it a little." This perspective underscores the artistic and technical dedication involved in achieving such a precise and impactful visual transformation for the film.