Michael Shannon: "I Couldn't Make Friends to Save My Life" 

To all the people talking about how they would comfort Shannon or be his friend during high school, I'm afraid that the reality of the situation is probably more complex than you're giving it credit for. We like him now because we've seen his performances, and gotten a positive connection from it, but to someone with the inability to communicate anything like that normally, these kids can just seem uninterested, mean, or just totally depressed, which is not exactly the grounds for being likable. This is coming from someone who knows exactly what Shannon is talking about with high school.

great actor, love his intensity on screen but there seems to be a world of pain behind those eyes

You can just hear the pain and sadness in his voice when he speaks of his past. I wish I could give young Michael Shannon a hug.

I have respect for Michael Shannon. He wasn't born into the movie business like some people. He worked hard to get where he is today and it shows.

Michael Shannon is one of the most talented, underrated and underutilized actors in Hollywood.

This guy is, with ease one of the greatest living actors. Fucking amazing. One of the very few actors which ill watch a film, premise unknown just because hes in it.

give this guy an oscar. Such an amazing actor

He seems like he has been through a really tough life. Can't wait to hear the full version

He is one of those actors who has improved a lot over time.

Sam has a gift for getting people to open up and there is a real art to the way he approaches interviews with great simplicity but pulls experiences and angles from these people's lives in ways no other mainstream journalist could ever do. I give a lot of credit to people like Michael as well for opening up, I'm sure a lot of these topics aren't always the first someone would rush to talk about.

1:13 how he says "AGAIN" says it all 😆

His meltdown in front of the city in Take Shelter is one of the best acting moments of this century. I felt like the world was truly about to end.

Sam ... I love these interviews. I love how open and vulnerable everyone is when they talk to you.

Michael Shannon was born to be an actor. He just naturally looks like that straight edge, no nonsense type of guy who wouldn't tell you much but you know there's more under the skin and he plays those characters so well. He was awesome in Shotgun Stories & 99 Homes.

"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces." - Norma Desmond (Sunset Blvd.) Michael Shannon has one of those great faces of the silent screen era. It's in the eyes.

How is this channel still so undersubbed. These are incredible interviews, with incredible people.

The way he says "I went to live with my dad." (0:23)

Oh my God. I've always thought he was a tortured genius, but I had no idea it was to this extent. I feel kind of sorry for him now. I hope he will have some joy in regular life.

I wonder how many Michael Shannon fans realize he was in the movie Groundhog Day. It was a fairly small part, a handful of lines, but he plays a character VERY different than what he mostly seems known for and associated with today, that sort of "quiet intensity", etc. He plays one of the people in the diner, and one of the smaller 'good deeds' that Bill Murray does in the story is he convinces Shannon and the girl he's with they're a great couple and they're going to get married.

God, this guy is an amazing interviewer. You don't even really notice him, he just draws out the most interesting stuff from everyone he talks to. I'm addicted to these vids now.

You see the split-second grimaces when he mentions his father. Powerful stuff.

He's a great actor. He was one of the more interesting characters in Boardwalk Empire.

"I will find HIM!"

Completely relatable. Speaking for someone who feels this way everyday.

He's so open with his stories. He doesn't mince words.

Michael Shannon, I think you’re one of the best actors of the 21st century by far. Thank you for your magnificent work.

the lack of music and simple editing, coupled with excellent discussion mediated by the interviewer, really makes this whole thing so great. keep it up!

Oh how I love Michael Shannon

in other words, it was through acting he can finally express himself in ways people accept.

Every sentence he makes mention of his father, his voice and the look on his face changes

Got a dangerous edge to him that really comes across on the screen. Love this guy.

Easily one of the greatest actors alive today. Very impressed with Michael Shannon.

Yet another great interview Sam. I've been really looking forward to Michael Shannon interviews. He seems to be a deep dude

this guy was born to be a actor

i get the feeling that shannon's upbringing and past is why he's so great in dark roles...

I love when people are honest about painful things. This is a gift.

Michael Shannon is a great actor and he's amazing in everything he does but he absolutely killed it as General Zod.

ITS SHOWS LIKE THIS INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS INSIGHTS INTO CELEB HISTORY that saves lives. Imagine how many people Michael just helped and inspired with this small video

My parents divorced when I was 3, so I know exactly what he’s talking about when he says it’s like living on different planets. I often felt guilty growing up as well when ever I had to choose between my mom or Dad because it usually resulted in leaving one sad/disappointed. They were pretty hostile towards each other, not physically but vocally. It’s okay now though. I’m older and they’re friends, so it all worked out. Things usually do.

When most people say high school was a disaster, many look back and probably think it was due to the inherent awkwardness of those years. Michael's obviously was much harder and traumatizing. He got a GED for his father, still seeking validation. Rough all the way around.

I just want to hold Mike, hug him and tell him how precious and important he is and that he is so loved, everyday, for the rest of his life.

He has always freaked me out so much in all his roles. He's really a great actor.

Michael has a face that even when it's relaxed he looks angry. I am afflicted with the same problem. People always ask me are you okay. I'm like yeah I am fine.

His portrayal of Van Alden in Boardwalk Empire totally made me a fan of this guy. He's fantastic.

When I first saw Micheal Shannon on Boardwalk Empire I knew he would be an actor worth following. If I see a movie he’s attached to I watch it. Never disappointed. Fantastic actor.

I just love the black & white theme and consistency of seating, one can see and hear better w/o busy backgrounds. Thank you🤗

Saw this wonderful actor for the first time in 2001 - Pearl Harbor, where he's working on a surf fin, I believe. Hoped that one day we might see more of him, I don't know why I felt that way but he seemed "there" - like in character. Turned out to be one heck of an actor! I hope he has more warmth within now than he had growing up. Genuine guy!

My life was just like this mans, life just isn't the same for everyone.

I wish I could sit down with this man and hear his story; particularly his Highschool years. Those four years robbed me of so much. I want to know how he got better, so maybe I can learn how to as well.

This guy is one of my all time favorite actors and after seeing this i relate to him so much its crazy. Seriously talented guy right here.

This man inspires me tremendously. I've seen just about 1,000 movies in my 24 years on this earth and rarely have I come across such raw, natural talent that he possesses. Take Shelter, 99 Homes, Nocturnal Animals... there's just no equivalent actor to Michael Shannon.

He could literally be in the background covered by the car and still steal the focus of a scene. He's a fascinating actor.

After listening to this, I can now hear his pain in many of his roles.

Lucky enough to meet him once and got to tell him how incredible he was in “The Iceman” and “Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead”. Which if you haven’t seen either, you should right away. He was very cool and humble.

Most true words i heard today. I've lived through severe depression practically all my life. And although bullying has been glorified in movies and stuff to the point that everybody says they were bullied, I was bullied all through until the end of my high school. I saw college as an escape and got admitted to one far from home (almost 1500 km). I felt better to be away from my dad who was my first and worst bully. But i faced new kinds of struggles. I feel like people sense that on you. They sense that you are an outcast and a loner. It never ends. So, it basically it continued even during my college. My rep was tarnished because i trusted the wrong guy. My biggest mistake was that i believed that maybe the composition of people would get better in a new place. People don't necessarily become all good. They just get measured on a different scale of assholery. I have held on all this while. I've strived to complete my education till masters. I wanna become a singer, but I couldn't get trained. It must seem like I'm rambling right now. But that's my point. These experiences and the effect they have on you take so much portion of your life that you can't "dream". And if you have the strength to dream even during this war like situation, you are so much tired every single day that you just go through the days. I still have hope (during the best of times). But during the hard times, i get so scared of myself. I am proud to say (yes, proud) that i have an understanding of a person who feels like the only way they have to get of that pain is to go against their bodies' natural instinct to survive and out themselves from their lives. You commit a great injustice when you chastise such people and say that they took the "easy" way out. Proves that you don't have an inkling of an idea of how much dark a person can feel. How hopeless. It's not a question of strength. Even the strongest of people can feel that. I'm not idolising suicide. No. I'm trying to explain what goes inside a person's head when they take that route. Changing the topic, abruptly, I'd say I've interests in going into standup. I guess I'll try that sometime, haha. I'm definitely going to release a single, tho. Have nothing but love for each other folks and understand that it's not a competition of who has lived the most painful life. Much love! ♥

Oh, hell, that sounds like my high school experience

How did you get him to talk to you?

0:21 "and then when I started high-school, I lived with my dad" That deep breath he takes tells me all I need to know. Mine was a monster. Mother wasn't any better either. Both abusive as fuck. Never divorced, so I was surrounded up until I left at 16. Staying with old musician junkies was better than the hell I grew up in. Love ya, Michael.

Love Michael Shannon in just about everything he's been in. Seems like a super cool guy

The ending made me realize that for him he wasn't acting, that's deep. Like a writer writing or a painter painting and its life for them.

He is such an underrated actor. He was really great in Nocturnal Animals.

love, love, LOVE this man. criminally underappreciated & undoubtedly a genius.

One of my favorite actors of this generation. It seems that those who invest themselves so singularly within their art, do so from a dark place.

Boy I really relate to this

"The great thing about acting is I could go on stage and act, like, insane where in real life, if I acted that way, I'd get chastised and punished, but when you do that on stage people applaud and say 'wow, you're a genius!'"

just found this page now im binging other videos cant believe this channel doesnt have alot more subs

He seems like a very sweet person. Glad he found something to live for.

As an Actor these insights are amazing thank you for what you do

this interviewer is absolutely amazing

I love Michael Shannon. He is literally one of my favorites :)

Love this guy. Love every part he plays

This guy has the most pain in his eyes I think I’ve ever seen. As a Kentuckian I have always been proud of him he’s so underrated

Didnt think it was possibly but by god I am now a even bigger Michael Shannon fan.

oh man high school, 20 years on its really like the beginning of A tale of two cities, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I have the best and worse memories, that intensity is never matched, no matter how good or bad you feel later in life.

He’s a very noble and genuine dude ..

Man I feel him. I’m struggling with making friends. (Still do) some people asked me if I’m okay? For years I tried to hide and say yeah I’m fine till a woman came in my life and said hey are you okay? I tried to hide and say I’m fine like always. She said “no, are you okay?” Then I found out she’s Empath cuz she felt loneliness and pain in me then We end up being best friends and now like each other lot till she said she want to focus on finishing college, she’s still trying be there for me. I always thought he’s pretty good actor till I saw Take Shelter where he had deaf daughter and use sign language and end up his biggest fan. I’m deaf. Yeah.

I love michael. First saw him in boardwalk empire and loved him

He’s such a cool guy 👏🏻💝 he has a lot of integrity too and has always been very serious about not “selling out” and playing cheesy movies for the sake of better payroll. He picks his roles wisely and with passion for the actual art of acting and I respect that. 👍🏻👏🏻💕 he elevates any movies he plays in and seems like a nice dude

This is the first time I've ever seen an interview with this actor. I've seen him in Boardwalk Empire, The Iceman, and probable more that I can't remember, but he's great at his craft. Good video!

He's freaking awesome. I'd love to be friends with him. He has an awesome sense of humor.

I love this man! He didn’t know that he was a Unicorn, and was meant to stand out. 🙏

Omg...the stare when he remembers ...it's intense 😞nothing but love & respect for MS ❤️

Now everyone wants to be your friend , including me , your a phenomenal actor bro!!

I got my GED in the Navy, I did four years in high school, I really loved high school but I didn't have the grades. The older I get the more I think about how difficult it is for kids in the modern education system in America. I was no slouch, I was an Academic Team Captain for three years, theatre, volunteering, sure I occasionally partied and more than once slept at school because things were fucked up at home, but I have more than enough empathy for kids today. Just take it a day or two at a time.

General Zod never finished high school, that sounds about right.

😂😂😂 I swear this man can make talking about you favorite ice cream so intense and serious I love you mike

I can relate sadly. Respect to Mr. Shannon.

Stumbled onto MS because I'm an Ashley Judd fan and he stole the show in BUG. One of those shows you either love or hate but I think ONLY MS could have pulled it off!

Funny, most people are on to the emptiness. It takes real guts to see the hopelessness.

"I will find him!" couldn't have been delivered better by another human. I also love him in Midnight Special. That's a fantastic movie.

My favorite actor. His roll in take shelter is a master class in the craft.

Loved him in "Bug"

Greatness.

Super talented, unique, and a rare individual that is a pleasure to watch, observe, and such. Thanks.

He is such a genuine and versatile actor.

I was definitely like Michael Shanon in school

He was the only good performance in Man Of Steel. Even as a corpse he was amazing in Batman V. Superman.

Unless one is a hyper-outgoing, charming, gorgeous and gregarious type, moving into a new city and high school can be devastating. We had to move to two different cities (with an additional move within each city) within the span of 4 years. We moved for the last time when I was in 5th grade and my brother was in 11th. It really screwed both of us up and had very negative effects on both of our lives. I went through a very long rough patch but ultimately managed to recover, get out of the ditch and back on track, and ultimately become successful. But my far more introverted brother became even more so and has lived a sad and lonely life. So hearing this definitely crystallized the brilliance and range of Michael Shannon’s performances: those experiences will dig one a very deep well from which to draw. 😢

One of the actors who don't act but live their characters. Watched his "Take shelter" and I am blown away.

So, Sam what filter we're using today? - Pretentious 0.7