Jeff Bridges remembers teaching Bob Dylan how to act: “He was so great to work with”

Jeff Bridges has talked about the time he was asked to teach Bob Dylan some acting techniques while they worked together on the set of a film.

• READ MORE: A Complete Unknown review – don’t think twice about seeing this brilliant Bob Dylan biopic

The Big Lebowski star talked to The Guardian about his life and career, including his love of music – the Hollywood veteran won an Oscar in 2010 for his role in Crazy Heart, playing a country musician struggling with addiction.

Dylan and Bridges worked together on the 2003 drama Masked And Anonymous, where the former played a fading star whose return for a benefit gig is investigated by a journalist, played by Bridges. The actor recalled the film’s director, Larry Charles, one day making an unusual request.

“Why don’t you and Bob go off and you teach Bob some acting? Go and do some improvisation or something” Bridges recalled. Although reluctant, Bridges agreed and is enthusiastic about the experience. “He was so great to work with,” he said. “He’s such an incredible actor. I mean his presence, right?” The music legend would later reciprocate by appearing in Bridges’ trailer playing guitar. “He said ‘Hey man, you want to jam?’”

One thing he remained on the fence about what the recent Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. The actor said he liked the film but was puzzled as to why it needed to be made. “They all did such a great job but … You know, you got the real thing …”.

Last year, Jeff Bridges gave a health update following his cancer diagnosis in 2020, which lead to him being in remission in 2021. “My health is great,” the actor told Page Six at the time. “It’s such a learning experience being sick like that,” he added. “It’s amazing the way the mind can forget all that stuff. I’m not thinking too much about the past.”

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