Paris: Hollywood actor Jesse Eisenberg, best known for playing Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film The Social Network, has expressed a change in his view of the Facebook founder. In an interview with AFP, Eisenberg shared that he once saw Zuckerberg as a figure with a sense of righteousness, driven by his own brilliance. However, reflecting on Zuckerberg’s more recent actions, Eisenberg believes the tech mogul has evolved into someone “obsessed with avarice and power.”

"You kind of wonder like ‘oh, so this person didn’t evolve into a profile in courage. This person evolved into somebody obsessed with avarice and power,’" said Eisenberg. The actor was initially sympathetic to Zuckerberg’s character, viewing him as someone who quickly understood complex concepts. But Eisenberg’s perspective has shifted, particularly after Zuckerberg’s political shift and decisions regarding fact-checking on Facebook.

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Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg in The Social Network brought him global fame and an Oscar nomination. Now, the actor is gearing up for a return to the Academy Awards with his latest film, A Real Pain. Eisenberg wrote, directed, and starred in the film alongside Succession star Kieran Culkin. The film, which revolves around two Jewish cousins on a Holocaust tour, has already earned rave reviews and garnered two Oscar nominations.

Personal connection to his latest film

Eisenberg also shared that A Real Pain is deeply personal for him. The film’s setting and script reflect his own experiences, particularly drawing from his family’s history and his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety. "David's life is very similar to my life... the pills that David takes are the pills that I take," Eisenberg explained.

Despite initial concerns about casting Culkin, Eisenberg praised his co-star for bringing the perfect energy to the film. Eisenberg also expressed his passion for both acting and directing, noting that he is eager to continue working in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to his work in film, Eisenberg found great fulfilment during the Covid pandemic, volunteering at a domestic violence shelter run by his mother-in-law. “I had never been happier in my life,” he shared.

Agency