Will Poulter on Joining The Bear, Pastry Skills, and the Parallel Between Acting and Cooking

Passion for Hospitality and The Bear

• 💡 Will Poulter reveals a decade-long obsession with the hospitality industry and a deep reverence for chefs.
• 🎯 He was thrilled to be cast in "The Bear," a show he'd long admired and even tried to create a similar concept for himself.
• 🎭 Being a fanboy on set, he felt immense excitement upon seeing his name associated with a character, especially a pastry chef.

Culinary Journey and Skill Development

• 🍳 Poulter admits his pastry skills were initially non-existent, describing the process as incredibly difficult, particularly the lamination technique.
• 🛠️ He underwent intensive training, working with producer and chef Courtney Stoer, and gained experience at renowned restaurants like Black Axe Mangal and St. John.
• 🍪 Despite the complex dishes he learned, his current favorite things to make are cookies and brownies, due to their simplicity and universal appeal.

The Art of Cooking and Acting

• 🎭 Poulter draws a strong parallel between acting and cooking, viewing both as forms of emotional transfer aimed at affecting an audience's senses and emotions.
• 🧠 He suggests cooking might be a more complete sensory experience than acting, engaging taste and smell alongside emotional connection and memory.
• ⚠️ He acknowledges the immense difficulty and demanding hours in the culinary world, noting the often-unseen hard work and lack of recognition compared to acting.