‘Best actor I’ve ever worked with’: Kevin Costner ranks this star ahead of Eastwood, Sean Connery and De Niro

Kevin Costner has traveled with the greats throughout his storied career, but there’s one actor who has really left an impression on him and whom he considers “the best” he’s ever worked with, as he confided at the microphone a few years ago. The Rich Eisen Show (via Espinoff).

Kevin Costner already knows what he wants (and doesn’t want)

The anecdote unfolds one day in 1986, on the unique set of Sens. Kevin Costner is having trouble working with director Roger Donaldson. You have to shoot scenes around the office between your character and others. Costner, who already has an eye for the future director, wants the camera to be in one place and Donaldson in another.

No one interrupts on the set, least of all the actor who was supposed to play the scene with Costner, a certain Gene Hackman, who does not miss, but does not interfere.

Costner finally makes the decision and his camera angle is maintained – the scene is actually shot that way in the movie – and when asked how Hackman will fit in, he says: “Jenny will figure out how to do it because she’s so good”. And filming resumes, but Kevin is not completely emotional.

Confirmation of the giant

At the end of the day, Costner is about to get into his car and go home when Hackman beckons him over. The young actor then fears that his boss will accuse him of taking the director’s hand, but the opposite happens. Hackman said:

I’m recently divorced, I’ve done a lot of questionable movies lately, and seeing you fight for what you wanted today reminded me of how I felt when I was acting. It was good what you did.

Hackman then got into his car and drove away. A nice compliment and a nice matchup, because after One Way, the two actors find themselves on the set of the Wyatt Earp western: Costner in the title role and Hackman as his father, Nicholas Earp.