Jeremy Piven’s ‘Incredible’ Film ‘The Performance’ Showcases the ‘Power of Storytelling’

Jeremy Piven is a three-time Emmy Award winner for his performance as the fast-talking, acerbic Hollywood agent Ari Gold in the HBO series Entourage, but he considers his recent film, The Performance, one of the biggest highlights of his career. Based on an intriguing short story by the playwright Arthur Miller, Jeremy plays Harold May, a Jewish-American tap dancer in pre-Nazi Germany, who is asked to perform for one night in Berlin, and gets into a very tricky situation.

“It’s a film at its core about a guy that is struggling with the question of how far will one compromise themselves to become successful in this life,” he exclusively tells Closer. “My character risks it all for fame, and for momentum. And it’s a cautionary tale. I’m really blown away with how many people resonate with it.”

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As a Jewish man, Jeremy was deeply touched by the story. “It’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to do the film,” he explains. “My mom gave me the story which was printed in the New Yorker, and I remember reading the scenes. There’s this incredible moment that showcases the power of storytelling, as it reveals our humanity. And I think it was the best illustration of the horrors of antisemitism I’d ever seen in my life. I thought, ‘if I can pull this off, I will really be contributing something.’ And so here we are.”

The film also presented some new challenges for the actor. “I actually learned how to tap dance for it, which was the hardest thing I have ever had to do to prepare for a role,” he says.

Getting the financing to make the project happen also took a whopping 15 years. “Each year that we couldn’t find the money, I got better at tap!” he says. “And to work with my sister, who wrote and directed this film, is very very special.”

Jeremy is also currently touring the country with his stand-up comedy show, which he says has been exciting but terrifying. “I love being on the road, being able to be in a room with an audience and have a laugh,” he says. “Pressure is a privilege, so I love that privilege. You got to face your fears in this life. Because on the other side of that is something very rewarding.”

Like many celebrities, Jeremy has been impacted by the Los Angeles fires. On Instagram, he shared: “Thank you to everyone that reached out to me… More importantly, thank you to all the first responders who were dealing with limited resources and did an incredible job considering… The gift of perspective is a profound thing. We have each other and that’s what matters. This can be seen as a rebirth and I welcome it with open arms. Local businesses have stepped up as well as Airbnb to help any displaced people and we are incredibly thankful.”