Hollywood is a strange place. One day you’re a 29-year-old actor landing your big break in a neo-noir masterpiece, and the next, you're looking back thirty years later realizing that what you thought was just "weird behavior" was actually something much darker.
That’s exactly where Guy Pearce found himself.
For years, the story of L.A. Confidential was about its nine Oscar nominations and how it made stars out of two relatively unknown Australians: Pearce and Russell Crowe. But lately, the conversation has shifted. It’s no longer just about the brilliance of the film; it's about the uncomfortable reality of what was happening when the cameras stopped rolling. Specifically, the relationship—if you can even call it that—between Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey.
The "Handsy" Comment that Started It All
It actually started back in 2018. Guy Pearce was on an Australian talk show called Interview with Andrew Denton. When Spacey’s name came up, Pearce didn’t hold back, but he didn’t fully lean in either. He called Spacey a "handsy guy."
He even added a line that made the audience gasp: "Thankfully I was 29 and not 14."
That was a direct shot at the allegations made by Anthony Rapp, who had accused Spacey of making sexual advances toward him when Rapp was just a young teenager. Pearce’s comment went viral instantly. But then, almost as quickly, he tried to walk it back. He released a statement saying he regretted making the issue public and that while he was made to feel "uncomfortable," he wasn't sexually assaulted.
For a few years, it seemed like that was the end of it. It wasn't.
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"He Targeted Me, No Question"
Fast forward to February 2025. Pearce, now 57 and doing press for his role in The Brutalist, sat down for a deep-dive interview on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast. This time, the gloves were off. He didn't just call Spacey "handsy"—he used the word targeted.
"I was young and susceptible, and he targeted me, no question," Pearce said.
It’s a heavy word. Pearce described a five-month shoot where he felt constantly on edge. He wasn't just a co-star; he felt like prey. He admitted to being scared of Spacey, describing him as an "aggressive man" who was simultaneously "extremely charming and brilliant." That’s the classic Hollywood predator trope, isn't it? The person who holds the room so well that you feel like you're the crazy one for being uncomfortable.
Pearce shared a heartbreaking detail about his time on set. He told his wife at the time, Kate Mestitz, that the only days he felt truly safe were when Simon Baker was filming. Why? Because according to Pearce, Spacey would drop him "like a hot potato" to focus on Baker, whom he jokingly (but pointedly) said was "ten times prettier" than him.
Imagine that. You're a lead actor in a major motion picture, and you're praying your co-star shows up just so the Oscar winner stops looking at you.
The Delayed Impact
Why wait so long to speak up? Pearce explained that he basically blocked it out. He did what a lot of people do: he brushed it off. "Ah, that's nothing," he’d tell himself.
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It wasn't until 2017, when the #MeToo movement exploded and the allegations against Spacey became global news, that the dam finally broke. Pearce was in London working on a project when the news hit. He says he broke down and sobbed. He couldn't stop. It was the realization that he hadn't just had a "difficult time" with a co-star—he had been a victim of a pattern.
Spacey’s Blistering Video Response
Kevin Spacey didn't take these 2025 comments lying down. Hours after the podcast dropped, Spacey posted a video on X (formerly Twitter). It was... well, it was vintage Spacey.
He didn't exactly deny the "handsiness." Instead, he went on the attack. He told Pearce to "grow up." "You are not a victim," Spacey said directly to the camera. He claimed that a year after L.A. Confidential, Pearce flew to Savannah, Georgia, just to visit him on the set of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Spacey’s argument was essentially: If you were so scared of me, why did you come see me?
Spacey framed the whole thing as Pearce trying to fit into a "victim narrative" for the sake of his current Oscar campaign. It was a classic "he-said, he-said" moment, but with decades of legal baggage trailing behind it.
The Legal Reality
It's important to keep the facts straight here.
- In 2022, a New York jury found Spacey not liable for battery against Anthony Rapp.
- In 2023, a U.K. court found him not guilty of nine counts of sexual assault.
Legally, Spacey has won. He’s been cleared in the eyes of the law in multiple countries. But the "court of public opinion" is a different beast entirely. When actors like Guy Pearce—who generally has a reputation for being a "straight shooter" and a "nice guy" in the industry—come forward with these specific, visceral stories, it changes how people view those legal wins.
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Why This Matters Now
Honestly, this isn't just about celebrity gossip. It’s about how power worked in Hollywood for a very long time. Pearce's story highlights the "middle ground" of harassment. He wasn't raped. He wasn't molested. But he was made to feel unsafe, hunted, and small.
For a long time, the industry told actors to "just deal with it." If you wanted the career, you took the "handsy" co-star as part of the job.
Pearce's recent openness suggests that even for the "successful" ones, those wounds don't just disappear. They stay shelved in some dark corner of the brain until something—a news story, a podcast, a moment of reflection—pulls them back into the light.
What you can do with this information:
If you are a fan of L.A. Confidential, viewing the film through this lens is inevitably different. However, understanding the production history of classic films helps in recognizing the progress—and the remaining gaps—in workplace safety within the entertainment industry.
- Watch for the Nuance: Pearce himself notes he was "not a victim to the extent of others." It is possible to acknowledge someone's discomfort without equating it to the most severe forms of abuse.
- Check the Sources: If you want to hear the raw emotion in Pearce's voice, listen to the Awards Chatter podcast (February 2025). It provides context that text snippets often miss.
- Follow the Legal Track: Spacey is still navigating various civil claims and attempts at a "comeback." Keep an eye on trade publications like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter for factual updates on his legal standing.