In a candid interview on the "Fly on the Wall" podcast, John Corbett expressed his regrets about choosing acting as a career, citing a lack of creative control and unfulfillment.
John Corbett, known for his roles in "Sex and the City" and "Northern Exposure," has opened up about his frustrations with acting, admitting that he made a mistake in choosing the profession.
Speaking on David Spade and Dana Carvey's "Fly on the Wall" podcast, Corbett said that he feels like a "puppet" on set rather than a collaborator. "I'm not part of any creative process," he said. "You feel like a puppet."
John Corbett Reveals Frustrations with Acting: "I Picked the F---ing Wrong Thing to Do with My Life
Despite his success in television and film, Corbett believes he picked the wrong career path. "Look, I'm in the fourth quarter of the football game now, in life and in showbiz. It's just a fact," he said. "So I can reveal now I picked the f---ing wrong thing to do with my life."
Growing up, Corbett resented authority figures and sought a career in which he could have creative freedom. However, he realized that acting often involves following orders and waiting for instructions, which he finds unfulfilling.
John Corbett Reveals Frustrations with Acting: "I Picked the F---ing Wrong Thing to Do with My Life
"It's just a fact," he said. "So I can reveal now I picked the f---ing wrong thing to do with my life."
While Corbett acknowledges his financial success and fame, he believes that his lack of creative input into his work has made his career unsatisfying.
John Corbett Reveals Frustrations with Acting: "I Picked the F---ing Wrong Thing to Do with My Life
"I'm just telling you, I made a lot of money. I live in a beautiful home. People come to me in every f---ing restaurant I go in. I'm a friend of the world," he said. "But as far as a fulfilling creative work life, I didn't write one f---ing line. I didn't write one joke to make people laugh. So it's been unfulfilling on that level."
Corbett compared being on a movie set to "watching paint dry" and said that he often gets bored and frustrated during the long hours spent waiting for his turn.
John Corbett Reveals Frustrations with Acting: "I Picked the F---ing Wrong Thing to Do with My Life
"For that whole year, how do I get my, besides playing guitar and piano at home, how do I express myself?" Corbett said.
In recent years, Corbett has dabbled in country music, but even that outlet hasn't fully satisfied his creative needs. The gaps between acting work leave him wanting more.
"I'm just at that point in my life now where I like being at home with Bo and the dogs," he said.
Corbett and his longtime partner, Bo Derek, have been together since 2002 and married in 2020. Corbett said that he's not interested in traveling for films and prefers to stay home and enjoy his life with Derek.
However, he did express his admiration for his "And Just Like That" co-star, Sarah Jessica Parker, saying, "If I had to act the rest of my life with just one person, it would be her."
Corbett's comments offer a rare glimpse into the frustrations and regrets that can accompany a successful acting career. While he has achieved fame and financial success, Corbett believes that he made the wrong choice in pursuing acting and longs for a more fulfilling and creative life.
