Sebastian Stanbest known for his role as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he recently stepped into one of his most challenging roles to date: portraying a young Donald Trump in the film "The Apprentice" written by Gabriel Sherman and directed by Ali Abbasi.

The film delves into Trump's rise as a New York real estate magnate in the 1970s and 1980s, exploring the ambitions, power struggles and personal controversies that shaped his early career.

Sebastian Stan's portrait offers a closer look at Donald Trump's formative years, capturing the complexity of a man who would later become one of the most polarizing figures in modern political history.

At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, where Stan accepted the trophy for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in The Different Man, he was asked about his most challenging role to date.

He pointed to "The Apprentice" without hesitation.

“Without a doubt, the man in orange, right? Donald Trump, definitely the most difficult," said Stan, per people, with a wry smile before acknowledging the challenges of his Golden Globe-winning role. “And that doesn't take away from the reason I'm up here talking to you. I think this in itself is really difficult. There was a big risk in terms of what he was talking about and trying to step into the shoes of someone else who has more -osis, like Adam Pearson. So that also had its challenges and I wanted to do it right.”

Stan continued, reflecting on the difficulty of playing such a controversial figure. "But when I look back at the sleepless nights and the responsibility I felt - and still do - it's about being an 'apprentice' and wanting to do the best I can to respect the bosses department and offer a further perspective on something I think we all inevitably have to do .”

When the film first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, it was met with praise and controversy -- and those reviews continued after its official release in October 2024. Its unflinching portrayal of Trump's personal and professional life includes a deeply disturbing scene including Trump, played by Stan, and his first wife Ivana, played by Marija Bakalova.

One of the The scenes are related to the divorce of Ivana Trump in 1990where she described a disturbing encounter with her then-husband. "On one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had a marital relationship in which he behaved towards me completely differently than during our marriage," said Ivana, as quoted by The Guardian. "As a woman, I felt violated... I described this as rape, but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense."

After the May premiere, Steven Cheung, Trump's campaign communications director, issued a statement in favor Peopleclaiming, "We will file a lawsuit to address the patently false claims of these fake filmmakers."

"This garbage is pure fiction that sensationalizes lies that have long been exposed," Cheung added, referring to the rape scene. “This 'film' is pure malicious slander, should never see the light of day, and doesn't even deserve a place in the direct-to-DVD section of the cheap movie bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store. It belongs in a dumpster fire.”

During a screening in Los Angeles in November 2024, Sebastian Stan revealed that he was invited to participate in the diversity'is a renowned Actors in the Actors series, but in the end could not participate due to difficulties in finding a suitable match. An honest confession, he reported Buzzfeedsheds light on the challenges actors may face when dealing with projects with complex or sensitive topics.

"They were too afraid to go and talk about this movie, so I couldn't do it," Stan said at the Nov. 19 event. “And it doesn't matter, it's fine. It's not that I'm pointing fingers at anyone - I have a lot of great things to do."

Stan clarified that no individual is to blame for the missed opportunity. Instead, he suggested that representatives and publicists may have been reluctant to engage in discussions about the film's themes. "We couldn't get past the publicists or the people representing them because they were too afraid to talk about this movie," he explained.

The acclaimed actor was nominated twice at Sunday's ceremony: once for his role in "The Apprentice" and once for "The Other Man," winning the latter over notable contenders such as Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel LaBelle, Hugh GrantJesse Plemons, and Glen Powell.

In his acceptance speech, Stan reflected on the profound impact of "The Different Man" and the social attitudes it confronts. Calling it "not an easy" film to make, he emphasized the need for greater understanding and representation.

"Our ignorance and discomfort around disability and disfigurement must end now," Stan said passionately. “We have to normalize it and continue to expose ourselves to it and encourage acceptance in our children. One way we can do that is to continue to champion stories that are inclusive.”

Both The Apprentice and The Other Man are now available to rent or buy on demand, allowing audiences to experience the powerful performances and important narratives that Stan brought to life on screen.