How Glen Powell’s Breakout Role Pulled Him Out of Hard Times
Before Glen Powell became a Hollywood star, he faced years of financial struggle. His role in The Expendables 3 finally gave him the paycheck he needed to escape poverty and change his life.
Few actors who are labeled as Hollywood ’s “next big thing” ever manage to live up to the hype, but Glen Powell is proving to be an exception. After his standout performance as a cocky pilot in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell’s career has been on a steady climb. He’s even been compared to Tom Cruise, though not everyone sees that as a compliment. With all the attention he’s getting now, it ’s easy to forget that Powell’s journey in the industry began long before his recent success. His first film credit dates back to 2003’s Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, where he played the memorable ‘Long-Fingered Boy.’ As he got older, he popped up in TV shows like CSI: Miami and NCIS, and even had a small part in The Dark Knight Rises, where he had a run-in with Bane that still gets a laugh from fans.
Early Struggles in Hollywood
Despite landing roles in both movies and television, making ends meet in Los Angeles was a constant challenge for Powell. He opened up about his struggles on Jake Shane’s Therapuss podcast, sharing just how tough things were before his big break.
“I got paid bare minimum, but I was there for several months, so I made enough,”
he recalled about his time on The Expendables 3.
“It was the most money I ever made. It was like 70,000 bucks or something like that. And just remember being like, ‘I don’t have to think about a cup of coffee, how much it costs.’”
The Expendables 3: A Turning Point
The Expendables franchise became famous for bringing together a roster of action legends like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Later films added stars such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Wesley Snipes, and Chuck Norris. Powell joined the third installment as part of a younger team meant to take over from the original crew, only to be upstaged by the veteran action stars, as is tradition in these films.
Before landing that role, Powell was scraping by in Los Angeles, doing whatever he could to keep his dream alive.
“You look at a rotisserie chicken like, ‘how long can I make this last?’”
he said.
“I would go to dinner with people, but I would never eat. I couldn’t afford to split.”
His story is a reminder that, behind the glitz and red carpets, the entertainment business can be a tough grind.
From Bare Minimum to Breakthrough
While many actors spend years hustling without ever catching a break, Powell’s persistence finally paid off. The paycheck from The Expendables 3 was a game-changer, allowing him to stop worrying about every dollar. Now, with his career on the rise, he can finally enjoy the simple things he once had to go without.