Jesse Eisenberg discussed his latest film The Debut at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where he revealed a significant shift in his views on acting. The actor-writer-director previously held deeply cynical opinions about the profession, believing actors were overpaid and vain, but these views were fundamentally transformed after observing Julianne Moore's rehearsal process during his directorial work.

The Debut is partially autobiographical, set in 1990s central New Jersey and drawing on Eisenberg's own transformative experience joining community theatre at age seven. After years of being bullied for his curly hair at school, the theatre community welcomed him warmly—an experience he channels into the film's narrative about a shy woman (Moore) who discovers herself through community theatre. Eisenberg's perspective on acting shifted when he witnessed Moore undergoing an intense emotional process to prepare for a scene, realising that acting is genuinely challenging and demanding work rather than mere vanity and privilege.