'A Different Man' Star Adam Pearson Says His Facial Disfigurement 'Opened Doors'

Author: People Magazine

Published On: 09/17/2024

When Adam Pearson visits a new town or city, he knows the obvious can’t be ignored. He anticipates the stares and curiosity — and, at times, the cruelty — when people first see his face, covered with tumors due to neurofibromatosis.

Pearson's approach is to confront it boldly. “You go in and go for it,” the 39-year-old actor tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. “Like, ‘Hi, my name’s Adam. I’m new here. We’re going to be friends.’ ”

That confident charm inspired director Aaron Schimberg to write A Different Man, a dark comedy that [opened] Sept. 20 that stars Pearson and Sebastian Stan, who praises his costar’s “charisma and bravery.”

Pearson previously appeared in the 2014 thriller Under the Skin with Scarlett Johansson, as well as in Schimberg’s 2019 film Chained for Life. In A Different Man, he plays Oswald, a rakish hero whose facial disfigurement is a mere footnote to his magnetism.

Read Adam's full story here.