Actor Glen Powell discusses his decision to stay out of political debates, citing that politics divides people and makes healthy conversation difficult. In an interview with Esquire, he explains that his calling lies elsewhere despite acknowledging the importance of individuals fighting for their beliefs. Powell, known for roles in "Top Gun: Maverick," emphasizes that movies can bring people together more effectively than political discourse can currently do.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Glen Powell wants nothing to do with Hollywood's political firestorms.
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Powell → want → firestorms
The "Top Gun: Maverick" star opened up about his decision to stay out of politics and why he believes the growing divide has made it nearly impossible to have a healthy conversation.
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it → open → conversation
"Over time, I realized that politics divide people," Powell told Esquire.
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Powell → realize → Esquire
"People trying to prove their point – for me, it’s the worst version of a conversation.
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it → try → conversation
I genuinely do not like the discourse.
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I → like → discourse
It’s not as healthy as it once was."
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it → ’ → ?
For Powell, engaging in politics is "not presently possible."
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engaging → engage → politics
"I applaud people for jumping into those things and fighting for what they believe in," he added.
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he → applaud → what
"If I were a political person, I would be talking about it.
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I → talk → it
Powell's reluctance to wade into politics dates back to his upbringing.
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reluctance → wade → upbringing
Despite his mother's work in the Reagan administration at the U.S. Treasury Department, the actor said politics and current events weren't regular topics of conversation around the family dinner table.
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politics → say → table
He echoed the sentiment in a previous interview with The Guardian.
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He → echo → Guardian
"I’m not a political person," he said in October 2025.
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he → ’m → October
"I like things that bring people together."
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that → like → people
With politics increasingly dividing audiences, even Hollywood's biggest stars are finding it harder to appeal to everyone.
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it → divide → everyone
Powell weighed in on whether entertainment can still bring Americans together and if action movies are one of the last remaining escapes from the political divide.
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movies → weigh → divide
"That’s a good point.
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That → ’ → ?
There’s a universal language of action, which is also why those movies translate so well internationally," he added.
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he → ’ → action
"'Running Man' is about something universal – what you would be willing to do for the people you love?
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you → run → people
But also how people can feel powerless in the face of a world that feels more and more unequal, more unfair.
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that → feel → world
"So, you’re not going to see me talk politics.
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me → go → politics
But movies – that’s how I express myself," he added.
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he → ’ → myself
"Movies are a conversation; politics always felt to me like two people trying to prove a point."
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politics → feel → point
Powell has become one of Hollywood's most recognizable leading men, thanks to standout performances in "Top Gun: Maverick," "Anyone But You" and "Twisters."
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Powell → become → You
Yet his stardom didn't light overnight.
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stardom → light → ?
He once had a casting director tell him he'd be lucky to "play a dead body" on CSI as he struggled for a decade to get his foot in the door.
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he → have → door
"There was a point where I realized that acting is not a meritocracy," he said during an appearance on "CBS Mornings."
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he → be → Mornings
And just because you exist on a longer timeline doesn't mean it's going to work out.
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it → exist → timeline
"The fact that all of those sort of detours along the way about learning how to sort of develop and raise money and write – all these things are now kind of leading me to a place where all of those weapons are at my disposal," he added.
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he → learn → disposal
The Hollywood heartthrob kept his hot streak alive in 2026, starring alongside Margaret Qualley in the dark comedy thriller "How to Make a Killing" before lending his voice to Fox McCloud in "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."
The Texas-born star is gearing up for two major 2027 projects, including Judd Apatow's comedy "The Comeback King" and J.J. Abrams' sci-fi adventure "The Great Beyond."
Outside of work, Powell began a whirlwind relationship with "Landman" star Michelle Randolph.
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Powell → keep → Randolph
"Life is fast for both of us," he told Esquire.
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he → tell → Esquire
"And we have the same values.
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we → have → values
She loves her family.
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She → love → family
I love my family.
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I → love → family
And we both care about work a lot.
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we → care → work
We both like to show up for our partners.
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We → like → partners
And yet we also understand the balance of it all."
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we → understand → it
While both stars juggle demanding careers, Powell made it clear that having someone who understands the pressures of Hollywood is only part of the equation.
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who → juggle → equation
"There’s something so lovely about someone rooting for you," he told the outlet.
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he → ’ → outlet
"Someone who wants you to win in all the ways that are good for you as a human.
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that → want → human
The Aporia
