Stephen Graham has earned Bruce Springsteen’s heartfelt approval for his portrayal of the rock legend’s late father in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere.
During the Sunday, March 23, episode of Soundtracking with Edith Bowman, the 51-year-old British actor revealed the unexpected yet deeply touching message he received from the Born in the U.S.A. icon, 75, after wrapping the Jeremy Allen White-led film.
Graham recalled the emotional moment, describing it as one of “the most gorgeous texts I’ve ever had in my life.”
“I was racing to get to the airport when I got this text, and it was so beautiful,” Graham shared. “It just said: ‘Better than any award that I could ever receive in my life.’”
For Graham, the impact of those words was immeasurable. “He’s an icon. He’s a hero. He’s a working-class hero. He’s an inspiration to millions,” he added, visibly moved by Springsteen’s appreciation.
The message didn’t end there. The legendary musician went on to thank Graham for bringing his late father, Douglas “Dutch” Springsteen, back to life on screen.
“His text just said, ‘Thank you so much. You know, my father passed away a while ago, and I felt like I saw him today. Thank you for giving me that memory,’” Graham revealed.
The actor admitted he was overwhelmed with emotion upon reading those words. “I was crying. Oh mate, it was beautiful. You couldn’t ask for anything more. To share that with someone was just gorgeous. He’s a lovely man.”
Graham and Springsteen also discussed Born to Run, the musician’s 2016 memoir, in which he candidly details his strained relationship with his father, who passed away in 1998.
The film Deliver Me from Nowhere dives deep into that dynamic, with Jeremy Allen White, 34, playing a young Springsteen and Graham portraying his father. The biopic also boasts a star-studded cast, including Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s longtime mentor and manager Jon Landau, Paul Walter Hauser as guitar tech Mike Batlan, Odessa Young as Springsteen’s love interest Faye, and Johnny Cannizzaro as E Street Band member Steve Van Zandt.
Springsteen seems thrilled with the team bringing his story to life. Speaking to SiriusXM’s E Street Radio in January, he praised White’s performance.
“He sings well. He sings very well,” the rock legend said, before adding, “Jeremy Strong and Odessa Young… it’s a tremendous cast of people. They cast the film beautifully, so it’s very exciting.”
Although watching White embody him on screen felt “a little bit weird at first,” Springsteen admitted he quickly adjusted. “Jeremy is such a terrific actor that you just fall right into it. He’s got an interpretation of me that I think the fans will deeply recognize, and he’s just done a great job,” he said.
Springsteen has even spent time on set, soaking in the magic of the production whenever his schedule allows. “I’ve had a lot of fun being on the set when I can get there,” he shared.
Deliver Me from Nowhere is expected to premiere in 2025, and with Springsteen himself giving it his blessing, fans are in for an unforgettable cinematic experience.
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