Jeremy Allen White Reacts to Austin Butler Saying “He Smells Amazing” — and Opens Up About Becoming Bruce Springsteen

Jeremy Allen White, the breakout star of The Bear, is entering a new era — and this time, he’s not cooking in the kitchen, he’s burning up the stage. The Emmy winner is stepping into the shoes (and sweat-soaked shirts) of rock legend Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me from Nowhere, a film inspired by Springsteen’s iconic Nebraska album.

In a recent interview, Jeremy opened up about the pressure of portraying The Boss, the intense preparation behind the role, and yes — the now-viral comment from Austin Butler, who called him “the best-smelling co-star I’ve ever had.”

Understanding Bruce Springsteen: “I Didn’t Realize How Brave He Was”

Jeremy shared that while he’s always admired Bruce, it wasn’t until he dove deep into Deliver Me from Nowhere and explored Nebraska that he truly understood the man behind the myth.

“I always thought Bruce was a deeply thoughtful guy,” Jeremy said. “But I never realized how brave he really was — not just musically, but emotionally. Letting us tell this story, letting go of control… that takes a lot of courage.”

The Pressure of Playing “The Boss”

The moment Jeremy said yes to the role, panic set in.

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, shit — what did I just agree to?’” he laughed. “Everyone has their own version of Bruce. I worried about everything — I don’t look like him, I don’t play guitar, I don’t sing like him. And you think about all his fans — you don’t want to disappoint them.”

But eventually, he found peace by letting go of perfection.

“You’re never going to make everyone happy. Everyone’s relationship with Bruce is personal. So I stripped it all back — he’s a 31-year-old musician coming home after a big tour, looking for peace. That’s where I started. Seeing him as a man, not an icon.”

That Onstage Sweat? 100% Real.

Jeremy’s Born to Run performance in the film is raw, emotional — and drenched in sweat. But none of that was faked.

“I brought a jump rope to set because I thought I’d need to exhaust myself before filming,” he said. “But just singing and performing that hard — it happens naturally. You don’t need any help sweating when you’re giving it everything.”

Austin Butler’s Compliment: “Flowers and Cigarettes”

When asked about Austin Butler’s viral comment that Jeremy was “the best-smelling co-star” — describing his scent as flowers and cigarettes — Jeremy couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s so sweet. The cigarette part’s definitely true,” he joked. “The floral part probably comes from this eucalyptus scent I love — it’s Le Labo eucalyptus. I even keep real eucalyptus around the house. I just love that smell.”

And when asked if Austin smelled good too?

“Oh, he smells great,” Jeremy said. “But I think I was just fresher in his memory when he said that.”

Finding Bruce’s Voice — Literally

Becoming Bruce wasn’t just about the look. Jeremy spent six months training his voice with renowned vocal coach Eric Vetro, learning how to capture that signature Springsteen rasp.

“I completely lost my voice while recording Born in the U.S.A.,” he recalled. “But when it came back, I loved the sound of it. For a while, I was screaming into a pillow to get that gravelly tone — until Eric told me to stop immediately.”

Instead, the two worked together to find a safer, more sustainable way to reach that raw, emotional sound.

Music at Home — But Not Everyone’s a Fan

Despite the dedication, not everyone at home appreciates Jeremy’s newfound guitar skills — especially his two daughters.

“I try to play for my girls once in a while,” he laughed. “They’re like, ‘Dad, please. We’re done with you.’ I think it’s adorable — but they don’t!”

A More Grounded Jeremy

Through Deliver Me from Nowhere, Jeremy Allen White proves he’s more than just the intense chef from The Bear. He’s a thoughtful, deeply committed artist unafraid to explore the complexities of a legend — or of himself.

“I’m just trying to find something real,” he said quietly. “And that’s exactly what Bruce was always chasing.”

From the scent of eucalyptus and cigarettes to the real sweat on stage, Jeremy Allen White isn’t just playing Bruce Springsteen — he’s living him.