The Apprentice Film Cast: 7 Shocking Secrets Behind Sebastian Stan's Donald Trump Transformation

The Apprentice, the highly anticipated and controversial biographical drama chronicling the early rise of Donald Trump, has captivated audiences and critics since its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This fresh, unvarnished look at the origin story of one of the world's most polarizing figures is anchored by a stellar ensemble cast, led by a nearly unrecognizable Sebastian Stan. As of December 2025, the film has already completed its theatrical run, having been released by Briarcliff Entertainment on October 11, 2024, yet the intense discussions around the performances, the film’s themes of power and corruption, and the legal threats it sparked continue to dominate headlines.

The film delves into the formative years of a young Donald Trump in 1970s and 1980s New York City, focusing on his complex, dark, and often manipulative relationship with his mentor, the notorious attorney and political fixer Roy Cohn. The cast’s commitment to embodying these historical figures, including dramatic physical and psychological transformations, is the core of the movie's topical authority and critical success, earning key cast members Academy Award nominations.

The Core Cast and Character Profiles

The biographical drama is built upon three powerhouse performances that bring to life the central figures who shaped the future real estate mogul. Here is a detailed look at the main cast of The Apprentice and the real-life figures they portray, along with a brief biography of the actors.

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• Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump
  • Character: A young Donald Trump, a hungry scion eager to make his name in the cutthroat world of New York real estate. The film explores his ambition and his apprenticeship under Roy Cohn.
  • Actor Bio: Born August 13, 1982, in Constanța, Romania. Known for portraying Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and for his Golden Globe-nominated role as Tommy Lee in *Pam & Tommy*. His performance in *The Apprentice* has been described as a shocking and nuanced transformation.
• Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn
  • Character: The infamous attorney and political fixer who became Trump’s mentor. Cohn taught Trump the ruthless principles of "deny, deflect, delay," which became key to his public persona.
  • Actor Bio: Born December 25, 1978, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. An Emmy and Golden Globe winner, he is best known for his critically acclaimed role as Kendall Roy in the HBO series *Succession*. His portrayal of Cohn has been widely praised, earning him major Best Supporting Actor nominations.
• Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump
  • Character: Ivana Zelníčková, the Czech-American businesswoman, socialite, and model who became Donald Trump’s first wife and a prominent partner in his business ventures.
  • Actor Bio: Born June 4, 1996, in Burgas, Bulgaria. An Academy Award nominee for her breakout role as Tutar Sagdiyev in *Borat Subsequent Moviefilm*. Her preparation for Ivana involved extensive dialect work and physical changes, including growing out her nails to match Ivana’s signature look.
• Martin Donovan as Fred Trump Sr.
  • Character: Donald Trump’s father, the wealthy real estate developer whose business practices and influence were instrumental in his son's career.
  • Actor Bio: Born August 19, 1957, in Reseda, California, USA. A veteran actor known for his collaborations with director Hal Hartley and roles in films like *Insomnia* and *Ant-Man*.
• Catherine McNally as Mary Anne Trump
  • Character: Donald Trump’s mother.
• Patch Darragh as Robert Trump
  • Character: Donald Trump’s younger brother.

The Physical and Psychological Transformations of the Cast

The success of a biographical drama hinges on the believability of its central performances, and the cast of The Apprentice went to extreme lengths to embody their controversial characters. Their dedication has become a major talking point and a significant driver of the film's buzz.

Sebastian Stan’s Shocking Transformation into a Young Trump

Sebastian Stan, primarily known for his lean, athletic roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, underwent a dramatic physical shift to play the ambitious young Donald Trump. His transformation was not achieved solely through prosthetics, but through dedicated method acting and physical preparation.

• Weight Gain: Stan intentionally gained approximately 15 pounds for the role.
• "Puffing Up" the Face: In a surprising detail, the actor revealed he ate copious amounts of ramen noodles with "a bunch of soy sauce" to retain water and achieve a slightly "puffed-up" look in his face, mimicking the younger Trump’s appearance.
• Dialect and Posture: Stan spent months studying Trump's early mannerisms, focusing on the specific dialect, cadence, and posture of the 1970s and 80s version of the figure, before his later political career.

The goal, according to director Ali Abbasi, was not a simple caricature but a deeper exploration of the man’s psyche as he was molded by Cohn. Critics have praised Stan for finding the vulnerability and ambition beneath the bluster, making the character a truly complex anti-hero.

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Jeremy Strong’s Masterclass as Roy Cohn

While Stan’s physical change was striking, Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Roy Cohn has been singled out as the film's critical high point. Strong, known for his intense, immersive acting style, perfectly captured the menacing, manipulative energy of the infamous lawyer. Cohn, a key figure in the McCarthy era and a master of political hardball, served as Trump's toxic "kingmaker" and taught him three core philosophies: "attack, counterattack, never apologize."

Strong approached the role with his characteristic intensity, viewing Cohn as a tragic figure whose methods were born from deep-seated personal issues. His performance is a chilling deep-dive into the origins of a ruthless political playbook, giving the film its dark, dramatic weight. The dynamic between Stan’s eager-to-please Trump and Strong’s imposing Cohn is described by the actors as a twisted "love story" of power and mentorship.

The Legal Battles and Cannes Controversy

The film’s subject matter ensured it would be a lightning rod for controversy, and the drama began almost immediately after its world premiere. The film’s debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 was met with an eight-minute standing ovation, signaling critical acclaim, but also triggered a swift and aggressive legal response.

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The controversy centers on the film's unflinching depiction of the young Trump's alleged ruthless business tactics and personal life, which the Trump Campaign vehemently opposed.

• Lawsuit Threat: Following the Cannes premiere, the Trump Campaign threatened a lawsuit against the filmmakers, labeling the movie's content as "blatantly false assertions" and "malicious defamation."
• Cease-and-Desist: Lawyers for Donald Trump also sent a cease-and-desist letter to the producers in an attempt to block the film’s US sale and release.
• The Financier Divide: The legal threats created internal drama, specifically with the film’s primary financier, Kinematics, which reportedly had an initial disagreement with the director, Ali Abbasi, over the tone and final cut of the film. Despite this, the film secured a US distribution deal with Briarcliff Entertainment and was released nationwide.

This off-screen drama only amplified the movie’s profile, turning it into a must-see piece of political and cinematic history. The film’s release in October 2024, during a heightened political cycle, further cemented its status as a significant cultural event, proving that the filmmakers were undeterred by the legal pressure.

Topical Authority: The True Themes of The Apprentice

Director Ali Abbasi and writer Gabriel Sherman crafted The Apprentice not just as a biopic, but as an exploration of the American Dream and the corrosive nature of power. The film's narrative arc is a deep-dive into the transactional and often amoral foundation of modern success, making it a critical piece of topical content for anyone interested in American political history and the origins of celebrity culture.

The core theme is the master-apprentice relationship between Cohn and Trump. Cohn teaches Trump to weaponize the legal system, to embrace the philosophy of "winning at all costs," and to view every human interaction as a negotiation for power. The movie functions as a dark origin story, showing how the lessons of the 1970s and 80s, when New York City was a breeding ground for ambitious, morally flexible figures, ultimately shaped the global figure known today.

The critical success of the film, as evidenced by its strong performance at the box office and its multiple award nominations, confirms its relevance and its ability to spark necessary conversations about ethics, ambition, and the price of the American Dream. The cast's commitment to these complex roles ensures that The Apprentice remains a fresh, timely, and essential piece of cinema for years to come.