EXCLUSIVE: 'This Is Us' Star Milo Ventimiglia on Golden Globe Snub: 'I Like the Idea of Not Being Nominated'
It was a bittersweet day for This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia, who celebrated the show’s three Golden Globe nominations on Monday but wasn’t nominated for playing the Pearson patriarch, Jack.
Ventimiglia put a positive spin on the Golden Globe snub, however, viewing it as a challenge to better his own work as an actor.
“I like the idea of not being nominated,” the 39-year-old actor told ET’s Carly Steel on the set of This Is Us on Monday following the nomination announcement. “It keeps me hungry.”
“I feel like sometimes when people aren't getting the nominations there's this weird perception that somehow it diminishes the work that they do. But I don't think it does,” Ventimiglia added. “I see a lot of actors and actresses that aren't getting recognized on a particular awards circuit. Their work is beautiful and phenomenal and it takes a lot for an artist to stand up in front of a camera and in front of a crew and open your rib cage and just pour your heart out.”
Though Ventimiglia won’t be up for an individual Globe come January (there’s always next time!), he’s already thinking about what he’ll be wearing to the big night.
“Somebody suggested a Hawaiian shirt for me and dad vibe, but I don’t know that I’m going to do that,” he quipped. “I’ll wear something nice and presentable, comb my hair, clip my beard-mustache and show up.”
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Newly minted Golden Globe nominee Mandy Moore revealed to ET that Ventimiglia who broke the news of her nomination to her early this morning. Her on-screen husband, who was already up at 5:30 a.m. working on the newest This Is Us script, recalled the celebratory moment with Moore.
“It’s kinda funny. I feel like it’s one of those TV husband and wife [moments]. Like, rolled over in bed: ‘You’re nominated! I’m so proud of you,' rolled back to sleep,” he joked. “I am fortunate enough to be the very first audience [member] of her performance. I’m deeply proud and honored to share that with her and she is beautiful at what she does.”
As for what fans can expect in the second half the season, Ventimiglia promised a lot more tears.
“Oh, man, invest in tissues,” he warned. “Maybe a warm blanket. Get a wine subscription. Just be open and ready for what we have coming your way. There are some beautiful scripts coming out and some beautiful work coming out.”
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The Golden Globes, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, airs live coast-to-coast on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on NBC.
To hear what Moore had to say about her Golden Globe nomination, watch ET’s exclusive on-set interview below.