Believing in second chances, Mark Wahlberg cast an ex-convict in his Netflix film.

"He just did 16 years in prison": Mark Wahlberg May be the Only Actor Man Enough to Cast an Ex-Convict in Netflix Movie

Turning his life from his troublesome youth to his dedicated career in Hollywood, Mark Wahlberg has now become a household name. But certainly, not everyone around him can forget the deeds from his past. During an interview with The Guardian, the actor was thus reminded of his past while speaking on the subject of violent antics and his 2020 movie Spenser Confidential.

Mark WahlbergMark Wahlberg

During the interview with Sophie Heawood, Mark Wahlberg was forced to recall his notorious youth and how it might have impacted his career in today’s day and age. Although the actor believed that Hollywood might have morally rejected him today, he claimed to do things differently. Wahlberg explained his response by discussing how he cast an ex-convict in his Netflix film.

Mark Wahlberg Recalled His Troublesome Youth 

While today Mark Wahlberg enjoys his success in Hollywood, it wasn’t always the same for him. Rising to fame from a very deprived condition, the actor recalled his troublesome youth during his interview with The Guardian. While speaking with Sophie Heawood on the subject of violence and his 2020 movie Spenser Confidential, the actor noted his early years.

Mark WAHLBERG Mark Wahlberg recalled his troublesome years

Always bullied by his brothers while growing up as the youngest of nine children, in Boston, Mark Wahlberg recalled how trouble followed him everywhere.
“I was always in trouble, and I was kind of little. In the circumstances where I was being preyed upon, at times, I had to protect and defend myself. It’s not an easy thing to navigate as a teenage kid who’s 5ft 2in, 120lb, with grown men.”

Mark Wahlberg in The Gambler

Wahlberg got tangled in crimes that might have gotten him canceled today

Eventually, trying to figure out his way through the mess, Mark Wahlberg got himself tangled in crimes and legal affairs. Although the actor has now turned his life into a grand success, there’s no denying that his early crimes are still etched in history.

Mark Wahlberg Purposefully Cast An Ex-Convict 

While discussing his tumultuous past where he even served a brief sentence, Mark Wahlberg was informed by Sophie Heawood that he might have gotten canceled, if he tried his way to fame in today’s day and age. And certainly, even Wahlberg believes that it’s morally the right thing to do. But somewhere or the other, the actor personally believes in second chances.

mark wahlbergWahlberg believes in second chances

“I don’t know. I think it would be easy to look at it and say that, but having been through it and experienced it, I think it’s a different thing.”
Just like he was offered an opportunity to pick up his life from shambles, Mark Wahlberg mentioned offering the same chance to an ex-convict. While Hollywood might have canceled him today, he didn’t do the same. Instead, the actor cast an ex-convict in a small role in his 2020 Netflix film – Spenser Confidential

Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke in a still from Spenser ConfidentialWahlberg cast an ex-convict in Spenser Confidential (2020)

“He just did 16 years in prison. OK? He got out and I put him in the movie. That could have easily been my life. Being in a situation like that and having nothing else – certainly, I made a lot of terrible mistakes and I paid for those mistakes dearly.”

Owning up to his past mistakes and actually changing himself with the one chance that he got in Hollywood, Mark Wahlberg tried doing the same thing for another individual. Although it was a brief role that allowed the burly man to pop in for a goodbye hug, covered in tattoos, it was a kind gesture. Perhaps, Wahlberg is the only A-lister who had the guts to offer a second chance to an ex-convict who served a sentence of 16 years.