Josh Hartnett Embraces Newfoundland Culture for Netflix Series Below

Actor Josh Hartnett developed a personal connection to St. John's, Newfoundland, while preparing to portray a grieving fisherman in Below, a Netflix series filmed largely in the Atlantic Canadian province. His preparation included studying local history, practicing the regional accent and learning fishing traditions from residents.

According to an interview with CBC Arts, Hartnett watched documentaries about Fogo Island and listened to hours of The Broadcast, a Newfoundland program on CBC. Local residents also helped him understand everyday customs, including a fisherman in Petty Harbour who demonstrated how to tie fishing nets.

Hartnett described St. John's as a place with a distinctive atmosphere when speaking with Q host Tom Power, who is also from the city.

"You get this sort of feeling of being in a place that has its own type of magic. What that is, I can't really put a finger on, but it feels unlike anything else," Hartnett told Tom Power.

The actor's cultural preparation also involved learning regional expressions, including how to use the word "skeet" appropriately in conversation. His experiences with local people helped him develop a stronger connection to the setting of Below.

Hartnett's approach to acting has also reflected changes in his relationship with fame. After gaining attention as a young actor, he declined opportunities to pursue certain major Hollywood roles, including turning down the role of Superman twice.

Reflecting on that period, Hartnett explained that he was still working out his identity while dealing with the attention surrounding his career.

"I was a young guy who was still trying to figure out what I was about. All the noise surrounding fame was not helping that in any way, shape or form," Hartnett said.

He subsequently stepped away from the film industry for a period before returning with a focus on more challenging and varied characters. His recent projects have included Trap, in which he played a father who is also a serial killer, Verity, and Oppenheimer, where he portrayed a conflicted nuclear physicist.

Hartnett said his perspective on professional success changed as he grew older, allowing him to separate his personal identity from his work.

"When you get older and you start to realize that this business — or any business — doesn't have to define you as a person, then it's much easier to go into the world and do the work that you want to do," he said.

The interview was produced by Simi Bassi and published by CBC Arts. Hartnett's comments covered both his preparation for Below and the career decisions that shaped his return to acting.