7 Lessons from James Marsden on Building a Career that Lasts

Three decades in Hollywood have taken James Marsden from teen dramas to superhero blockbusters to prestige television. But during a Q&A before an adoring crowd of HR professionals at SHRM26 in Orlando last week, the actor stepped out of character to deliver a master class on career durability — and the qualities that help people thrive in any profession.

Starting his career with a guest spot on Saved by the Bell, Marsden has gone on to star in films such as The Notebook, X-Men, Enchanted, and Sonic the Hedgehog, while also earning acclaim for TV roles in Westworld, Paradise, and Your Friends and Neighbors.  

Flashing his trademark 1,000-watt grin, Marsden spent less time talking about Hollywood and more time sharing the lessons that helped him navigate 30 years in one of the most competitive industries. Marsden credited his staying power to these habits that anyone can develop.  
 

1. Be Easy to Work With

Marsden credited much of his longevity to being someone people genuinely enjoy working with. Marsden said he was raised in Oklahoma by parents who taught him that “he’s not the only pebble on the beach.” Taking a kindness-first approach has opened doors throughout his career. 

“People want to be around people who are enjoying what they do,” Marsden said. “It’s infectious. Be easy to work with,” Marsden advised, noting that this characteristic can mean the difference between getting a job or not.

“In Hollywood, there are 50 guys that can kind of do what you can do,” Marsden said. “Producers talk to each other, ‘What’s it like working with him?’ You build a reputation. And you get the job sometimes because you’re pleasant to work with, and you’re respectful, and you treat everyone as equals. … My success is largely due to a lot of that.” 

Marsden said he has tried to bring this teaching moment into his family life.

“I have three kids and every day I think what do I want to impart on them. And I always start with kindness. If you don’t know what else to do, just be kind,” Marsden said.

2. Attitude and Mindset Are Half the Battle

When Marsden left Oklahoma for Hollywood at age 19, he had little more than optimism and determination. That mindset, he says, became one of his greatest assets.

“I went out to L.A. with enthusiasm and optimism and positivity. I kind of just willed it to happen,” Marsden said.

“So much of it is attitude and mindset,” Marsden said. “You’re going to have a lot more success in your work if you wake up in the morning and try to aim yourself in that [positive] direction.”

While he acknowledges that life and work can be difficult, Marsden believes people have more control over their responses to adversity than they often realize. “Life isn’t what happens to you. It’s how you respond to it,” he said.

He cautioned against cynicism, calling it “unhealthy” and “nonproductive,” and encouraged the HR audience to focus on opportunities rather than setbacks. “You can make your luck,” he said. 

3. Take Chances that Stretch You

Marsden’s career is filled with examples of taking calculated risks, including joining the quirky indie series Jury Duty, which unexpectedly earned multiple Emmy nominations in 2023. (Marsden named that role as "the most fun I ever had" in his career.) 

“I like the challenge. I like taking risks. It excites me,” he said.  

What separates successful risk-takers, he suggested, is their willingness to accept failure as part of the process. “I’m not scared to have it not work,” Marsden said. “It’s better to really go for it and have it not work than always walking around in your fear shoes.”

4. Keep Reinventing Yourself

In any workplace, those veritable Swiss Army knife employees who perform many tasks well are invaluable. Marsden said he’s remained successful on the screen for 30 years, in part, due to his versatility and refusal to be defined by a single role. Rather than pursue the same type of character repeatedly, he intentionally seeks opportunities that challenge him.

“I looked for variety. I looked for different opportunities to challenge myself,” he said. “I found it very fulfilling to do something like Westworld, a dark, brooding science-fiction project, and then switch it up and do something like Sonic that my kids can enjoy.”

Looking back, Marsden sees adaptability as a defining feature of his work. “I realize that’s become maybe the identity of my career,” he said.

5. Lead With Collaboration, Not Control

As Marsden has taken on producing responsibilities, he’s developed an appreciation for what separates great leaders. The best producers and directors he’s worked with create environments where people feel comfortable contributing ideas. 

“It’s a conversation. It’s a true collaboration,” he said. “It’s not like, ‘Here’s what you’re going to do because it says so in the job description.’”

He believes great leaders focus less on hierarchy and more on bringing out the best in others.  

“You can get [the best] work accomplished in those environments where everybody is enjoying themselves and being respectful and pulling the best out of each other,” Marsden said. “It’s not ego driven or job-security driven. It’s ‘best idea wins’ and everyone’s voice is equally heard. That is the mark of a good leader.”

6. Set Others Up for Success

One of Marsden’s favorite leadership lessons came while filming Anchorman 2 alongside comedy legends Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd. Going into the filming, he expected everyone to compete for the biggest laugh during the improv-heavy scenes. Instead, he watched performers actively help one another succeed.

“Will will say something to set up Steve completely nonscripted,” Marsden said. “They’re being so creatively generous by setting each other up for a funny joke to tell. And that generosity is so cool.”

What impressed him most was that each actor seemed genuinely invested in everyone else’s success. “Will just wants Paul to be hilarious. Paul wants Will to be funny.”  [See our How--To Guide: How to Put Servant Leadership into Action.]

7. Anchor Feedback in Curiosity

Feedback is critical in all workplaces, including on movie sets. But Marsden believes how feedback is delivered matters as much as the message itself. The most effective feedback he’s received didn’t start with criticism; it started with curiosity. 

“People who’ve given me feedback in a good way, it usually comes in the form of ‘That’s great. What do you think about this?’ or ‘Should we try this?’ … instead of ‘This didn’t work. Do this more,’ “ Marsden said. 

By asking questions as part of the feedback, you change the dynamic and invite participation rather than triggering defensiveness.  

“I love those words: ‘What do you think?’ Because then you’re being seen and heard by someone who may be your superior,” Marsden said. “Those small phrases speak to collaboration and seeing each other as equals. … The more we feel seen and respected, the better work we’re going to do.”

For all the glamour associated with Hollywood, Marsden’s formula for success is surprisingly simple and universal: treat people well, maintain a positive attitude, embrace challenges, and actively contribute to others’ success —  all qualities that remain just as valuable in the workplace as they are on movie sets.