Adam Scott pulled out all the stops for his role in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, even seeking help from the FBI. While he may not have had much screen time as Johnny Meyer in the film, Scott made sure to make an impact. After all, Meyer was a crucial character in Howard Hughes’ life.

Although the actor ultimately could not use much of the information he received from the FBI in his performance, it revealed some rare details to him. Years after Scott played the role, he recalled receiving all the information about Johnny Meyer.

During Adam Scott’s recent appearance on Funny You Ask with Ike Barinholtz, the actor revealed that he had filed a Freedom of Information Act request for information about Johnny Meyer before playing the role in The Aviator. Unfortunately, he received the records nearly two years after the movie had been filmed. Scott recalled that the box contained a wealth of information, including FBI surveillance records on Meyer.

"2 years after finishing the movie (I) got a box filled with government documents, all this surveillance on Johnny Meyer. FBI surveillance on Meyer. He was into all kinds of crazy s***," he said.

Apart from details about Meyer’s life, the actor also learned that the publicist had died in an accident during the Funny You Ask interview. While Scott may not have been able to incorporate all the information from the box into his performance, he showed a memorable portrayal in the film, which went on to receive 11 Oscar nominations. The film followed aviation pioneer and filmmaker Howard Hughes between 1927 and 1947, when he dealt in both aviation and filmmaking. Scott played Johnny Meyer, who was Hughes’ publicist and shared the screen with a star-studded cast.

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Years later, Scott opened up about the experience, recalling that he initially felt "freaked out" about working with some of the notable actors in Hollywood.

Adam Scott recently spoke with The Guardian about his experience working alongside a star-studded cast in The Aviator. Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, and Kate Beckinsale were among the film’s ensemble cast. Looking back on the experience, Scott recalled feeling nervous about working alongside such accomplished actors. 

“I was pretty freaked out at first," he said. “But once you're there, you realize these are just regular people who happen to be actors figuring out a scene,” he added. “Everyone was extremely kind and generous to me and made me feel comfortable straight away.”

The actor also had high praise for Martin Scorsese, particularly for the director’s collaborative approach to filmmaking. Scott, who has long admired the director, revealed that the actors were allowed to improvise and work together creatively on set. He recalled how every member of the cast and crew was deeply focused on their work. Understandably, The Aviator went on to win five Academy Awards and remains regarded as one of Scorsese’s best films.

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