How Jeremy Allen White Really Feels About the Internet's Lust for Him: 'I'll Take What I Can Get' (Exclusive) (original) (raw)

Jeremy Allen White is aware of the online frenzy surrounding his heartthrob status — but that doesn't make him any less surprised by it!

While speaking to PEOPLE at_The Iron Claw_ world premiere on Wednesday night, the 32-year-old actor reacted to the internet's lust over his chef character in The Bear, and the obsession with his toned physique, which has been put on display during several of his outings around Los Angeles.

"What do I say to the internet?" The Bear star asks before responding, "Thanks for watching. I don't know, I'm flattered. It surprises me, truly."

"But I'll take it!" White adds with a shrug. "I'll take what I can get!"

Jeremy Allen White on 'The Bear'. Matt Dinerstein/FX

The Hulu star previously addressed the attention he's received from fans, telling Vanity Fair in February that he doesn't "pay too much attention to it."

"My mom tells me what they're saying on Twitter, which is nice," he explained. "I've been acting since I was 18. I was on this show [Shameless] for 11 years that was popular, but I wasn't getting as much attention then as I am now. I feel very lucky that everything's been this gradual because I've been able to find my footing already."

"I feel really bad for a young actor or somebody who just hasn't had much experience when all of a sudden they break through; it could be more overwhelming in that case," he continued.

The actor — who shares daughters Ezer and Dolores with his now-estranged wife Addison Timlin — added: "I probably wouldn't have done well if I were single or without children or just younger and dumber. If you don't have a foundation outside of your career, that can be a lonely existence."

Jeremy Allen White on 'The Bear'.

Courtesy of FX

White plays Carmy, a classically trained chef struggling to take over his dead brother's sandwich shop. There have been articles, memes, and even a New Yorker cartoon dedicated to his character's appeal.

In The Iron Claw, he plays real-life wrestler Kerry Von Erich beside Zac Efron, who portrays former pro wrestler Kevin Von Erich.

In May, White opened up about getting in shape for his next role beside Efron.

"Yes, eating all the time," he told Esquire. "Like, never stopping. In the morning, I would have waffles, almond butter. In the middle of the day, I was eating turkey patties and avocado all the time. It's really just gross. You're trying to consume as much as you possibly can, and, to be honest, you don't feel great. I was training as well, but, I don't know, trying to get that big, it's no way to live."

Of Efron, he added: “Zac’s a maniac. He’s so focused and knowledgeable on training, diet, all that. In terms of a physical transformation, I think he kind of blew us all out of the water. He looks really amazing in this thing.”

Stanley Simons, Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson at 'The Iron Claw' premiere.

Omar Vega/Getty

Though Timlin has been supportive of White's second big break, the former couple filed for divorce in May after more than three years of marriage. When the pair were spotted hugging at their daughter’s soccer game in July, a source told PEOPLE that White and Timlin were “still separated, but getting along.”

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"Things have settled a bit," the source added, noting that the separation has been “difficult” for Timlin to “parent alone a lot” while White is away on set filming his projects.

“When Jeremy works, she feels emotionally drained,” the insider noted. “There is still a lot of love between them though.”