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From the outside, acting easily looks like one of the easiest jobs in the world that not only brings fame and acclaim but also dozens of loaded checks in the bank account. But from the inside, there is not much glamour or comfort involved. Often, actors end up so wounded in their characters that they seem to forget their real persona. And this is something that Gabriel Macht experienced really well while starring in the hit legal drama,Suits.
Created by Aaron Korsh, Macht spent over a decade starring as the charismatic attorney, Harvey Specter, inSuits. While the actor received immense praise for the role, which to date is his most famous one of all time, portraying the sharp-suited, razor-sharp-tongued Specter was no easy job for him. As one of the most compelling characters on television, Specter was the very epitome of style, wit, swagger, and fond of luxury that Macht just couldn’t relate to initially.
However, as time went on, the actor ended up diving deeper and deeper into the very persona of his fan-favorite character. It wasn’t until the series ended that he got a reality check and realized how much his life had changed after starring inSuitsfor nearly a decade.
Harvey Specter Changed Gabriel Macht’s Real Life
Suitscontinues to remain one of the most-watched TV shows of all time and the reason for its enduring popularity is not just its theme, writing, and plot, but also the remarkable acting of its cast. StarringPatrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman,Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, and more, it was reallyGabriel Macht‘s Harvey Specter who often whisked the spotlight away from his fellow co-stars and characters.
A role that is now synonymous with confidence, charisma, and control, there was much to admire in Harvey, from his quick thinking to his unwavering loyalty and belief in himself. While yes, he had these complex parts of himself as all ‘human beings do’— his emotional vulnerability, complicated relationships, and internal struggles— these parts did not bother Macht as much. Instead, it was the character’s ambition, desire to control, and assertiveness that ended up being negative influences in the actor’s life.
Suits: Gabriel Macht “Had to pull the brakes” on 1 Decision That Could’ve Made Harvey Specter a Horrendously Boring Character
As the actor dived deeper and deeper into the core of his character, with each passing season, Macht found himself behaving like Specter even in his personal life. In an interview withE! News, while talking about this aspect of portraying the character, he remarked,
In the very beginning, if you asked anybody on set who was least like their character, they would say me. There was a very relaxed version of me that just wanted to enjoy, be non-confrontational, have fun, live and let live and not get in and manipulate situations.
However, things changed as the series progressed. At one point even his brother questioned if he was really that dissimilar from his on-screen character.
At a certain point, you become more like Harvey as you go in, and it’s very hard to shake some of the energy that dresses you while you’re in that world. I became a lot more like Harvey than I was when I started, which was another reason why I needed time away—to allow him to go back to where he came from.
Fortunately, before Harvey Specter could take over his persona,the series finally ended in 2019, providing Gabriel Macht a much-needed break and relief. Although fans and audiences might find Harvey’s traits inspiring and driving, Macht’s revelation revealed that always being thus is neither healthy nor a way to lead a comfortable life. The series’ conclusion finally allowed him to reconnect with his own identity and relaxation which was often hard to come, due to the intense and demanding personality of his on-screen character.
Gabriel Macht Never Related to Harvey Specter’s Problematic Behavior
While Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter is celebrated for his brilliance, charm, and confidence, there are several flaws to his character that can be found if only one looks close enough. Although his dominating and often assertive nature are two of those, Harvey’s problematic behavior stems from his toxic masculinity, which is a recurring theme in his many interactions throughout the show.
As the actor himself pointed out, the charismatic attorney can often be selfish, controlling, emotionally distant, and even manipulative in his actions that impacted those closest to him. Although these qualities added depth and complexity to the character, these traits presented Harvey as the traditional archetype of ‘alpha male.’ Despite being affected by his character’s more dominating and obvious traits, Macht never really related to these aspects of hisSuitscharacter. While conversing with E! News, the actor remarked,
However, these problematic traits of Harvey Specter did not really mean he was an entirely bad character devoid of goodness. As Gabriel Macht later notes, despite the many faults in his personality, the attorney had a compassionate and total side to him.
I think he’s selfish and controlling, but underneath it, he’s got a heart of gold, which is why we care for him at the end of the day.
Thus, this was enough reason for fans to love Harvey Specter. Moreover, while the character might have first started out as an evidently flawed, overtly assertive, and ambitious one, he went through significant changes by the time the series concluded.
“Really? You adore the totally insecure guy”: Gabriel Macht Had a Hard Time Comprehending Why Suits Fans Idolize Harvey Specter
At the end of the series, we see Harvey turn into a new leaf as he realizes the importance and value of selfishness and using his genius for those less fortunate. Not only did his romance with Donna Paulsen reach a happy end, but the duo left their legal firm to go work along with Mike Ross and Rachel Zane in Seattle to help the underprivileged and marginalized communities.
Will Gabriel Macht Ever Return to the World ofSuits?
There is much to admire about how Gabriel Macht portrayed the character of Harvey Specter. He brought this complex character to life with an incredible degree of precision that some traits even ended up bleeding into his real life, a feat that makes it hard for us to imagine anyone else in the role. Thus, it wasn’t really surprising that by the time the series concluded, Macht had become a household name.
So whileSuitscontinues to be one of the top shows of all time, enjoying enduring popularity in the world of streaming and binge-watching, NBC has officially ordered a spin-off. NamedSuits: L.A., the series will follow a set of whole new characters and plot while being set in the original world. Created by Aaron Korsh, it will be directed by Victoria Mahoney (viaTV Line). Naturally, the news of a spin-off has generated significant buzz in the fandom, with many asking if any of the fan-favorite characters from the original series will make an appearance in the show.
Suits L.A.: Cast, Release Date, and All You Need to Know About Suits Spinoff Series
Although the series is set in a different setting with a whole new cast, there is a possibility that some of the old cast might make an appearance or brief cameos in the spin-off. As for whetherwe will ever get to see Gabriel Macht reprise his fan-favorite role, the possibilities lie in the negative since he has not yet expressed what he thinks about the upcoming series. Yet, he does know what Harvey Specter might be up to now, as he revealed while talking toE! News.
He’s only doing pro bono work. I think he works for the people.
Even though he is fond of luxury and everything good, Macht reckons Harvey’s time with Mike and Rachel might have helped him attain a new perspective and made him a better person overall. And so as the world ofSuitscontinues to grow and evolve, fans will always come back to the original world, where we were not only entertained by the likes of Specter but also deeply moved by the character’s journey of growth and redemption.
AsSuitsexpands its legacy with a set of new characters and stories, the original series will always remain a cornerstone of television excellence and success. No matter where the spin-off will take us, Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter will stay a timeless character whose influence will continue to loom large and whose appeal will be ever-ending.
Suitsis available to be streamed on Netflix.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
