"Years and years ago, when everyone knew that Pierce was going to be doing the job, they started selecting new people. I had this bizarre thing when I hadn't done many movies, and of going on for an interview"

In the quote by Jeremy Northam, he assesses a past experience related to his early profession, particularly the dynamics of casting in films and his individual experience with it. Northam begins by setting the scene "years and years ago", showing that this event occurred far in the past, offering a peek into the world of home entertainment and its peculiarities as observed by him.

The reference to "when everyone understood that Pierce was going to be doing the job" likely alludes to a widely known actor, perhaps Pierce Brosnan, who was plainly known for roles such as James Bond. The reference indicates that in the movie industry, casting choices for prominent roles are in some cases determined well beforehand and are, at times, common understanding within the market circles, even before any official statements are made. This might be viewed as a commentary on how tightly-knit and somewhat foreseeable the casting characteristics can be within the market, specifically when a distinguished star is included.

Northam remembers this period as "unusual", suggesting a sensation of strangeness or surrealness in the scenario. For someone, like Northam at the time, who had actually not yet established himself with many films, it must have been peculiar to see significant functions being unofficially allocated for particular actors while he was still in the stage of showing his mettle. Participating in interviews or auditions under these situations would naturally feel odd, as if he were taking part in a rule instead of a genuine opportunity.

This experience highlights the frequently approximate and established nature of casting in movie, clarifying the challenges new actors deal with in breaking through when established names are naturally preferred. Northam's reflection encapsulates the uncertain, and sometimes disillusioning, nature of the movie industry for emerging actors attempting to sculpt a specific niche in the middle of a landscape controlled by well-trodden courses.