James Cromwell Shares the Emotional Story Behind His Iconic Final Line in ‘Babe’

The Oscar-nominated actor revealed the intense personal meaning behind that scene.

James Cromwell is a prolific actor who has starred in many well-known roles, including Farmer Hoggett in 1995's beloved film Babe, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award in Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Now, Cromwell revealed that there is a much deeper meaning behind the iconic scene at the end of Babe when he says, "That'll do, pig. That'll do."

During the scene in question, Hoggett and Babe the pig compete in a sheep herding competition. As the crowd sits completely silent, Babe successfully herds the sheep into their pen, with Hoggett closing the gate.

After the crowd erupts into cheers, Hoggett looks down at Babe next to him and delivers the memorable line.

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Sitting down with Turner Classic Movies' Ben Mankiewicz for CBS, Cromwell shared that acting that scene was an emotional moment for him, and he only had to do one take.

Recounting the moment he filmed the scene, Cromwell said, "I opened the gate, the sheep walked in, they erupted. So, the difficult shot was done. Put the camera low. I said, 'Where do you want me to take this to?' I knew what I wanted to do."

In the shot, Cromwell looks directly into the camera, with the audience seeing through Babe's eye. But beyond his reflection, Cromwell saw someone else in the camera that day.

"I looked down, and I didn't see me. I saw my father with the makeup, which is aged slightly, and the sideburns. And although I said, 'That'll do, Pig. That'll do,' what I heard was, 'That'll do, Jamie. That'll do.'"

"I got an acknowledgment from my father through my own performance, for finally, finally showing up ready to work. Giving, not in panic, not in anger. Just be there," he continued.

In the interview, Mankiewicz replied, "Sounds like that was a fairly emotional moment for you."

Cromwell responded, "To hear him acknowledge me, to be acknowledged by yourself, to be acknowledged by–we call it talent–by what you're doing. You did it. Did good work. It's good work."

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The 83-year-old actor, who also starred in big projects like L.A. Confidential, The Green Mile, American Horror Story–a performance that earned him an Emmy–and most recently, Succession, shared that he and his father, director John Cromwell, had a difficult relationship.

Cromwell explained, "My father said very few things to me, most of 'em awful...He said something to me when I left college. I told him I was going in the theater. And he looked at me and said, 'Well, don't be an actor. You're too damn tall.'"

But despite some challenges, Cromwell made it, with Babe being a major landmark in a long, fantastic career.