“I am a mercenary. Tramp”. To the 65th anniversary of Willem Dafoe
"Polished". With this word, Willem Dafoe described his image, which was computer rejuvenated for flashbacks in Aquaman (the actor played Nuidis Vulko, the teacher of the title character). “At such moments, I think of Anna Magnani, - recalls Defoe the legendary Italian actress. -They all the time tried to make her even more beautiful, to which Anna replied: `` Fuck off! I got those wrinkles! "" At 65 years old, with over a hundred films under his belt, Dafoe has also earned every wrinkle, protrusion or dimple on his expressive face. On the actor's birthday, Lostfilm publishes an interview in which the hero of the day takes a look at his 40-year career.In 2019, Lighthouse Keeper Thomas Wake, in the Robert Eggers film, added to the cast of unique on-screen characters, joining Bobby Peru, the creepy-grinning gangster in David Lynch's Wild at Heart, and Van Gogh in On the Threshold of Eternity. Given how many significant characters have already been played, is it easy for an actor to let go of these personalities? “Yes. Heroes emerge from situations, and when the situation changes, the desire to maintain this image disappears as well, ”he says. But once at a time it is not necessary. “Something stayed with me for a long time, - continues Defoe. -This is The Last Temptation of Christ, Van Gogh or four months of filming in Auschwitz (talking about the movie Triumph of the Spirit) - these things are with you forever. But not in the sense that you become a different person.  Looking back, Dafoe notes: “When people are around the cinema, you start to experience a warm, tingling sense of community. Every time I shoot, I become part of a new community. But at the same time I am a mercenary, a vagabond - once in a new environment, I adapt”. For example, leading roles require it. According to the actor, over the decades, the image of the main character in the cinema has been greatly distorted. “The characters have changed in the same way as the stories about them, - says Defoe. -For example, why is it so difficult to film a western now? Because there is no such moral code anymore. We have a different approach, so Westerns look like kitsch or museum antiquity because of the morality of a good person. ”  However, some stories are ahead of their time. Defoe cites the cult film "Live and Die in Los Angeles" by William Friedkin as an example, in which the actor played the killer and counterfeiter Eric Masters. “When the film was released, it was a complete failure among critics, as I remember, - says Defoe. -One of the reasons was called “There’s no one to rely on. There is no good character to be trusted. ” And this is long before Tarantino, you know? Ways to tell a story, what plots are considered acceptable and interesting - everything has changed. ”  Not at all like the antiheroes and scoundrels played by Dafoe, the recent character is the owner of Togo's sled dog in the family film of the same name. "Disney is one of the reasons I became an actor," explains the Hollywood veteran. -Lying in front of the turntable, listening to recordings of dialogues and songs from cartoons are my earliest memories. " This variety of characters helps Dafoe to remain genuine. “As an actor, it's easy to succumb to the temptation to relax, says the hero of the day. -When it becomes a routine, the same set of techniques are used - just like in life. This is a dead end for an actor. We need to find ways to shake up and pull ourselves out of the ordinary". “But I don't consider myself a risky guy, I'm just restless in a good way, - adds the actor. -  According to Dafoe, he last auditioned 20 years ago for the role of Norman Osborne, the supervillain in Spider-Man best known as the Green Goblin. He even got his first notable role in the film Without Love after co-directors Katherine Bigelow and Monty Montgomery saw the young actor on the stage of the theater and called, simply finding a number in the phone book. Given that he can choose roles for himself, why does Defoe settle for supporting characters? “I agree to lead roles when I meet good ones, the actor explains. -But at the same time, I like to work every day. I like to keep the rhythm".  Despite his age, Dafoe is not going to stop. In the near future, the actor can be seen in films directed by Wes Anderson, Guyada Colagrande (Defoe's wife), Paul Schroeder and Guillermo del Toro. Defoe also confirmed that he will again collaborate with Robert Eggers - in the film "Northerner". “I've been sitting around too often and just chatting lately, Defoe concludes. -I'm ready to go back to work. Source: CNN The Topic of Article: “I am a mercenary. Tramp”. To the 65th anniversary of Willem Dafoe. |
