W
Actor Willem Dafoe resides in his New York City apartment, where he is surrounded by two pieces of artwork. One is an oil painting of his father, which was used as a prop in a film that required portraits of his family members. Dafoe states, “I had no issues with my father, so I decided to display his portrait.” During our Zoom conversation, he turns the camera to show another piece of art, a large photograph of his friend and occasional collaborator, artist Marina Abramović. In the photo, Abramović stands over a nude body adorned with organs in a priest-like manner. Dafoe concludes, “This serves as a great contrast. Do you see it?”
Dafoe is not the type of actor to talk about his three-hour morning workout routine, but instead dives right into discussing more significant topics. Our conversation focuses on Poor Things, the remarkable new film by Yorgos Lanthimos based on Alasdair Gray’s novel. Dafoe portrays a reclusive, brilliant scientist named Godwin Baxter, who goes by the nickname “God,” and creates life in the form of Emma Stone’s character, Bella. This captivating and thrilling adventure could potentially earn Dafoe his fifth Oscar nomination for his portrayal of God, which required him to wear extensive prosthetics. His first nomination was for Platoon in 1987, and since then he has been continuously working in the film industry for over 40 years, appearing in more than 150 films. He has collaborated with numerous esteemed directors such as David Lynch, Wes Anderson, Werner Herzog, Paul Schrader, and Martin Scorsese.
Dafoe, who is 68 years old, is currently making a brief visit to New York. He initially moved to the city in 1977 at the age of 22 with the goal of becoming a commercial theatre actor. However, he ended up joining an experimental theatre group called the Wooster Group, where he met his first partner and had a son in 1982. Although he has lived in New York on and off since then, he spends less time there now. In the early 2000s, he married his current wife, Italian director Giada Colagrande who is 48 years old, and they currently reside in Rome. Dafoe describes his trips to New York as almost like stepping into a different life from his usual one. He has Italian friends and family and is fluent in Italian. He also mentions the presence of animals in his life there.
Unfortunately, our scheduled conversation during the summer did not take place as planned due to the delay of Poor Things caused by the actors’ strike. This also resulted in Willem Dafoe being out of work for nearly four months. He expressed his love for working and mentioned that the break was longer than he preferred. However, he was able to pass the time thanks to his small farm. Dafoe hesitantly discussed this aspect of his life, describing himself as a “gentleman farmer”.
I am certain that I am not the sole individual who desires to acquire more information. “Oh, I understand. Perhaps I can share a little with you.” Dafoe had never previously owned pets, but now he has a multitude of animals and a vegetable garden located just outside of Rome. Why does he choose to keep animals? “I am primarily a vegetarian, so I do it for the joy of their companionship and to provide them with a good life, although it may be a bit idealistic.” The chickens and turkeys provide eggs, while the sheep and alpacas provide wool. At one point, he mentions “other individuals” on the farm. “Did you catch that?” he corrects himself. “I meant the animals!”
A couple of months ago, Mark Ruffalo, who co-starred with Dafoe in the film Poor Things, shared a photo of them together with an alpaca, causing a brief sensation online. So that was the alpaca you were with? He affirms. “It was a baby. They are quite magnificent.” Do they have individual personalities? “Yes, that’s the fascinating part. Each one is unique. With sheep and goats, some are familiar to you and have names that stick, while others are just generic animals. But every alpaca has its own distinct character, and you develop a special relationship with them.”
The lifestyle of a gentleman farmer differs greatly from that of Hollywood or the New York theatre scene. However, the farmer compares his daily routine to being at a theater, as he is constantly busy and focused on tasks. He believes in staying productive and avoiding idleness. The farmer also avoids discussing his lifestyle, as he recalls feeling out of place on the set of his first Hollywood movie, “Heaven’s Gate,” in 1980. He had expected discussions about art and philosophy, but instead found his colleagues only talking about their pets and ranches. Despite his initial disdain, the farmer has now embraced this way of life.
Dafoe has consistently straddled the line between popular culture and a more avant-garde scene, influencing the dynamic over time. The year 1977 in New York City has been romanticized and mythologized, but was Dafoe a part of it? “I was definitely present, but we also kept to ourselves in a way because it was a challenging lifestyle and difficult to make ends meet. We couldn’t afford to constantly hang out at places like Max’s Kansas City. We would go to CBGBs and Mudd Club, but it wasn’t a frequent occurrence.”
Upon his initial arrival, he had just finished touring Europe with a traveling theater group and had high hopes of becoming a professional stage actor. However, he soon lost interest in pursuing this path and instead spent time with individuals who lacked ambition. It wasn’t until later on that people began to focus on making a career out of acting. This was due to the fact that there were not many opportunities for success in the industry at the time. Despite this, the individual in question has managed to have a successful and lengthy career. Was there a sense of snobbery surrounding the concept of success? Undoubtedly. The idea of striving for the “brass ring” was seen as meaningless. Instead, the focus was on creating our own opportunities for success. I believe there is some truth to this perspective.
Dafoe has collaborated with numerous directors, many of whom have utilized his talent in challenging and impactful ways, whether in Lars von Trier’s psychological horror films or Robert Eggers’ raw folk stories. He has portrayed Jesus Christ and also starred in Antichrist. However, he has also appeared in blockbuster films such as Speed 2 and Spider-Man. Without meaning to be impolite, I must say that you have also achieved great success. “Yes, and I consider myself very fortunate. But I must say that it surprises me when people achieve success and still act like outsiders. I find that kind of behavior impolite. I don’t want to be that person.” He laughs.
I am curious about Dafoe’s thoughts on contemporary films. He has previously mentioned that when he was involved in Spider-Man in 2002, it was an unusual occurrence as movies based on comics were not common at the time. However, now, superhero films reign supreme and some argue that there is no longer a balance between big-budget blockbusters and independent films. Initially, he hesitates to comment and states that he does not dwell on it as he is constantly occupied with his work. However, he eventually opens up and acknowledges the impact of industry strikes, stating that it forces him to confront and navigate through these issues.
Listen, baby, this is what Dafoe has figured out. The easy one, he says, is that people watch films differently now, at home, rather than at the cinemas, which are closing down. “Which is tragic, because the kind of attention that people give at home isn’t the same. More difficult movies, more challenging movies can not do as well, when you don’t have an audience that’s really paying attention. That’s a big thing. I miss the social thing of where movies fit in the world. You go see a movie, you go out to dinner, you talk about it later, and that spreads out. People now go home, they say, ‘Hey, honey, let’s watch something stupid tonight,’ and they flip through and they watch five minutes of 10 movies, and they say, forget it, let’s go to bed. Where’s that discourse found?”
The film industry has also undergone changes. “Movies are no longer produced in the same manner as before. They are now funded by toy companies and other organizations, using them as a means to create films because of their expertise in that area. Streaming has also become a dominant force, controlling both production and distribution. It’s a complex situation.” The speaker admits that he is not well-informed, and that his friends who are more involved in Hollywood have a better understanding of these changes. “I am not a reliable source to provide a comprehensive overview of what has taken place.”
It seems to me that he has a good understanding. He mentioned that he is knowledgeable in social aspects, but not so much in the business aspect. He observed that there are more intermediaries now compared to before. The bold and daring producers from the past are not as prevalent. While there are some clever ones, it’s difficult to find the same type of passionate and unconventional individuals who would go to extreme lengths to make a film. They are more scarce nowadays.
Dafoe is always involved in multiple projects at once. One recent film he was a part of is Gonzo Girl, which marked Patricia Arquette’s directorial debut. In the film, Dafoe portrays a wild and eccentric character who resembles Hunter S Thompson, a writer known for his excessive lifestyle. While the character is inspired by Thompson, Dafoe did not want to simply imitate him. He believes that biopics that rely on imitation often become a showcase for the actor and can make him feel embarrassed and repelled. He also dislikes actors who come across as too needy.
In an industry filled with overly confident individuals, it seems that Dafoe’s self-esteem is well-balanced. He hopes that this is accurate, stating that having a certain level of ego is necessary to motivate oneself. However, he also recognizes the danger of being too self-absorbed and rigid in thinking that one is exceptional.
Can he be described as someone who is connected to spirituality? “Oh, my goodness,” he exclaims jokingly, but he answers the question. “I am intrigued by the urge for spiritual fulfillment and I am curious about religious beliefs. However, discussing these matters openly can be dangerous and it is unwise to make them your defining characteristic.”
One instance where yoga is mentioned is in interviews, as the person has been practicing for 40 years and it holds significant importance in their life. However, they prefer not to discuss it as it may unintentionally make others feel like they are lacking in some way.
Is it preferable for an actor to maintain a level of anonymity? “I believe so. Personally, if I am aware of an actor’s offensive political views, it affects my perception of their performance.” When discussing Poor Things, he is frequently questioned about the prosthetics used. “As soon as I start talking about the hours spent getting into and out of the prosthetics, it takes away from the viewing experience for the audience.”
I am curious if Dafoe, who has appeared in over 150 films as well as worked in the theater and pursued his passions for art and raising alpacas, ever gets bored easily. He immediately responds, “Not at all!” and goes on to explain that he is never bored. In fact, he believes it is one of the best things about getting older. In his younger years, he often felt bored and restless, but now he always has plenty of things he wants to do and not enough time in the day. This seems like a pleasant way to live. Dafoe acknowledges that this state of being has only come with age and the trade-off of letting go of certain things. However, he believes it is a worthwhile trade-off.
What has he lost? “Not much, just some muscle tone and thickness of eyebrows, and your lips may get thinner. But I’m kidding, yet also being serious…” He chuckles. “When you’re young, it feels like the world is wide open. But as you get older, you start to focus more on what’s below the surface.” He used to be the youngest person in every group. “Now I’m the oldest. I see stories all the time about people I’ve worked with passing away, and I’m like, what happened? And then I remember, oh they were 82 years old,” he explains. Younger individuals often have a drive to find their place in the world. “I believe it’s no coincidence that there are different stages of life. I don’t have a preference for one over the other, but not everything has to happen when you’re young. A lot can still happen later on.”
Dafoe seems to be constantly busy with various projects. He is set to begin working on a new film alongside Nadia Latif, the former associate director of the Young Vic. He has also completed another film with Lanthimos and Stone. Additionally, there is the highly anticipated Beetlejuice 2. In a previous conversation, Dafoe revealed that he will be playing an undead detective in the film. However, he expresses regret for mentioning it as he believes Tim Burton may not appreciate people discussing the movie before its release.
He chuckles. “I was vulnerable, you know! I revealed the secret, as they say.”
Helen Seamons, the fashion editor, was assisted by Jennie Roberts from Frank Agency for grooming, using Woolf Kings X and Glossier products. Sam Deaman served as the fashion assistant while Nick James was the tailor. Alex Cornes, Philip Banks, and Brandon Hepworth were the photography assistants. The shoot took place at Stockwell Studio.
“Poor Things” will be showing in theaters starting from January 12th.
Source: theguardian.com
