Willem Dafoe, experienced actor known for shapeshifting roles, discusses his role in 'Poor Things', his upbringing in Wisconsin, his love of B-movies, and his task-based approach to acting. He also reflects on memorable performances in 'To Live and Die in L.A.', 'Platoon', and 'The Florida Project', and his desire to continue creating in years to come.
Willem Dafoe emphasizes the importance of being a willing vessel for the project, putting the work before his own ego, and being committed to the process.
Dafoe highlights the themes of identity, social conditioning, and sexual liberation explored in the film 'Poor Things' directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
Dafoe reflects on his philosophy of transformation in acting and the idea that all characters already exist within oneself, emphasizing the importance of engagement and commitment in his performances.
Deep dives
The podcast explores Willem Dafoe's experience in working with different directors.
Willem Dafoe discusses his collaborations with various directors and the unique experiences he has had working with them. He emphasizes the importance of being a willing vessel for the project, putting the work before his own ego, and being committed to the process. Dafoe highlights the fluidity and freedom he feels in his roles, as well as the joy of committing to a character and experiencing a sense of connection and presence in the performance. He also reflects on the cycles of life and the passage of time, noting how they influence his perspective and the way he approaches his work. Finally, Dafoe mentions the importance of being useful and caring for others in his creative journey.
Willem Dafoe discusses his role in the film Poor Things.
Dafoe talks about his latest film, Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. He describes his character, Dr. Godwin Baxter, as a compassionate scientist who brings a young woman back to life through an unconventional experiment. Dafoe highlights the themes of identity, social conditioning, and sexual liberation explored in the film. He discusses the collaborative nature of the project and the enjoyment he derives from being part of a team and creating within a well-designed world. Additionally, Dafoe touches on the personal significance of the role in relation to his father's career as a doctor and the impact it had on his perspective of the healthcare system. Overall, he expresses his enthusiasm for the film and the opportunity to work with Lanthimos.
Willem Dafoe reflects on his upbringing, early experiences in theater, and the importance of play.
Dafoe discusses his childhood and how his upbringing, including his parents' work in the medical field, influenced his perspective on gender roles and social conditioning. He reflects on his early experiences in theater and how they shaped his understanding of collaboration and the power of play in creative work. Dafoe also shares anecdotes from his early years, including his love for B movies and his mischievous pranks. He highlights the importance of maintaining a sense of play and collaboration throughout his career, even as his work expanded to include more high-profile films and collaborations with renowned directors.
Willem Dafoe talks about his approach to acting and the idea of transformation.
Dafoe reflects on his philosophy of transformation in acting and the idea that all characters already exist within oneself. He explains that while he doesn't believe in completely transforming into a character, he views acting as a process of bringing out different aspects of himself based on the circumstances and reactions of the character. Dafoe emphasizes the importance of engagement and commitment in his performances, rather than focusing on fully understanding the meaning behind the characters or their stories. He also discusses the physical transformations he has undergone for certain roles and how they have shaped his approach to embodying different characters.
Willem Dafoe discusses his perspective on aging, the passage of time, and the desire to be useful.
Dafoe reflects on the passage of time and the sense of everything going faster as one gets older. He discusses the importance of embracing the cycles of life and finding purpose in being useful to others. Dafoe notes that as he has gotten older, he has become more interested in looking beyond himself and focusing on the larger picture of human experience and connection. He shares his belief that the best thing one can do while alive is to be of service to others and to recognize the interdependence that ties humanity together. Dafoe also acknowledges that as one ages, they gain a deeper appreciation for the rise and fall of things in life and develop a sense of self that extends beyond personal desires and achievements.
Willem Dafoe has built a career out of shapeshifting. His latest role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Thingsdemonstrates exactly that.
Today, he joins us to discuss his compelling performance in the imaginative tale (7:00), the elaborate details he discovered on set (9:20), and the three-hour physical transformation he underwent each day of filming (12:38). Then, Dafoe describes his upbringing in Wisconsin (15:15), his early love of B-movies (20:04), and his formative years in the theater as part of The Wooster Group in New York City (26:45).
On the back-half, we dive into his task-based approach to acting (35:55) and how it guided his memorable performances in the late William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A. (41:10), Oliver Stone’s Platoon (43:52), and Sean Baker’s The Florida Project (49:44). To close, Dafoe reflects on the joy of collaboration (53:30), his search for truth as an actor (57:25), and his desire to continue creating in years to come (1:00:50).
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