Ridley Scott names the greatest actor he’s ever worked with: “An all-around artist and pro”
The success of Alien in 1979 was unlike anything seen before, pushing the boundaries of what was possible from a film that was both visually innovative and accessible to mainstream audiences, existing as one of the few commercial films that also has artistic value. It remains as arguably the best film within Ridley Scott’s body of work and has spawned multiple sequels, with the most recent addition titled Alien: Romulus starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced and Robert Bobroczkyi.
While this instalment was not directed by Scott himself, the 2017 version called Alien: Covenant was helmed by the famed director, reuniting with one of his most regular collaborators, who he named as the greatest actor he has ever worked with.
Michael Fassbender is known for a variety of projects that span across all corners of cinema, recently starring in The Killer, directed by David Fincher, with highly-praised roles in Inglorious Basterds, Shame and Fish Tank. However, the actor has made a habit of working with Scott over the years, reclaiming his role within the Alien universe multiple times.
With a knack for playing dark and brooding characters, his appearance within the twisted supernatural story feels as though it was planned by fate itself, exuding an organically sinister energy even when he isn’t performing.
When Scott described his work with the actor, he was quick to praise him, saying, “Michael can do anything. He has still got lots of things to do and lots of ways to go even though he is pretty prolific now as a producer as well. And being a producer, it helps me as a director and producer that he has that practical side to him which frequently inexperience doesn’t give you and therefore you can be expecting certain things and making demands that aren’t practical. But Michael is an all-around artist and pro. He is probably the best I’ve worked with”.
Fassbender has spoken at length about his acting technique in the past, describing how he learns his lines in a meticulous way by repeating the dialogue hundreds of times until it is almost second nature, allowing for more freedom in his performance by being as prepared as he can be with the bones of the project. This approach seems to pair well with Scott’s working style, who doesn’t like pandering to those who are unprepared.
As well as this, Scott describes his unique background of having worked in all stages of production, giving him an edge compared to some actors who are less familiar with the logistical aspects of production. This might mean that Fassbender is more efficient on set, with an awareness of the stakes and tight scheduling that could make him a more mindful and collaborative performer.
Scott has repeatedly worked with Denzel Washington over the years too, something that can encourage daring creative choices due to having an established sense of trust with your actors. Many directors have expressed preferences for working with the same people in order to continually build on what they have made before, which is perhaps another reason why Scott has sung the praises of Fassbender and will maybe have other projects in store for the two of them in the future.
