The only actors Walton Goggins can’t take his eyes off: “I could watch them read the phone book”
There are some performers with a presence so gargantuan that it feels almost hard to fathom, with a magnetic quality that locks you into their every move and expression. However, some might attribute a similar quality to Walton Goggins, who has recently experienced something of a renaissance after his performance in The White Lotus as Rick, a man battling his own personal demons and refusing to let go of the past.
The show saw a record number of viewers for its highly anticipated third season, with Rick’s tragic Shakespearean-esque love story becoming an intense focus and subject of discussion as people interpreted the many clues that signalled towards their eventual demise.
But besides his recent HBO takeover, the actor is famous for starring in films like Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight and other series such as The Shield, Justified and Vice Principals. Despite being in possession of undeniable charm himself, the actor described two other performers whom he believes have this indescribable star quality.
From his comedic prowess to hardened characters in the world of Quentin Tarantino, Goggins has a certain magnitude that has recently whipped audiences up into a frenzy. Despite being a certified movie star himself, there are few actors that can be described as such, with some being able to do the job but not quite having that evasive quality that leads them to be completely and effortlessly interesting.
Actors like Franz Rogowski, Angelina Jolie, and Ayo Edebriri have this unstoppable sense of vitality and mystery that allows them to be categorised as such, making cinematic history through their performances and passion for the medium.
But Googins had his own thoughts on actors who qualify within this prestigious realm, saying, “Some actors are just infinitely watchable. Marlon Brando, Michael Fassbender—I could watch them read the fucking phone book. I think the term is useless. It may work at an awards show, but it doesn’t speak to an actual career”.
Marlon Brando is constantly cited by other actors when describing the kind of work they aspire to create or the type of presence they wish to cultivate for themselves. He had a colossal presence in Hollywood, with a domineering and slightly intimidating presence that led to mammoth performances in films like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and On The Waterfront.
Fassbender is an interesting choice, given that his career is almost the polar opposite of Brando’s. If Brando were alive today, he’d likely reject studio films and superhero franchises – yet Fassbender built a global fanbase through the X-Men series. At the same time, he’s earned critical acclaim in films like The Killer, Inglourious Basterds, Fish Tank, and Hunger. He’s also worked with auteurs such as Steve McQueen, David Fincher, and Andrea Arnold, which is perhaps where the real comparison to Brando lies.
In a world as cutthroat as Hollywood, it is hard to forge a memorable screen presence when competing against so many others, but perhaps there is no trick to doing so and the secret ingredient comes from an innate quality that cannot be taught – you are simply born a star, or you aren’t one.
