Willem Dafoe reveals the movie that had a “profound influence on me”
Regardless of the project, seeing Willem Dafoe attached to anything guarantees a performance that’s going to be watchable at the very least, with the actor having long since become renowned as one of the most consistent performers the industry has at its disposal.
Whether he’s hamming it up in a blockbuster comic book franchise, showcasing his immense range in smaller independent projects, or flashing that wide-eyed maniacal grin with his signature brand of unhinged charisma, there aren’t many talents as versatile and reliable as Dafoe.
Having notched almost 150 film and television credits since his debut as an uncredited background player in Michael Cimino’s infamous epic Heaven’s Gate, acclaim and adulation has tended to follow Dafoe wherever he goes, as evidenced by a quartet of Academy Award nominations to go along with his four Golden Globe nods.
Due to his prolific output, it takes a special sort of film to leave a lasting impact on him both personally and professionally, and one of those experiences came as part of his one and so far only collaboration with Martin Scorsese on The Last Temptation of Christ.
The biblical drama found itself embroiled in a campaign of controversy, protests, boycotts, and even death threats being levelled towards its key creators, but as Dafoe explained to The Hollywood Interview, being the focal point behind Scorsese executing a long-held vision stands out as a career highlight.
Offering that he had no reservations over accepting what proved to be an incendiary role, his doubts were assuaged by “the way Marty approached me, saying what Christ he wanted it to be”.
“It was a movie where I really felt used, I mean ‘used’ in the best sense of the word. As an actor, I want to be used,” he said. “I want to use my body and my mind, my voice, whatever I’ve got, for something. And Marty had this beautiful story to tell. He made this movie in his head for many years, and I felt privileged to be involved in it.”
Continuing, Dafoe stated that the end result “had a profound influence on me, professionally in my life.” Calling it “a great experience,” he admitted that although he was “really spent” by the time production had concluded, it was “such a good feeling.”
Even though The Last Temptation of Christ saw Dafoe completely shut out from the awards season conversation, it’s since gone on to become regarded as one of his finest performances. Even the film itself was largely ignored, with Scorsese’s ‘Best Director’ nomination the only Oscar it was shortlisted for, but in time, the legendary filmmaker’s rumination on faith has gradually overcome the initial stigma that greeted it to be considered among the upper echelons of his esteemed filmography.
