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“The Nude Scene is Part of the Story” – Interview with Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen’s breakthrough came as the noble hero Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings”. He went on to appear as Sigmund Freud in David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method”, who also cast him in “A History of Violence” as well as the mafia thriller “Eastern Promises”. Other films starring the Dane, who grew up in South America, include “G.I. Jane”, “Psycho” and “28 Days”. After taking on the role of Beatnik poet William Burroughs in “On the Road” and appearing in the Patricia Highsmith adaptation “The Two Faces of January”, Mortensen now features as a hippie father in “Captain Fantastic: From the Wilderness and Back”, raising his six children in a self-sufficient way in the woods.
Mr Mortensen, when you roam the forests in “Captain Fantastic”, one is reminded of “The Lord of the Rings”…
Mortensen: The children who acted in the film said the same – and they’re huge fans! I have a beard and lead a group of little people through the forest (Laughs). However, my character Ben is a far better communicator than Aragorn.
What interested you about this script?
Mortensen: I like surprises. Sometimes you laugh out loud or you are deeply moved – that’s how I felt reading the script for the first time. Thematically, it’s about the perfect father, who of course can never exist, but is a nice conceptual model. It’s like democracy. Complete democracy is impossible, yet we should nonetheless strive for it. At least we live in a form of state that comes closest to democracy so far. Being a father and democracy are both ongoing processes that are never truly finished.
How much do you need to have in common with your characters?
Mortensen: There are plenty of overlaps between me and this role. With every character you have to learn something new. At the same time, there are always things you already know, which of course makes acting much easier. For example, I’ve known how to hunt and fish since I was a little boy. On the other hand, I did have some trouble with the climbing because I’m afraid of heights.
How politically close do you feel to this hippie father Ben, whom you play?
Mortensen: I like Ben’s parenting methods. He relies on open conversation and wants to encourage his six children to think for themselves. Such principles aren’t unknown to me; I also raised my own son using these methods. It can be tiring at times and lead to surprising results. Kids who think for themselves sometimes say to their dad: ‘You’re completely mad.’ But at least that leads to productive discussions.
As well as acting, you also work as a painter, musician and photographer. How does one as an artist avoid commercial sell-out?
Mortensen: You have to keep reinventing yourself, not just as an artist, but as a person in general. Every morning when you wake up, you rebuild your engine, whether you realise it or not. And with every person you meet, you play a different role. You speak to your wife in the morning differently to, say, a police officer who stops you on your way to work.
How helpful was “The Lord of the Rings” for your career?
Mortensen: If I weren’t fairly well known, I probably wouldn’t have got the part in “Captain Fantastic”. Conversely, an actor’s popularity can really help smaller films get made in the first place.
Are you more proud of such smaller projects than of a blockbuster?
Mortensen: For some stars, the motto when choosing projects is: “One film for the studios. One film for me.” I’d prefer it if I could make all my films for myself! (Laughs) The budget doesn’t really matter to me; I’m mainly interested in the story that’s being told. There’s actually no plan for my career – maybe I should put one together sometime. But so far, I’m quite happy with how things have turned out.
Would you recommend this job to your son?
Mortensen: I think he’ll definitely work in a creative profession. He’s a good musician and a very talented writer. He’s also acted a few times – but I’m not sure what path he’ll eventually take.
Can you still sit unnoticed in a café and observe your surroundings?
Mortensen: I hardly have any trouble with that. It depends a lot on your own behaviour and how much you give away. People around you sense quickly if you’re nervous. It happens completely unconsciously and has to do with our animal instincts. Others automatically notice if you’re afraid of being recognised. If you clearly show that you want to be left in peace, that’s usually respected.
You have a funny nude scene in the film. Did you have any doubts about doing it?
Mortensen: The nude scene is part of this story. We actually talked about it again before shooting. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do the scene. The real issue was whether it was important for the plot or whether it was just too distracting. In the end, there was no good reason to skip appearing nude. It shows how this family lives. And it demonstrates how shocked others are by their way of life.
You have a reputation as Mr Cool – how true is that image?
Mortensen: That’s for others to decide. I just try to stay as relaxed as possible. Only when I’m relaxed can I do good work.