Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. (/ˈviːɡoʊ ˈmɔːrtənsən/; Danish: [viːɡo ˈmɒːdn̩sn̩]; born October 20, 1958) is a Danish American actor, producer, author, musician, photographer, poet, and painter.
Be kind. It's worthwhile to make an effort to learn about other people and figure out what you might have in common with them.
With any character I have played there’s infinite possibilities for how they might behave, depending on who they are talking to or how they react to things.
You can't really go back to where you came from. I don't think any of us can.
You should always do the things in life that are both interesting and make you afraid.
Those who have the power and should be the most responsible are often the least responsible.
I think if you don't say something it's lying by omission. I personally think it's immoral.
Usually the characters I play are men of few words, who communicate in non-verbal ways.
I know people who prepare their roles in such a way that they technically look ahead and memorize their gestures, and then they stick to it. Those that are technically proficient enough can make it seem natural, but they do that and don't really take in what other people are doing.
You have a moral obligation to finish the job you said you would do.
I think it's my job to like any character I play - to understand and appreciate a character, to look at the world as much as possible from their point of view. I don't look at it just technically: learn the lines, figure out what gestures I want to bring and play, and that's it. I like to learn as much as I can about the person, and see what happens.
When you're under stress as a human being, you behave oddly and your relationships with people become strained.
Perhaps the itinerant upbringing my brothers and I had has something to do with my continued interest in perspectives different from my own.
In a way, editing is not unlike the movies. The best books, just like the best movies, are a collaboration. They're only as good as the compromise made between the artists involved.
As far as money goes, there's a saying in Denmark: 'Your last suit doesn't have any pockets. ' You can't take it with you. You can make all the money you want, but who cares?
I mean, any movie or story that makes you accept and be grateful for something about your life is doing something right.
I was raised speaking English and Spanish. And I also speak Danish. And I can get by in French and Italian. I've acted in Spanish and English, but when something has to do with emotions, sometimes I feel I can get to the heart of the matter better in Spanish.
I think, on a surface level, people are surprised to see me playing such a passive role in 'Good. '
Having a mixed background and feeling a little bit like a fish out of water in most places can be a benefit.
The best thing an actor can be is flexible, because all directors are different and all actors are different.
A lot of people can forget about you in Los Angeles.