Willem Dafoe Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

Career Q&A with Willem Dafoe. Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety.
Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominated actor Willem Dafoe continues to make his mark in entertainment through a myriad of challenging roles, working alongside the industry's most respected talent.
Dafoe will next be seen in Tommy Wirkola’s What Happened to Monday?, with Noomi Rapace and Glenn Close. This film is set in the future and in a world where families are limited to one child due to over population and follows a set of septuplets who must avoid being discovered by the government. Following that, he lends his voice in Adam Wingard’s Death Note with Nat Wolff. The film follows Light Turner (Wolff) who stumbles upon the ‘Death Note,’ a journal in which he can write anyone’s name and kill them at any time, in any fashion he wants. Dafoe plays the role of Ryuk, a shinigami or “death god,” who guides Light to use the Death Note and then watches chaos unfold.
Late this year, Dafoe will be seen in Sean Baker’s The Florida Project opposite Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince and Valeria Cotto. The film follows a 6-year-old and her friends who are homeless, living in extended-stay motels on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. Dafoe plays ‘Bobby,’ the manager of the motel, whose job requires him to be a handyman, an office grind, a den mother, a father figure, and a law enforcer all at the same time. Originally premiering at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival acquiring rave reviews, A24 is slated to release the film October 6, 2017. After, Dafoe has Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express, starring Jonny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dame Judi Dench. Adapted from the book Agatha Christie, the film follows a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into the thrilling mystery of thirteen strangers stranded on a train. Twentieth Century Fox will release the film November 10, 2017.
Dafoe is currently in production for James Wan’s Aquaman opposite Jason Momoa and Nicole Kidman. Dafoe will be seen as ‘Nuidis Vulko,’ a key venerated academic and politician in Atlantis who comes from the generation before Aquaman’s. Exact details of Vulko’s role in the film are still being kept under wraps. Warner Brothers is slated to release the film December 21, 2018. Following, he will begin lensing for Julian Schnabel’s biopic At Eternity’s Gate, which follows the Dutch Post-Impressionist artist, Vincent Van Gough, (Dafoe) and the time he spent in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise, France.
Most notably, Dafoe garnered critical acclaim for his Oscar®nominated supporting role in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Shadow of a Vampire. The film is a fictionalized account of F. W. Murnau’s making of the classic vampire film Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens. During production, the crew begins to have disturbing suspicions about their lead actor, Max Schreck, (Dafoe), who arrives onto set in full Gothic regalia, asserting that he is indeed a vampire.  He was also nominated for a Golden Globe®, Screen Actors Guild®, Critics Choice®, and won a Film Independent Spirit Award and Satellite Award on behalf of this performance. Prior to that, Dafoe also received critical acclaim for his Oscar®nominated supporting role in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Oliver Stone’s Academy Award winning Platoon playing ‘Sargent Elias,’ one of the leaders of the US infantry platoon near the Cambodian border during the Vietnam War.
Watch a Q&A with Willem Dafoe for THE FLORIDA PROJECT: • Conversations with Wil...

[@adamtherock2008]

There’s a criminal lack of Willem Dafoe interviews. This is excellent though.

[@ThePeperich]

2021 this comment aged very well

[@ben_joven]

William Dafoe doesn't age. Probably one of the most expressive, amazing faces on film that stays at permanently 45 years old.

[@Woodrowtracy]

What a sweet, intelligent, lovely guy and a brilliant, hell of an artist. 80 minutes couldn't be enough to talk about his outstanding career and wide range of roles but Riley once again pulled off a great job. I hope he wins the Oscar this year for "Florida Project".

[@tracypfau3896]

Ms. Riley is a GREAT talent herself! She has a canny way of infusing her personality into the interview, while making Willem feel like he’s her favorite actor ever.

[@chancewallace47]

He seems like such a kind/humble/sweet/thoughtful guy

[@cierrablue]

I really like Jenelle's interviews. Good interviews are more than more than just asking interesting questions... it's LISTENING to the answers. She does turn it into a conversation. She is very bright, well researched and interesting in her question/conversation directions.

[@kenderick100]

cierrablue i do to out of all the interviewrs that does a big part of this show she gives the best interviews on the this show.

[@Jazzwun]

Listening is a lost art..

[@michellesiasat4322]

Agree! Jenelle Riley has a way of making the people she interviews feel comfortable and as a result, a really good interview happens. She is a brilliant listener and engager

[@Avasive]

Horror movies, Music and Disney! The man is a fricking genius

[@jessica5497]

its weird but i just like to watch SAG interviews with Jenelle

[@jockcop4205]

Yea, I only watch with her. She has a great ability to get the actors to relax and be themselves.

[@maruki2121]

I love her she's fantastic so warm and funny. Asks the best questions so intelligent and knowledgeable.

[@johnnyd.5466]

God, what a beautiful man.

[@LianeSpicer]

Absolutely. Same thing I kept thinking throughout this interview.

[@adagioelegy1949]

He’s hung

[@sewerslidemg]

@@adagioelegy1949 yes I'm straight but true, gotta see him in dog eat dog he's crazy

[@olfapacheco7844]

@@adagioelegy1949 immensely

[@adriannespring8598]

So very much!! Beautiful humor & spirit.

[@Andy-ty2ni]

This guy should already have 3 or 4 Oscars!

[@DeniseEggertwaterlily]

Most Oscars are politically motivated. Actors, Directors, and the informed public realize this. Prior to the 1970s, it was about talent and the quality of a movie. Since the 1970s, the Oscar Awards is clearly politically motivated and used as an outlet for most actors to rant on about their political opinions and as a soap boxes for their views and cases. I'm a close to life long vegetarian, a sexual assault forensic examiner for 11 years, a Democrat. I've protested for many causes throughout my life, and I have done medical missions in developing countries. I don't rant on about my political views and causes to the patients in my care while I am working in the hospital. This would be extremely inappropriate and unprofessional. I don't want to hear actors and directors rant on for every single cause and political view they hold - for what should be an acceptance speech. Even if I agree with what they are saying, this isn't the time or place for this. The T.V. audience wants to be entertained, not preached to. The public used to be excited about the Academy Awards, but not anymore. The focus is no longer on entertainment and on the stand alone quality of the movies. If an actor wants to publicize their political view or their causes, they can join a politician's campaign for office or pay for a commercial on T.V.or the Internet. My classmate from nursing school (who is extremely liberal in her political views) complained on Facebook that she and her fiancé paid a lot of money to get good seats at a concert for a famous musician and singer whom she was a fan of for many years. She told all of us that the singer and musician spent most of the concert voicing his hatred of President Donald Trump and everything he found wrong with him. My classmate actually agreed with everything he said , but she was furious that they had paid a lot of money to hear him play his guitar and sing, but he hadn't performed for most of the concert.

[@neo.5327]

The best actors don't have that much Oscar's do they ?

[@CurrentlyStuck]

they should get her to interview actors roundtable! they need her lowkey

[@doula2010]

She is my favorite online interviewer. Love Willem Defoe. Glad to see that at his age he is still taking good care of himself. He looks much younger than his age.

[@JohnSmith-bq2de]

I absolutely love how open he is about his career and his craft.

[@humanonearth1]

I have to just point out that this is the best host I've ever seen with an actor.

[@nebrasshole]

Was looking for this comment

[@smooth_sundaes5172]

One actor who deserves a major award IMHO

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Whosoever He is too busy working to care about trophies.

[@zovalentine7305]

Willem Dafoe 🌟⚘🌟⚘

[@edwardfarmer4230]

To Live and Die in LA was great. Wang Chung's soundtrack was killer , very unique crime drama. One of the greatest car chase's ever.

[@billb89]

An amazing actor and even more amazing person. I really like his upbeat attitude, it’s infectious.

[@KJ-xc6qs]

Interesting, intelligent, and likable man. Very down-to-Earth and not always "on".

[@cathbadmusic8489]

36:38 Just had to go and check that Sgt Elias death scene in Platoon, and yes indeed you can see poor Willem holding the squib detonator - and the wire too. Still a fantastic performance and a super film. Dafoe is one of the finest living screen actors. I'll watch anything with him in it.

[@patrickfennell6372]

This man had such great range. Truly underrated.

[@jermainehaslam5634]

Daybreakers is an underrated willem dafoe movie, great vampire film!

[@bobstrawn4994]

He’s phenomenal

[@yessicaperez2986]

WILLEM DAFOE👍💖

[@pasqualesacco7305]

She does a great interview let's them talk and does jump too the next question

[@LianeSpicer]

Best interview ever! I love, love, LOVE Willem Dafoe...his work, his philosophy, his journey. Always delivers a fantastic performance, even in the films I did not like. Some of my all-time favorite films (English Patient, Platoon, Mississippi Burning, Boondock Saints, Pavilion of Women that no one ever mentions!!!) and so many others were pretty much perfected by his performances.

[@flowerbomb333]

Most brilliant actor in Hollywood

[@ericcharles8081]

He’s truly amazing I love his films and he just has a wonderful talent

[@colindomenek1996]

Always been a big fan of his but I'm a little bit disappointed you didn't get to talk about Spider-Man but it was a great session. Also you guys should get Keanu Reeves on here, that would be really interesting.

[@theflorgeormix]

Pleasure to listen to always....What a reputation in entertainment and voice - good guy

[@freyrik]

I 💖 this man. Huge inspiration! Brilliant actor!

[@freyrik]

loved him in van gough

[@BharathanCh]

Great interview of one the behemoths of American cinema. I would have loved some discussion of his work with Abel Ferrara and Paul Schrader. He's made 7 movies with Schrader. Surely some talking points could have emerged from that association.

[@gusriley9785]

Bharat - Agreed, Light Sleeper, masterpiece! - Peace ;)

[@clausm2203]

Great interview

[@janinefarris7565]

William Dafoe very interesting character he was deeper than I imagined I have tried to get around to looking at a lot of his movies but the ones that I have seen so far with very impressive. There's one I remember that he did with Robert Redford entitled the clearing. It was fascinated to me how Sinister his role was. I would recommend for a movie lover of thrillers to see this one . and for for one would to see this one again ones that I have not seen most of his films so I will have to play catch-up he's a gracious guy talented and I love the conversation and she was a great interviewer thank you

[@walkermorgan1710]

He is such a nice and sweet guyyyyyu

[@orietta31]

Willem defoe👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💖💖

[@kennethcarvalho3684]

one of the greats..

[@alexanderclaylavin]

He has no reason to be this cool and approachable

[@elizabeth9134]

Maybe you don't, but Dafoe absolutely does!

[@jamesbromfield9070]

Great actor

[@mutiaraaqilachandra2871]

Handsome

[@ISpyABirdie]

janelle riley + scott mantz are fun interviewers. plsss more of them, tysm. they make these sm more fun2watch especially w/Willem Dafoe :)

[@Tapehead1]

Fantastic interview

[@humanonearth1]

Best interview I've ever seen and I've seen quite a few via youtube and their users.

[@arsofe]

Great actor, great interview.

[@XTheJenovaProjectX]

Interesting to hear his opinions on not returning to a character he already did. Obviously that’s changed now that he returned as Green Goblin.

[@rooster4429]

Great interview, one of the best.

[@lindaarmstrong5170]

Love him as an actor!

[@kenderick100]

What a great gifted actor i really enjoy this interview. They really need to get Michael Rooker on here cause I'm dying to really here about his latest film and early film in his career and what made him become an actor.

[@tashkenty]

One of the greatest actors of all time

[@aaronboykin8203]

I love his voice

[@andywerner838]

Good video

[@TrollJohnSmith]

best interviewer ever

[@attilarza2488]

Godlike actor

[@knownpleasures]

White sands (1992) great movie thx to willem ☝️

[@mathildehuar2018]

Love him

[@AP-yx9de]

Boondocks saints firefight scene is my fav

[@johndeignan2668]

Legend

[@Superior_Productions]

You know I'm something of a scientist myself...

[@ISpyABirdie]

thank god he's nominated again. this time for The Florida Project tho i thought it wudv been for Murder on the Orient Express or did i read the list wrong but that movie was good too and the twist at the end opposite Branagh's character was astounding. i loved it... best film ive watchd since Phantom Thread, The Greatest Showman, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; The Post, The Darkest Hour, Get Out, The Last Jedi, The Shape of Water, I;Tonya, Mudbound, Lady Bird, Boss Baby, Coco, Ferdinand, Blade Runner 2049, B&TB, Victoria & Abdul, Dunkirk, Wonder, Baby Driver, Call Me By Your Name, POTA3: War, Guardians Vol2, Kong: Skull Island, Molly's Game, Logan, The Disaster Artist, and ofc how could I forget The Big Sick that was funny. Yeah I bingewatch

[@kenderick100]

There was alot theatrical movies coming out in 1980 I mean you had raging bull, the blues brothers, the shinning, heavens gate, superman 2, friday the 13th, star wars episode V the empire strikes back. I mean there were good releases coming out that time.

[@laoaganlester1728]

Recently I watched a music video of Human Nature boy band and I didn't know that Willem Dafoe was a member when he was younger!?!

[@not-bv1ek]

i dont think he was a member?

[@mohidsufyan8706]

He did end up playing the same character 20 years later :)

[@janehollander1934]

Not all Dutch are tall!!✌🏻And you couldn't get more "Dutch" with a classic old name like Willem (name of our current 👑King). In the end Willem Dafoe would go on to play 3 more Dutch men. Next to Willy back in 1980, there would be Peter van Houten in 'The Fault in Our Stars' (2014). And one of the most famous Artist 🎨 ever to be born in The Netherlands' - 🌻Vincent Van Gogh in 'At Eternity's Gate' (2018).

[@bhoqeem1975]

The literal definition of a "working actor".

[@Luckyltl]

i was hoping for some discussion of The English Patient

[@eyrelobo6390]

Same!!!!!!!

[@MOE-db8oc]

It annoys me a bit that the fabulous work Willem and many other very tremendous actors/actresses (Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Keaton, Sir Patrick Stewart, Haley Atwell, etc, etc, etc) have done in their "Super Hero" movies is completely ignored in these interviews. Like it was a shame they had to do them or below these actors to do those movies. Willem as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man was fantastic! The work of these fine people in these movies was every bit as challenging and courageous as any of the other work they have done on stage where nobody saw them but gets talked about in every interview. I realize that many of these are old and before they did their "Super Hero" movies but this one is not for Willem. Opportunity missed in my opinion.

[@renatomihic1675]

That's what's bothering you??? That CGI-animated-vomit that some people, unfortunately, call films? Bravo... XD This men is an artist and a colossus of filmmaking. I don't want to be rude but I think that interviews with Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth or The Rock would suit you better... Regards.

[@YatskaSokuleva]

Willem Dafoe is fluent in pantomime and even enjoys it ... how can he be silent so that everyone laughs?

[@HBarnill]

He will always be the Green Goblin.

[@lfcaaron3080]

Jaws the revenge, not Jaws 3.

[@Augusto10L]

21:00

[@smyffmawzz]

" Me turning 25 ? " ....Yeah Jen . 25 Stone! .Ps YOu are a great Interviewer .Pain free and not too contrived.

[@paigeharris1186]

This guy should already have 3 or 4 Oscars!