English Translation:
From today, you can see the sensational thriller ” An Image of Desire ” in cinemas. This is the story of an art critic who receives an offer from an influential millionaire that he cannot refuse: he must steal a unique painting. In pursuit of fame and career, the hero falls into a dangerous trap of greed, ambition and lies. We were told about the work on the film by the actor of the main role, known e.g. from ” The Square ” and ” Dracula ” by Claes Bang .
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You work at a pace as if there is no tomorrow. In 2018, apart from “The Picture of Desire “, you made four more films, and you also starred in the series ” The Affair ” and ” Dracula “.
This hyperactivity of mine is obviously the aftermath of the Cannes success of ” The Square “. Until a few years ago, I performed mainly in the theater and was practically unrecognizable outside my native Denmark. The main role in the film awarded with the Palme d’Or made me unexpectedly target the entire film business at the age of 50. Overnight, my agent’s email inbox was flooded with dozens of job offers, including from America. I would have to be crazy not to take advantage of this. Especially since I really liked most of the scenarios! So I tried to arrange my schedule so as not to have to give up valuable projects.
What then seduced you with the script of ” Picture of Desire “?
It was intriguing, ambiguous. For a long time, it was difficult for me to guess the true motivations of the characters. For example, I couldn’t figure out what attracted my hero, the cynical art critic James Figueras, the character played by Elizabeth Debicki . Their relationship is so peculiar …
Are you saying that in real life, critics stand no chance with beautiful women?
(Laughter) I wanted to know all the answers. This scenario was like an addictive book that you can’t tear yourself away from. After reading it, I immediately knew that I wanted to be in it.
In “The Image of Desire ” you once again play the role of a representative of the art world. After ” The Square “, the producers decided that you are perfect for the roles of sophisticated gallery visitors?
Last year, I also starred in ” Lyrebird, ” the factual story of a forger who pulled the Nazis into millions of dollars by selling them counterfeit Vermeer paintings during the war. Case? Speaking quite seriously, I think that the accumulation of roles from the box entitled the “man of the art world” is simply a fate. Although, if you think about it, on paper “The Picture of Desire” looks like a sequel to ” The Square “. In the finale of Ruben Ostlund’s film, my hero compromises himself and, as a result, loses the prestigious job of the museum director. Figueras from the ” Image ” also became infamous in the community, and therefore is condemned to traveling lectures for bored tourists. The immoral offer made by the art dealer Mick Jagger is a chance to return in glory. What makes the characters in ” The Square ” and “Picture of Lust” different is their moral code. The first protagonist wants well and, in fact, has pure intentions. Figueras is much more cynical. Fate gives him a chance for a new life free from lies with a wonderful woman, but he rejects her. Ambition takes precedence over common sense.
Speaking of Mick Jagger … How did you react when the producers told you you were going to play with the Rolling Stones frontman?
I remember that day well. I received an email from production and fell off my chair. Seriously! Before meeting Mick for the first time, I was very nervous. He turned out to be a charming, modest and extremely open guy. Cinema is his great passion. He has been playing in films for half a century and has his own production company. Apparently, the role in “The Image of Desire ” is his last acting performance in his career. As we sit together now, I realize how much fun this project gave me. Just think: I starred in the movie with Mick Jagger , Elizabeth Debicki and Donald Sutherland , we had a great script and the shooting was done on the picturesque Italian lake of Como. What more could you want?
Do you still feel nervous about meeting the stars?
Of course! Let’s take Donald Sutherland . How could I not be nervous about meeting him? He is one of my beloved actors, and ” Don’t Watch Now ” is one of my favorite films. Our first interaction was a surreal experience for me.
On the screen, you are currently playing mainly English-speaking characters. Does working in a foreign language provide you with any more challenges?
I think I’ve spent so much time in England lately that my Danish accent has completely evaporated. I realized a long time ago that if I managed to maintain my knowledge of the English language at a sufficiently high level, I would be able to fight for interesting roles abroad. However, this does not mean that I do not need the help of dialect teachers at all. To this day I remember the disappointed gaze of my American accent trainer when we started working on the dialogues for ” The Affair “. Back then, I put in a lot of work to make it sound natural. English in the US and English in the UK have nothing to do with each other.
How quickly did you settle in in Los Angeles?
It took a while. Of course I love working in America and the people there. However, when it comes to the atmosphere of the city, I am much more comfortable with the atmosphere of European metropolises. When visiting Los Angeles, I was immediately struck by the fact that there are no pedestrians. They all drive cars. If you feel like walking, the drivers will look at you like crazy.
Before our conversation, I read that you combine work in the cinema, television and theater with running your own radio program. How do you manage to make time for all of this?
I think I’m pretty good at making plans. While playing in ” The Affair “, I was also preparing for my role in ” Dracula “. In my free time, I returned to the hotel, built a special structure of blankets and pillows, and recorded another episode of the radio show in it. I sent it to the editorial office and then returned to the scripts. I like to grab a lot of magpies by the tail. Working in the theater helps me play in front of the camera and vice versa. In turn, the radio allows you to catch your breath and distance. All these activities enrich me as an artist and a person.
Has an international career always been your dream?
I think that as an artist I have always headed towards places where interesting roles awaited me. The success of ” The Square ” made these places suddenly become much more. I don’t think of it in terms of an international career. If the opportunity to play a great role comes up in Denmark or Sweden, I will not hesitate to take advantage of it. The feeling that there are promising scenarios at my fingertips gives me comfort and satisfaction. 15 years ago, I took every role that was offered to me. Today I can choose from them. It is a great privilege for an actor. I try to remember how lucky I am all the time.
