There are some actors who command the screen with their electric presence. Christoph Waltz is one of them. If the chilling Hans Landa from Inglorious Basterds still gives viewers sleepless nights, the credit goes to Waltz for his stunning performance that deservedly won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Following roles in Django Unchained, Water For Elephants and other marquee projects, the Austrian-German celebrity cemented his place as one of the most versatile and charismatic character actors in the industry. Expectedly, Waltz had some inspiring role models including the great Marlon Brando. But the actor also realized that even a veteran like Brando isn’t timeless after all.
Why Marlon Brando Didn’t Stand The Test Of Time For Christoph Waltz
Any actor big or small, has always been inspired by someone who has been a role model for them to dream big and achieve stardom in the industry. For accomplished actor Christoph Waltz, it was none other than one of Hollywood’s greats Marlon Brando.
The Oscar winner who has impressed audiences across the world with his villainous performances, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his deep obsession and admiration for The Godfather star, who he felt shaped his journey as an actor from a young age.
But this hero worship changed over the course of time when Waltz, now a seasoned actor himself, realized that even a bonafide veteran and superstar like Brando can do some mediocre work in ordinary films as well. Speaking of his change of opinion about the Oscar winner, he said,
“Well, hold your applause for a second because now, most of the stuff that Marlon Brando did, I can’t watch. I cringe”
While the appreciation of acting styles over generations has undergone a change, this is a rather bold statment to make considering Brando’s pedigree and stature in Hollywood. The Inglorious Basterds star elaborated on why he felt this way. He revealed that sometimes one’s admiration for a particular celebrity could blind them from his or her weakness.
Waltz also spoke in detail about what it meant to be an actor and a star. He elaborated on the how the two aspects could never be linked together despite the notion that they can co-exist.
“I am convinced that acting and being a star are two different professions. You can be an actor who is always true to himself, true to the work, true to the writer. Others who are reckless and irresponsible become stars. They don’t become stars for their work.”
While Waltz did not indicate directly that this was a reference to Brando’s journey in Hollywood, it did leave the discussion open for people to read between the lines regarding what he thought about superstardom.
How Christoph Waltz Stunned Quentin Tarantino With His Talent
While it is hard to remember every single Oscar-winning performance by actors over the years, Christoph Waltz’s brilliant portrayal of the Nazi colonel in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds cannot be forgotten easily. As Hans Landa, Waltz brought a quiet and chilling brutality to the character which was evident right from the iconic opening scene of the film.
The Oscar winner’s talent was so tangible that even Tarantino who is known to have complete control over his scenes and actors, couldn’t stop being mesmerized by him. In an interview with Empire Magazine, the Pulp Fiction director spoke of Waltz’s role as being the most entertaining and challenging to write, and praised the actor’s ability to own the screen.
“The minute he enters a scene, he dominates it. All the things that he was supposed to be good at, he was that good at them.”
Tarantino also elaborated on the fact that despite Waltz’s character being the antagonist, the nuances of the role and the manner in which he interpreted these aspects, had audiences rooting for him despite his villainy.
Inglorious Basterds can be rented on Apple TV.
