Christopher Walken is one of Hollywood’s most reputable actors who has a lengthy career in filmmaking. Before starring in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movie franchise, he was first recognized in 1978’s The Deer Hunter and 1985’s A View to a Kill.
Walken is one of the additions to the cast of Dune: Part Two. While some of his younger costars admitted they feel sort of intimidated by him, the actor actually has a goofy side that he sometimes shows on movie sets.
Christopher Walken Announces His Fake Birthday
During his interview via Late Night with Conan O’Brien, actor Christopher Walken, who plays Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV Corrino in Dune: Part Two, admits he has a genius trick that he usually does on sets.
“A lot of movies, but at some point, usually if you get up early and you’re in the makeup chair at six in the morning, and I pretend that I’m sad. Sooner or later somebody says, ‘Chris, what’s wrong? You look a little sad,’ and I say, ‘Well, it’s my birthday, and I’m all alone, and it’s another birthday.’ ”
Even though it’s not really his birthday, the actor makes sure he acts all convincingly. After telling people that it is his special day, he would sheepishly warn them not to inform everybody.
“But the key thing is to say after that, ‘Make sure you don’t tell anyone.’ Then around lunchtime, they have a cake, maybe some gifts, a little champagne, but you can only do that once.”
The host was amazed at Walken’s incredible trick to get people to bring lots of food on the set and even greet him with a ‘Happy Birthday!’ Indeed, he has his own antics to divert everyone’s attention towards him.
Christopher Walken Had Everyone Treat Him Like An Emperor
Speaking of getting everyone’s attention, Christopher Walken has found a way to make his costars treat him like royalty. In an interview via Daily Actor, he shared how he got into the character of Emperor Shaddam IV. In fact, he recalled a tip he got from a fellow actor:
“He said the king is seen by reflection. He said you’ll be a king by the way people treat you, and I thought that was wise.”
Walken quipped that he made everyone in the cast treat him like an emperor, and he did not even have to do anything. Unlike the other members of the cast, the 80-year-old veteran did not do a lot of rehearsals.
“I thought about it with this – that I didn’t have to try to be the emperor, that I just rely on Denis and the beautiful sets and costumes, and that if people treated me like the emperor then it’d be okay so that’s how I approached it.”
Walken already has the charisma and appeal that truly steals the spotlight, yet he still pulls off some of his tricks to make everyone pay attention to him.
Dune: Part Two is now showing in theaters.
