Legendary actor Marlon Brando is perhaps one of the most influential artists on stage and screen. But did he believe in being the best? Despite significantly changing the course of cinema with his skills and qualities, Brando offered a priceless reaction to being called the “greatest actor ever”.
Instead of being modest or denying the claims, Marlon Brando simply called the race to be the best, an American sickness. During his interview in 1989, the actor offered an insight with his response that transcends boundaries and generations. Now, even after 35 years, Brando’s words still seem to offer a valuable perspective.
Marlon Brando’s Reaction to Being Called the Greatest Actor
Achieving great success in the entertainment industry as well as theatre shows, Marlon Brando quickly rose to fame and became an influential actor in Hollywood. Appearing in acclaimed projects like The Godfather, and offering the audiences with riveting performance, Brando became one of the most prized possessions of the film industry.
Soon during his Hollywood tenure, Marlon Brando earned the coveted title of being the “greatest actor ever”. However, Brando didn’t seem to be quite pleased with the title, or rather, he didn’t seem to know what to make of it. During his 1989 interview shared via X, the actor was informed by the interviewer that the world considers him the greatest actor, and his response was priceless.
“Don’t you realize that you are thought of as the greatest actor ever?”
“Tim’s the greatest actor ever,” Brando claimed.
“No, it’s true”
“See that’s the part of the sickness in America, that you have to think in terms of who wins, who loses, who’s good, who’s bad, who’s best, who’s worst. We always think in those terms, in the extreme terms. I don’t like to think that way. Everybody has their own value in a different way, and I don’t like to think who was the best at this… what’s the point of it?” Brando shared.
Instead of being modest or turning down the admiration of fans, Marlon Brando simply offered a timeless piece of wisdom about life and skills. With his heartfelt reply, the actor once again proved his influential power that seems to change people’s perspectives, even 35 years after the interview.
The Way Marlon Brando Changed the Trajectory of Cinema
Whether the late icon Marlon Brando believed in his worth or not, the humble star is undoubtedly still among the most appreciated actors in the world. Even years after we lost a prolific actor like him, fans seem to connect more with his performance than anyone else’s. Touching souls with his work in Apocalypse Now, On the Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire, and other critically acclaimed films, Brando’s charisma transcends boundaries.
Not just fans, even the Oscar committee considered his films powerhouses and therefore nominated Marlon Brando for numerous awards and sent him home with substantial accolades. But while discussing his brilliance, it’s time to highlight the one thing that separated Brando from a sea of others. It was his search for truth in his roles and performances that made him distinctive in movies, even where he didn’t dominate the project.
Further, his understanding of human emotions, and how the art of filmmaking and acting could connect with those particular emotions, made Marlon Brando stand ahead of the crowd. Taking time to build suspense and waiting for the right moment to make that connection through the camera, is something that Brando performs flawlessly. And it is something that catapulted him in the industry. Therefore, even after two decades since his tragic demise, the actor still stands tall as one of the greatest actors ever.
