Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquín Rafael Phoenix, known formerly as Leaf Phoenix, is an American actor, producer, music video director, musician and activist. For his work as an artist, Phoenix has received a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award and three Academy Award nominations...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActor
Date of Birth28 October 1974
CountryUnited States of America
certainly learning loved music opened played
I've always loved music, but I never really played anything. After 'Walk the Line' and learning to play guitar, and having that sense of performing, I think that certainly opened the door for me, for music.
complex directing feeling good heard incredibly james johnny led life liked man playing reading rich
When I heard that James Mangold was directing a movie about the life of Johnny Cash, I wanted to do it without even reading the script. I just had a really good feeling about it, and I liked the idea of playing such a complex man who led an incredibly rich life.
character play intention
The less someone knows about me, the better, because my intention is to play a variety of characters.
play two feet
I don't know a single person in life that doesn't have conflict. I don't really enjoy acting enough to not want to experience something that feels like it really affects things. It's like, if you were a surfer, would you want to surf where there was like two-foot waves, or would you want to surf on like ten-foot waves. To me, the more kind of dramatic stories are more exciting for me, to play with.
fun play guy
I don't know why I always get to play these guys who have few redeeming features. But don't knock it. Villains are much more fun.
anyone asking eight people questions seven sitting table understand
I mean, I don't like sitting at a table with seven or eight people asking me questions and kind of listening to what I'm doing - scrutinizing my thoughts and things like that. I just don't like it. I can't understand how anyone would.
evening watch
They will watch the evening news, see the bloodshed, and will go back to dinner,
appealed balance becoming finding pull takes trying
Not just trying to pull off a distinctive voice, which was huge. But the story takes place over so many years ? it's a big story. And, also, finding a balance between impersonation and actually becoming someone appealed to me.
couples cynical eyes looked magical married people seen singing truly
I'm kind of cynical about married people or couples singing together. I've seen it manipulated too many times, ... But it was truly magical when they did it. They just looked into each other's eyes and he'd soften.
believe hit spot
I never prepare. I think that's completely overrated. It's a very simple job. All you have to do is hit this bright mark, stand in the right spot and say the line. So I don't really believe in preparation.
acting crashing dad holding imagine looking metaphors prevents ride running shoulder teaching terrible totally vulnerable
I'm terrible at metaphors or analogies. I don't know the difference, actually, ... For me, acting is like your dad teaching you to ride a bicycle. You feel totally vulnerable at first. You imagine yourself getting hurt, and the only thing that prevents you from crashing is your dad is running after you, holding on to the back of your seat. You keep looking over your shoulder at him, and he's going, 'You're doing it, kid.' And then, all of a sudden, you're, like, 'Why are you still holding on, Dad? Let go.'
connection family
It wasn't a performance, it was just family and me. And you could sense that they had a connection that was just really powerful,
cash concern explore johnny magical people worry
It was magical to be able to explore the young Johnny Cash and his music. But you worry about people's expectations. There's a concern about people saying, 'Well, that's not Johnny Cash'.
true work
There's really nothing I can do about that. My work is to just make the film and try to make it as true as possible.