Viggo Mortensen - Case Study
This Danish-American actor is another sly chameleon who somehow goes unnoticed by film goers as he is able to change practically his entire appearance through just the slightest alterations. You would think that with an unusual name like Viggo Mortensen he would get a bit more attention. However I believe it is his intensely private character and even his mysterious, soft-spoken persona that may be some of the factors as to why this incredible actor often passes unaccredited.
Most people will know Viggo for his portrayal of the elf-loving, orc-killing heir of Gondor Aragorn in the Lord of The Rings Trilogy - a performance that despite the big-budget and scale of the films (as with many of the characters in the trilogy) is notable for it's compassion and truth. Equipped with a long dark wig and an English accent it is no wonder his most notable role is not what he is recognized for.
For a point of reference, let's compare this with Mortensen's portrayal of Sigmund Freud in David Cronenberg's 2011 film A Dangerous Method.
At first you may be thinking "where is he?". But trust me, the grey haired cigar-smoking gentleman sitting down (opposite Michael Fassbender's equally excellent Carl Jung) is in fact Viggo Mortensen. This time a prosthetic nose and European accent concealing his identity.
Aside from the obvious versatility in terms of genre, intensity and of course physicality:
Mortensen has a knack of playing very complicated, layered characters. Pulling from the pool of depth and talent that he possesses which are vital elements needed to portray some of the people he has.
A Perfect Murder see's Mortensen as David Shaw a painter who has an affair with the wife of a wealthy Wall Street hedge fund manager. David Cronenberg's A History of Violence (a film that has one of the greatest character arc's I've ever seen in a movie and Viggo SHOULD HAVE WON AN OSCAR!!) sees Mortensen as Tom Stall, a gentle family man accused of being a gangster. Both characters have some similarities but are played in such different ways highlighting his incredible versatility. (note: I highly recommend both of these films.. deffo both in my top 20.)
It would be remiss of me to not mention his role as Nikolai Luzhin in Eastern Promises (Cronenberg.. again) for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Aside from being an incredible actor, Viggo is also a poet, musician, artist and photographer. He is also fluent in English, Spanish, Danish, Swedish and conversational is French and Italian which makes him undoubtedly ... a very talented man.
Viggo is currently starring The Two Faces in January (out NOW) and will appear in upcoming films Jauja and Far From Men.
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