The role that almost broke Joaquin Phoenix: “It’s a horrible way to live”

Joaquin Phoenix has never shied away from a challenge, reprising notoriously demanding roles that have cemented his reputation as the ultimate character actor in Hollywood. Whether it be his role as a traumatised veteran in You Were Never Really Here, the bittersweet romanticism of Her, or the mysterious power of The Master, the actor is somewhat known for being a wild card within the industry. He defies typical celebrity norms and chooses to forge his own path, maintaining a permanent aura of secrecy around his work and the technicalities of his craft.

But while he has been known to break boundaries and seriously commit himself to understanding the psyche of every character he plays, no matter how extreme or insane, there was one role that began to meddle with his mind and led him to a particularly dark place.

Many actors have resorted to extreme methods of preparing for a role, although many are publicly mocked for sometimes unnecessary means of immersing themselves in a character. However, you can always separate those who are motivated by a genuine love of acting and those who do it for attention and accolades, with some even using it as an empty excuse to act inappropriately without facing any repercussions.

However, while the likes of Jared Leto and Dustin Hoffman stand out in their often questionable methods, Phoenix is one of the few who seems to do so out of sheer respect and love for his craft. He often refuses to discuss his process and describes it as something personal that needn’t be discussed, showing respect for the secrets of the medium and not wanting to draw attention away from what really matters—the story. 

Phoenix masterfully creates a balance of unpredictability and methodology in each performance, something that is particularly evident in his electrifying 2019 film The Joker, with the actor shocking global audiences by navigating uncharted territory and starring in a comic book film. However, many great actors have reprised this iconic character, with the likes of Jack Nicholson and the late Heath Ledger adding iconicity to the part through their detailed variations of his manic madness.

Many people might be intimidated by the task of filling such big boots when following in the footsteps of greatness, but Phoenix adapted to the challenge in his own way, pushing himself to new extremes to portray the complex villain. He famously lost a lot of weight in preparation for the role, as well as remaining completely serious on set and immersing himself in the characters’ pains.

When discussing this, Phoenix described the toll that this took on his own psyche and body, saying, “It’s a horrible way to live. I think he should be kind of heavy. Todd was like, ‘I think you should do the real thin person.’” He ended up losing 52 pounds for the part, emerging from the other end of the production almost as a shell of his former self. While the physical and emotional strain is barely fathomable, this level of intensity is not rare for the actor, and we will no doubt see this level of immersion from him again.