50-year-old Viggo Mortensen, whose acting credits include everything from Texas Chainsaw Massacre and G.I. Jane to Lord of the Rings and Eastern Promises, might be quitting the acting game. Although he has two movies coming out this year and is rumored to be attached to one for 2010, he says that the actor’s life of traveling to promote movies (and, presumably, do the interview cited below), is “not healthy.”
“In the past week I’ve been from LA to Japan to Korea to Poland to here,” he hisses, describing in near disbelief the travel itinerary for his current promotional tour. “It’s ridiculous! It’s not a healthy way to be. But, as it happens, I’m taking measures to change that.” Which are? “No more movies. I haven’t said yes to one in over a year. I’ve been in all these well-received movies and it seems like I should be doing some more, but there’s other things I want to do. It’s not the right time.”
But when will you come back to film-making? When will you know it’s the right time? Long, long, pause. A sigh. “I really don’t know.”
Mortensen has spoken about leaving movies before. “If it all dries up now, I’ve had a good run” is a favourite refrain. But here, in the quiet ground-floor antechamber of a London hotel, he seems more convinced, and convincing, than ever.
[from Times London]
After making it big in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (which he filmed at his now-20-year-old son’s behest), he has been offered many large starring roles, some of which, like Hidalgo, he has accepted. But generally, he has remained a dark character actor. His upcoming movie, Good, is a Nazi drama based on a play and features a scene in which he receives fellatio in full Nazi regalia, and another in which he is naked during a fight scene – neither scenes that leading men would generally agree to do. But this is Viggo we’re talking about. He says that he only needs enough money to send his son Henry to college and to travel.
Viggo has given the “no more movies” spiel before, but he keeps coming back. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long after Good for Viggo’s chiseled face on the big screen.
Viggo Mortensen is shown at the Empire Awards in London on 3/29/09. Credit: PRPhotos
I too would hate such a busy schedule. Good for him to put his health and his private life as a priority over earning more money.
I long for a slower life…
Eww, he is not aging well. Maybe he is right it’s time to retire…
Don’t get me wrong, I love Viggo… and I’m sure travelling to promote a film is tiring… But I get kind of annoyed when mega-rich movie stars complain about it. As someone who only does one or two films a year, Viggo only has to maintain that hectic schedule for relatively short periods of time, so what’s the big deal? He flies first class, he stays in 5-star hotels, he eats in fabulous restaurants, and all on the film company’s tab! Yeah, life is hard.
I know, I know, I’m speaking as someone who hasn’t had a real vacation in over five years and would practically kill for a night in a 5-star hotel. But Viggo needs to get some perspective.
“Quit acting”?? He hasn’t even been in anything in years! I still think when he DOES work, he is fantastic though : )
Considering that he’s got all sorts of other projects running (photography, music), and that he probably just doesn’t feel the drive (or the lifestyle) to keep going for money – good for him. He stays true to himself, I can admire that.
@maritza: shocking isn’t it, actors aging without plastic surgery? I still think he’s hot.
Still handsome though the gray bob isn’t doing him any favors. Maybe a hair cut. Maybe he exhausted now so he’s complaining.
Viggo Mortensen is still sexy to me. (Big grin on face and deep inhale as I envision VM fighting naked in “Eastern Promises” – now THAT is art!)
Hey, “Patrice”, he’s been in plenty of things over the last couple of years…maybe you just didn’t see them?
And he looks GREAT! HOT HOT HOT even at 50 🙂
I’ll second the HOT comment. It’s the longer hair that’s making him look older. He’s still gorgeous.
He flies first class, stays in 5-star hotels…all true and it bothers me too when they complain about it. Just do your job and enjoy the perks…every job has it’s unpleasant parts but you’re still in an enviable position to the rest of us poor peons.
Jeez. Why is he not allowed to offer his own personal opinion on his own life without needing to justify himself? Or have charges of ingratitude levelled at him? It’s his life, he’s a really talented, intelligent guy with a number of strings to his bow, it’s up to him to decide how he wants to spend his time, not anyone else.
@Patrice – Nothing recent? What about Appaloosa in 2008? Eastern Promises in 2007?
He’s melancholic? The line to cheer him up forms directly behind me…… 😕
I admire the guy for having married Exene Cervenka. Not many man could handle a woman that strong and weird. I don’t know how long that marriage lasted, but he gets major points for taking her on. He’s sexy.