The attraction to make this film and this character was that we were going to approach it in our own way so for me I didn't refer to any past creations of the character, i did identify Arthur as a particular personality but then I also wanted the freedom to create something that wasn't identifiable. This is a fictional character and I didn't want a psychiatrist to be able to identify the kind of person he was.

Joaquin Phoenix

Categorized in : Entertainment

I've been prepping for my role as Medusa.

Joaquin Phoenix

medusa roles

I always have the fear that, if I don't commit 100 percent to my work, then it's gonna suffer.

Joaquin Phoenix

percent commit suffering

Acting is real important to me. I love it, and it's something I care about.

Joaquin Phoenix

acting important real

When I look back I can't believe how my parents managed, but the cliche is true. We didn't have money, but we were rich in so many other ways.

Joaquin Phoenix

parent believe looks

My personal life absolutely goes down the drain when I start working; that's something that I'm incapable of doing.

Joaquin Phoenix

drains incapable personal-life

I've always loved hip-hop, since I was a kid, that's the music that I loved. I think everyone of our generation kind of fantasized about hip-hop in some ways.

Joaquin Phoenix

our-generation kids thinking

I'm going to sound a little weird here, but I like to spend a lot of time on my own in the woods. I don't exactly sneak off in the middle of the night, but I like to be in a place where no one can reach me by phone or e-mail.

Joaquin Phoenix

phones sound night

There is no need for fur - since there are compassionate alternatives.

Joaquin Phoenix

fur alternatives needs

In every film, whether it's a fictional character or not, you create an idea of the character and for me I always do a bad impersonation to start with.

Joaquin Phoenix

film character ideas

I just I don't feel challenged by acting anymore. I don't enjoy the process anymore.

Joaquin Phoenix

enjoy acting process

The expectation is this low, gravelly voice for John, but I went through his early recordings and there were songs in there where the voice was so different, I wasn't even sure if it was him singing, ... So it was interesting to me that we would see him develop the Man in Black sound. I thought it was really important that his voice change as his persona slowly solidified. The music was really the doorway into the character.

Joaquin Phoenix

song character men

I like being an employee. I like making somebody happy - and if they're not, then I'm crushed.

Joaquin Phoenix

crushed employee ifs

Animal rights is a part of my everyday life. When you live by example, you create a certain level of awareness. Friends of mine - people I have never discussed animal rights or vegetarianism with - are adopting vegetarian habits because they see it.

Joaquin Phoenix

vegetarianism rights animal

It's hard for me to put my feelings into words.

Joaquin Phoenix

hard feelings

How can you work in film and still see the overt racism that exists in film and not just be furious all the time?

Joaquin Phoenix

furious film racism

For me, I'd rather have an intense experience than not.

Joaquin Phoenix

intense

I wish I had fair justification for not being as informed as I should be, but I don't.

Joaquin Phoenix

justification should wish

I don't bring my life into a character at all.

Joaquin Phoenix

character

Well, I think that you know, I threatened myself with quitting after every movie. But I think everybody does that, right?

Joaquin Phoenix

quitting doe thinking

I enjoy writing rhymes and sitting alone in a room listening to beats. It's pretty amazing.

Joaquin Phoenix

sitting listening writing