Yesterday, American actor Peter Sarsgaard introduced Shattered Glass, the film that served as the starting point of his KVIFF Talk. When asked why the film is so close to his heart, he explained: “I grew up among storytellers. Maybe that’s why I was so drawn to acting. I originally came from the tradition of method acting, which is all about the search for truth. How would my character really react? Not the way I want them to react. Honestly and raw. I always look for the truth in my work; it’s the most important thing to me,” he said, seamlessly tying film’s central theme to both his acting philosophy and outlook on life.
Despite a diverse acting portfolio, Peter Sarsgaard is often associated with antagonist roles, though he admits they do not particularly interest him, even if some say they are easier to play than heroic ones. “I never want to play a bad guy. That’s what the filmmakers want. And when I do, I play him as a good guy. I do the same the other way around. Most screenwriters divide characters into those the audience is supposed to like and those they’re not. But neither Superman nor the devil exist. I try to give the characters what they’re missing.”
Several of Sarsgaard’s earlier films came up, but the actor admitted he rarely, if ever, watches his own work. “That’s not my job anymore. I’m protecting my point of view. I’m interested in what people think about it, but that’s where it ends. The only thing I revisit is Michel Franco’s Memory,” he said and praised the film whose director happened to be sitting in the audience.
Sarsgaard shared that he does not do research for his roles. He prefers to make his own creative choices rather than be limited by a preconceived image. If preparation is needed for credibility, such as playing a doctor, he will dive into it if he finds it enjoyable.
The lively discussion also touched on his views on religion, cinematic portrayal of evil and creative partnership with his wife, actress and director Maggie Gyllenhaal. She cast him in her upcoming film The Bride!, which Sarsgaard described as “provocative, sexy, dangerous and punk” and added that it is sure to spark strong reactions.
