Joey Magidson
For decades, Lance Henriksen has been a versatile and underrated character actor. Best known for his role as Bishop in Aliens and subsequent appearances in the Alien franchise, Henriksen is always working, in all sorts of projects. However, nothing he has done can prepare you for his role as Willis in Falling. Working with and for Viggo Mortensen in his directorial debut, Henriksen goes to some dark places here, playing a man in the throes of dementia. Once I saw the film, I was very interested in talking with him, and luckily, it was able to be set up. As you might imagine, talking to an 80 year old staple of the industry is a big deal, and he did not disappoint.
Below, you can hear my chat with Henriksen. We obviously talk a lot about Falling, but mostly, I just sat back and listened to a veteran actor go to town. In a way, it reminds me of my conversations with Bruce Dern (my latest one can be found here). Actors of a certain age just have an inherently interesting story to tell. Henriksen has some very sad stories to tell, but his perspective on life, work, and the industry itself is really solid. You’ll want to listen to this one, folks. Give it a listen now, be on the lookout for another interview this week with Mortensen, and give Falling a shot when it opens next month…
Here now is my interview Falling actor Lance Henriksen. Enjoy:
Be sure to check out Henriksen in Falling!
[…] Interview: Veteran Actor Lance Henriksen Talks ‘Falling’ […]
[…] Lance Henriksen delivers the best work of his career here. Digging in to what must have been a terrifying role, he makes Willis both horrific and utterly recognizable. As much as one may want to believe that melodramas have it right, this is likely how it goes for many families. Harsh words are spoken, bile is spilled, and it’s a messy situation. Henriksen delivers this all with an impeccably dark turn. Sverrir Gudnason, playing a younger version of the character, adds in some layers to the role, too. Together they make him scarily memorable. Viggo Mortensen plays his part very low-key, at least until the climax. Then, the Mortensen we all expect to win an Oscar one day appears. Laura Linney is wasted, but this is mainly about Henriksen. […]