The kookiest characters onscreen this season would be the ones performed by Dan Stevens.
This batch of charismatic weirdos joins the gathering of strange roles he has amassed because the 2014 thriller “The Visitor,” his post-“Downton Abbey” breakthrough. Stevens, 41, lands someplace between main man and character actor, and he revels within the mischievous tone required for these offbeat components, a few of which he describes as “funcomfortable.”
Proper now in theaters he may be seen as a successful monster veterinarian in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and as a corrupt cop turned bloodsucker within the horror comedy “Abigail.” This summer season, he’ll seem in “Cuckoo,” a sci-fi horror mash-up set within the Alps, by which he performs a German scientist whose welcoming facade hides a fascination with a weird endangered species.
Stevens, who’s British, not too long ago spoke with The New York Instances over espresso within the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. He wore a long-sleeved T-shirt bearing the defining picture of “The Holy Mountain,” Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 cult basic: a person seated and carrying a pointed hat, framed by two ladies.
Throughout the interview, Stevens talked about his curiosity in style films and why his aim is at all times to make a director snicker. Listed below are edited excerpts from the dialog.
I’ve to ask about your “Holy Mountain” shirt. That’s an awesome, trippy midnight film.
I’m an enormous fan of Jodorowsky. He’s a real visionary dreamer. I completely love filmmakers who current you with unforgettable imagery. He’s a typical touchstone with numerous nice filmmakers I love.
What have been you watching rising up?
It was someplace between Amblin films [like “The Goonies” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”] and John Carpenter. However I additionally watched numerous British comedy. I’ve at all times had very blended tastes.
Do you take into account your self a horror fan?
Sure, however I’ve met actual horror followers and I wouldn’t go toe-to-toe with them in a quiz. Horror shares one thing with comedy, which I really like simply as a lot, in that you simply immediately know if it’s working in a crowd. The viewers suggestions tells you. Filmmakers in each are actively trying to poke the viewers and evoke a response.
Have you ever at all times been a fan of style movies or is that the impression we get out of your physique of labor?
I’ve achieved extra horror than another style, though one might say interval drama is a style as effectively. I’ve at all times been interested in horror. Primarily as a result of they’re such playful movies and normally the filmmakers are themselves very playful individuals. I like being a part of that game-playing facet of filmmaking, with the viewers and typically with the actors.
Would you say bizarre characters are inherently extra pleasing to play?
From the output this yr, that appears to be what I take pleasure in doing. [Laughs] I’m trying to proceed that development. However it may be all types of various sorts of characters inside that remit. Straight main males don’t are typically that attention-grabbing. It’s uncommon that they’re written as essentially the most attention-grabbing position within the script. [Laughs].
How are you aware when a peculiar character, like those you play in “Cuckoo” or “Godzilla x Kong,” is working?
It must be one thing that makes the filmmaker smile, that offers them the correct of snicker that’s going to see them by the making of this factor. That normally transmits by the display. Audiences are inclined to take pleasure in one thing we’ve mischievously loved creating.
How would you describe the vampires in “Abigail”?
It appears that evidently when individuals get become vampires on the earth of “Abigail,” they simply change into worse variations of themselves. [Laughs] There are particular vampire films the place the vampires change into very sultry, or horny or have superpowers, however in ours they simply change into [expletive].
They’re additionally criminals. They don’t come from a rich lineage of vampires.
No. These are new-money vampires.
For Trapper, the vet who treats Kong, have been you channeling any particular character?
There’s in all probability a little bit of Kurt Russell’s Jack Burton [from “Big Trouble in Little China”] in there. A smattering of Ace Ventura and numerous these ’80s motion determine guys. But additionally, a little bit of a British pop star that emerged in the previous couple of years known as Sam Ryder. He was within the Eurovision Tune contest. He’s such a candy, optimistic, pleased chap. I assumed it might be beautiful to see a British character like that.
You latterly voiced a personality within the English dub of “The Boy and the Heron.” Is voice performing for animation one thing you might be actively pursuing?
I’ve had ambitions to get entangled for some time. Since I used to be a child, I’ve at all times loved doing voices. It’s among the earliest proof that I used to be into this in any respect, making cassette tapes and doing foolish made-up radio exhibits with totally different voices. There are characters you possibly can play in animation, in voice-over, that you might by no means play in reside motion.
Did you ever intend to pursue a extra conventional leading-man profession?
I don’t assume I had my sights set on that. Different individuals assumed that’s what I needed and perhaps put these issues in entrance of me. It simply didn’t fairly click on. “Character leads” are my candy spot, whether or not they’re precise lead roles or simply enjoyable components inside an ensemble. That’s the stuff that tends to mild me up.
Rising up, have been there any actors whose path you hope to emulate in the future?
I’ve at all times admired any actor who is ready to be in a household fantasy epic, after which in a bizarre, creepy horror, like Robin Williams. He was in one thing as candy and harmless as “Hook,” after which years later in “One Hour Picture.” The truth that this performer was allowed to try this was so thrilling to me.
Do you utilize the phrase “allowed” since you really feel the trade restricts actors?
It’s one of many challenges, significantly should you make it massive in one thing particular once you’re younger and folks need to see that eternally. “Downton Abbey” was on TV. You’re in individuals’s properties on a Sunday evening. There’s a peculiar possession individuals really feel over your character. And so they simply need extra of it. Audiences can get grasping, and I need to serve up one thing totally different. That’s not going to be to everybody’s style.
