A lot of actors say they don’t feel comfortable watching themselves on screen, which is always a little baffling.
It’s like writing this and not editing after, or making a ragù for four but not dipping a spoon in to taste.
Joaquin Phoenix falls victim to this; he has admitted he has only ever watched two of his own films.
The star – whose film credits include ‘The Master’, ‘Walk the Line’ and the new Woody Allen movie ‘Irrational Man’ – says he hates watching himself on screen and has only managed to sit through a couple of his own projects.
Asked if he had seen ‘Irrational Man’, he replied: “I haven’t. Paul Thomas Anderson [the director] got me to watch ‘The Master’ and I saw ‘Her’. Those are the only two I’ve seen.
“I thought I might be mature enough to watch and learn. To think: These are the mistakes that were made. But it’s still something I struggle with…”
Meanwhile, Joaquin said he’d be open to appearing in a Marvel movie or ‘Star Wars’, despite having previously been snobbish about such movies.
He told Time Out London: “When I was younger I was probably a bit of a snob about that. But they’ve gotten better. I’ve flirted with several of those films, having meetings and getting close, but ultimately it never felt like they’d be really fulfilling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1O1vb9AUU
“There were too many requirements that went against my instincts or character. I’ve been spoiled. I’ve never had to make those compromises.
“I’ve not met a director yet with one of those where we go through the script, they say: ‘You know what, f**k this set-piece, let’s focus on the character!’ I understand, but it’s best I don’t do it.”
