Adam Driver: "My Job Is To Be Anonymous"

He has achieved world renown as Star Wars’ current villain Kylo Ren, but the Californian actor says fame isn’t constructive to his work.

Words: Rüdiger Sturm

Photo: Matthew Brookes/trunkarchive.com

"I feel pressure eating soup. Like, how do I time this so I’m not burping in people’s faces?” jokes Adam Driver about the perils of constantly being in the limelight. In 2005, he faced a different apprehension as he struggled to fit into New York performing arts conservatory The Juilliard School after being discharged from the US Marines, following a mountain-biking injury.

Now, he’s experiencing a different weight of expectation. The 34-year-old stars in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote – a film that took director Terry Gilliam almost 30 years to make – in a role that has resembled a revolving door with numerous actors, including Ewan McGregor and Johnny Depp, passing through it. Some have even labelled the production as cursed.

“With every job, I feel pressure that it’ll fail in some way,” says Driver. “I’m riding a horse, diving into a pool of rocks; I crashed a motorbike on a cliff. If something had happened, I would have been contributing to the movie not [happening].”

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The Red Bulletin: Were you worried about the movie’s supposed curse?

Adam Driver: If anything, I’m more excited to work with people who’ve been trying to make this film for so many years; they have been so tenacious. We celebrated when we passed the first week, because in Lost In La Mancha [the 2002 documentary about Gilliam’s failed attempt to film Quixote in 2000] they only shot a week of footage. I think every movie that’s made is nothing short of a miracle, and we happened to be there.

Has working with Gilliam taught you perseverance?

He’s inspiring to be on set with, because it’s catharsis for him. He has no filter about how he’s feeling – if it’s working or if it’s not, it’s obvious. He creates an atmosphere where everybody is on their toes, but he also encourages people to follow their impulses, to trust themselves. It could very easily have been a dictatorship where he’s like‚ “I’ve been thinking about this project for 25 years – just do what I tell you.” But he still has an air of not knowing, which was a good lesson. It’s something I’ve noticed not just with him, but with other great directors.

How did the experience compare to Star Wars?

It’s more controlled on Star Wars, but also more abstract: “Trust us, there is space behind you.” “Your lightsaber looks like it works.” I don’t prefer one over the other. One has a bigger budget and can make you feel more comfortable, but people aren’t watching the movie thinking, “Hey, they had great catering. I’m sure his trailer was really nice.” The pressure is just as high. We have to make it truthful. We’re asking people to give us two-and-a-half hours of their time, and it’s going to last for ever. It better be good.

Star Wars has made you famous. Does that bring its own pressure?

It’s different kinds of weird. I lived a life where no one knew who I was, which was great. Now people notice me. That’s in direct conflict with my job: to be a spy, live life and be anonymous. It’s not productive. How do you live life? I surround myself with grounded people, but I don’t have a good work-life balance. I don’t know if I ever will.

Did your time in the Marines prepare you for any of this?

The biggest lesson I took from the military to a film set is how to work in a team. It’s not about you; you’re part of something bigger. You have to be there for your partners and ensure you’re doing your best job so they can do theirs. This way you can achieve your mission, and that’s the most important thing. I try to be mindful of people, because I don’t take it lightly that we made a movie. Why would you? It’s insane.

quixotemovie.com