Joaquin Phoenix Struggled Playing this Character

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Joaquin Phoenix Struggled Playing this Character

Joaquin Phoenix’s role as Commodus in Gladiator is one of his most unforgettable performances, but it wasn’t easy for him to play such a cruel and complicated character. At first, he struggled to connect with the darker side of Commodus, as it was very different from his own personality. Phoenix worked closely with director Ridley Scott to figure out what made Commodus behave the way he did, which helped him give a deeper, more believable performance.

Scott encouraged Phoenix to think about Commodus’ feelings and motivations, like his need for love, his jealousy of Maximus, and his desire to prove himself to his father. Phoenix realized that Commodus wasn’t just evil—he was insecure and desperate for approval. By focusing on these emotions, Phoenix made Commodus feel more real and relatable, even though he was the villain.

Phoenix also spent time learning about Roman history to better understand Commodus’ world. He brought a lot of emotion and spontaneity to his acting, which led to powerful moments on set, like the intense choking scene with Richard Harris. This showed how unstable and dangerous Commodus could be.

Playing Commodus was emotionally draining for Phoenix, but it became one of his most important roles for his career. His ability to show both the cruelty and vulnerability of the character earned him praise and made Commodus one of the most memorable movie villains ever.

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