For acclaimed actor Joaquin Phoenix, the acting process is a mystery. The threetime Oscar nominee says the idea of getting into character is something he's never quite understood and doesn't want to. Speaking with Salon's Andrew O'Hehir about playing a traumatized veteran in writer and director Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here," Phoenix shares why making unconscious decisions is where he finds his characters.

“I try not to make rules about the character," Phoenix told SalonTV. "I don’t like that idea [of saying] ‘my character would never do that.’ I don’t know what the f**k they’d do. Anything’s possible." Phoenix took home the best actor award at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for the role in the thrilling "You Were Never Really Here."

He opens up to SalonTV about the pacing of his career and why he often takes breaks from acting, then works intensely on several projects at a time. As far as developing a style to his work, Phoenix doesn’t get hung up on defining himself, but his nondefinitions are those of a true artist.


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About “Salon Talks”
Hosted by Salon journalists, “Salon Talks” episodes offer a fresh take on the longform interview format, and a muchneeded break from the partisan political talking heads that have come to dominate the genre. “Salon Talks” is a destination for information through conversation. Viewers can expect discussions with Alist actors, artists, authors, thinkers, and newsmakers as we explore the full range of the human condition. The show streams live on Facebook and Twitter and each episode is published in full on Salon.com.


About Salon TV
SalonTV is Salon.com’s premiere video offering, including three shows, “Salon Talks,” “Salon Stage,” and “Salon Now,” as well as original series created by Salon.