We ended up talking about feet, specifically that mine were big.

Theres a measure of a man for you.

And heres how our quick chat went…

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Ha!

Apparently, the only country where you ever get asked about the filmBody Of Evidenceis the UK.

[Grins] Its true, its true!

Are we all perverts in the UK or something?

Youve got to answer that question for yourself.

Im just stating the facts, sir!

Does that happen often?

That only in certain countries you get asked about certain films?

Yeah, it happens a lot.

Were all connected, but the truth is there are still cultural differences, and cultural conditioning.

There are some movies that perform very well in some areas, and dont resonate in other areas.

I think its not a bad thing!

The first film of yours that I ever saw was one nobody talks about:White Sands.

Ive a lot of time for that movie, and its director, Roger Donaldson.

A hugely underrated storyteller, Roger Donaldson.

Hes unfussy, and tells a story.

I agree with you.

Thats a good way to describe him.

Im fascinated byWhite Sands.

That was a very interesting movie, I think.

Was that because it was outdoors?

The location was fantastic, and it had a lot of different elements.

Action elements, this thriller element.

The UK now is the only country where you get asked aboutWhite SandsandBody Of Evidence!

A little bit, a little bit.

There were more scenes than you think of us all in that car together.

There were so many moving pieces and so many people involved and so many wigs!

Youre really in that car supporting each other.

Youre part of the landscape but youre not maybe driving the scene.

So youve got to be flexible, and patient and enjoy what other people are doing.

And that did happen.

People are really good about that.

The second film of yours I saw in cinemas wasClear And Present Danger.

Again, Phillip Noyce is a really interesting director, and his films are threaded with intelligence.

But I remember on that one there was talk of spinning the John Clark character out that you played.

Well they did, I think.

I think the perception onClear And Present Dangerwas that Harrison [Ford] drove that movie.

Although there were novels where he was the centre.

They did Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine?

But never John Clark!

There were rumours, there were rumours!

But then I heard something that hes too old or something!

In the UK, theres a cinema chain that does surprise preview screenings over here.

You pay a reduced rate, and all you know is its a film thats not out yet.

In a perfect world, everybody would love it!

[laughs] It shows that when something is strong you dont want to make things that are middling.

You want to make things that are strong, that you believe in, and do affect people.

I suppose thats music to my ears.

But I dont particularly court controversy.

Because it enriches me and makes me think, it puts me in touch with something!

And I wish that for other people.

That was always kind of innocent.

Im interested in strong filmmakers and they usually have strong visions of things.

Lars von Triers, for example, or in the case ofLast Temptation, Martin Scorsese.

Very strong things that they want to express.

Its sort of thinking outside of the box.

Whenever you challenge the collective agreed on reality of things, youre going to have some problems.

But thats also the place where beautiful things are made.

I think that cinema, films, movies, should be challenging.

They should change how we think.

They should shake us up.

Are you familiar with what your trademarks are on there?

Yes, I think someone told me!

Apparently, you have a deeply lined face that can be contorted to frightening effect.

Did you write any of these?!

[Grins] I didnt write that!

IMDB, Wikipedia, all these things.

It takes one person, and they have no recognised authority, lets say, and its an opinion.

But it gets stuck there, and it gets repeated like were even repeating it now.

Were giving it more life, and breathing more life into it!

In my defence, I go there to work out what not to ask!

[Grins] I read that, and I think Thats strange.

But it just reminds you that everyone sees the same tree differently.

And thats the beauty, but thats the horror.

[laughs]

Willem Dafoe, thank you very much!

Murder On The Orient Expressis in UK cinemas now.