If, as all forecasts indicate, he finally wins the golden statuette on Sunday the 10th, the story of Robert Downey Jr. It will have all the elements to one day be told in a movie. The fact is that the son of the director of the same name who debuted in one of his films at the age of 5, obtaining his first Oscar nomination at the age of 27 for his masterful performance in Chaplin, was very close to being considered unhirable when some time later he succumbed to an addiction that he had from a very young age. But not only did he manage to recover, leaving behind forever in 2003 the episodes that landed him in jail several times, but he was nominated in 2008 for the second time for Tropic Thunder, the same year in which Iron Man made him one of the stars. most popular and best paid in Hollywood. When it seemed that he had already achieved everything, his interpretation of Lewis Strauss, the bureaucrat who hired Robert Oppenheimer to develop the atomic bomb and then accused him of treason, served to erase his image as a Marvel icon in one fell swoop and reaffirm that He is one of the best actors of his generation. So far, Downey Jr. He has won the Golden Globe, the Critics Choice, the BAFTA and the Screen Actors Guild Award, in a seemingly unbeatable streak that makes him an absolute favorite.
What would you say was the biggest challenge of joining Oppenheimer?
Simply the weight of the historical significance and relevance of what we were doing was considerable. It seemed to me that it was very important that it fit us well and that it was a portrait adjusted to the real events, a responsibility that was felt particularly when we had to film at the Institute for Advanced Studies where the meetings and events that we portray in the film occurred. really. What we did with Cillian and Emily was just trying to honor the weight of the real story.
What was your first reaction when you read the script?
I met Chris and Emma at their house and read it from cover to cover, and I think this was the first time that I knew from the first pages what the essence of the character they offered me was, understanding that I had before me a true gift because it was a very important story that had to be told. I still wonder how Chris and Emma realized that I was the right person and that I had what it took to play this role. Sometimes all you need is for them to trust you so you can try to overcome the biggest challenges. The truth is that I am very grateful, because opportunities like this do not come to me every day.
What did you learn about your character in preparing for this film?
It is likely that Lewis Strauss had a number of admirable talents and that he dedicated his life to working for the good of society. But there is an element of tragedy in his story, knowing how things turned out, which has led me to wonder what would have happened if this rivalry with Oppenheimer had not existed if they had been able to work together. All of this served me for my own speculations about what is to come. It’s interesting how this man had to fill the position of the villain, and that gave me a lot of material to work with.
Did the costumes and makeup help you understand your character better?
Of course, especially because the heads of all the departments were exceptional people. I hadn’t worked with Ellen Mirojnick, the costume designer, since Chaplin, so it was a pleasure to meet her again. Additionally, Chris and Emma were really specific in designing what this world had to look like. In that sense, I simply followed to the letter the vision that Chris proposed to us. When someone has things so clear regarding all the details, you don’t have to pay too much attention to anything beyond your work as an actor, because it is enough to trust the gaze of the person who is orchestrating everything. That determined each of my movements. I know that in the case of Cillian’s character there was inspiration from other more contemporary figures, but as far as I was concerned, I had to be very rigid and uncompromising throughout filming and that worked very well.
