Do you feel likeLimonovanswered a question for you in any way?
Ben Whishaw:I hadnt worked for a year because of the pandemic.
Then I did this.
Limonov: The Balladstar Ben Whishaw, wearing Bottega Veneta.
They were all such different projects and different characters.
Youre playing against jot down here.
You seem like quite a modest person, the antithesis of this character.
Ben Whishaw inLimonov: The Ballad
Was the offer of this part refreshing to you at all, or did it feel a bit dangerous?
It did feel dangerous, but in a good waylike, exciting.
I didnt know whether I could do it.
Photo:Bertie Watson
Why should it be me?
And what could I bring?
And how can you find a way into that?
Photo:Bertie Watson
I just had a feeling that it would be a really interesting experience, and it was.
But to be honest, most things feel quite terrifying.
If its a good thing youve been asked to do, you feel the pressure and the challenge.
Do you take time to mull over whether to work on things?
If I have to think too much, then Ill probably end up not doing it.
Its usually quite instinctive.
Before you met Kirill Serebrennikov, you had seen his 2018 filmLetoand heard about his work in the theater.
What do you look for in a director that you found in him?
Hes a leader [whos got a] very charismatic and powerful presence, and you feel safe.
What I absolutely loved about him is that hes really fearless.
I actually havent seen the film.
I dont know if its in there, but we blew up the set at one point.
Was there a scene in particular where you felt like you needed that guidance?
Did you discover your in for Limonov as a person?
How do you relate to someone so terrible?
It was like he had a bit of his skin missing.
He presented himself as kind of hate filled and raging against everything and everyone.
You stopped shooting five weeks in due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Was there a long pause in the middle of the film?
Yes, we all stopped.
And then we had no idea whether wed be able to continue, but somehow we did.
And we finished it off in Riga in Latvia six months later.
What does your headspace look like for those six months?
Its out of your control, so you just have to accept that and deal with it.
I didnt think about it at all in that time.
I hear youre making a film about the gay American artist Peter Hujar with your friend Ira Sachs.
Has that project wrapped already?
I am obsessed with him.
Im glad that someone is doing a film about his life.
Although its not a biopic in any way.
Is it more heightened, likeLimonov?
Its not even like this.
I think hes the most amazing artist.
He was an amazing, amazing guy, but also a difficult man.
Is there any parallel between how you played Limonov and how you played Peter?
Theyre very different guys, but I would say actually not dissimilar in the sense of….
But also he was troubled and went through an awful lot.
You understand more why people behave the way they dobecause theyre struggling.
Im excited to see it.
Before we go, Bottega Veneta dressed you for theLimonovpremiere.
Are you a confident dresser day-to-day?
Honestly, I know thats not what you want to hear!
Ill go through phases, I would say.
At the moment, Im in a throwing-on-whatevers-comfortable phase.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
Grooming:Nohelia Reyes; styling:Gareth Scourfield.
