William H. Macy on working with Philip Seymour Hoffman

It’s been eight years since then Philip Seymour HoffmanHis death is tragic, but the Oscar-winner continues to live on through his films and the memories of his peers. In a new interview with Eaglefor him “dance nights“Share the star William H. Messi Reflected on Hoffman’s brilliance as an actor and the demons that have haunted him throughout his life.

“He was better than us. He was never bad,” Messi said of Hoffman. “And I don’t know if it was just looking back, but now I see he was in pain. I think the weight of the living was heavier on an elephant than on the others.”

Macy recalls that the two actors once got into a discussion about one of the current favorite topics in Hollywood – the manner of acting. And while they disagreed about the right approach, the conversation helped Missy to understand just how sensitive Hoffman was.

“We were on a committee together, I think, at Sundance with ‘State and Main,’ and somebody asked about getting ready,” Macy said. “I don’t do a lot of preparation, everything I need is in the script. The character is a trick we play on the audience – you don’t have to live the character. It’s not acting, it’s mental illness. And Phil disagreed. “No, I think there are things you can do,” he said. to enter the world. Whatever happens, you have to find it in yourself, and I think you have to immerse yourself in this world. We were going back and forth, it was a fun conversation, and then I suddenly realized, “What should I say to him?” I said, “Everything you do is great all the time,” and he said, “Thank you, and I think you do too, no matter what you say.” But it was a small window into how deeply he felt about things.”

Even 25 years after they co-screened “Boogie Nights,” Macy still finds himself pondering Hoffman’s captivating performance in Paul Thomas Anderson.

“I think of him in ‘Boogie Nights’ when he shows up in those tiny little clothes and holds the holster near his chest and chews on the pencil when he’s trying to court Dirk Diggler — it’s heartbreaking,” Macy said. “And I’ve never seen him do that character again. From that moment on, he’s played much stronger characters. And I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do.”

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