After winning Best Supporting Actor at the BAFTAs for his performance in Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr. joked that Christopher Nolan suggested an “understated approach” for the role of Lewis Strauss as a “last-ditch effort to perhaps resurrect my dwindling credibility.”
As reported by Variety, Downey Jr. spoke those words as part of his speech that was very much a reflection on his career alongside a thank you to “that dude” named Christopher Nolan.
Robert Downey Jr. repasa su los altibajos de su carrera en poco más de treinta segundos y agradece a Christopher Nolan que lo empujara a recuperar su credibilidad como actor. Discursos que ganan un #Oscar #Oppenheimer #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/1OcHSmuFVV
— For Your Consideration (@FYC_Oscar) February 18, 2024
“When I was 15, I wanted to be Peter O’Toole,” Downey Jr. said. “When I was 25, I worked for Richard Attenbourgh and Anthony Hopkins. When I was 35, I finally understood why Dickie thought Tony would be a better role model for me than Peter,” Downey Jr. said. “When I was 42, I did two films for Guy Ritchie and learned how to make big Hollywood movies with a civil British flare. I then played a guy named Tony in the MCU for about 12 years.”
“And then recently, that dude Chris Nolan suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last-ditch effort to perhaps resurrect my dwindling credibility. So I share this with my fellow nominees, this has been an exceptional year.”
The suggestion clearly worked as Downey has already racked up a Golden Globe win and was nominated for an Oscar. In our Oppenheimer review, we echoed the praise by saying Nolan and the movie drew a “layered and explosive performance out of Downey like no other film of the past 20 years.”
For more, check out Downey Jr.’s comments on how he once met for a role in Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and how he thinks some of his best acting “went a little unnoticed” because of the superhero genre.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
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