We like to think of the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier,...

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

We like to think of the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy premiere at the 2011 Venice Film Festival as the event where Benedict made the transition from in-demand actor to international film star. The enormous attention focused on that illustrious cast, and on him in particular, was gratifying on so many levels — and to us, a tacit recognition that he had indeed arrived at the industry’s “big table” of talent.

Here’s one of our favourite moments from that exciting time — the group news conference before the premiere itself. From 2:38, he delves eloquently into the work he did to understand the underlying psychology of the world of the Circus, and the often all-too-high price that people — most especially his own character, the luckless Peter Guillam — pay to live and work in it:

“It’s quite loveless; the sacrifice means you’re on your own, you’re alienated — and all you’re left with is the trust of your colleagues and whatever morality is driving your work as a character, in that landscape. I think … uhm … there are parallels in life but I think specifically for this film, it’s beautifully drawn out by Peter’s script, an adaptation of a masterpiece of back story for an actor in the form of the novel. So I really draw on that, and obviously conversations with Tomas (Alfredson, the director) and try to carve out some kind of a back history as well from the book and beyond for my character as well — to try and understand why there was that loyalty in place to Smiley for my character Peter Guillam to make those sacrifices.

And I think what’s brought out beautifully in the film throughout, in every quarter, in every character’s arc in general through the story is that, is the sacrifice — the level of personal sacrifice. And I have it on very good authority that we touched nerves that are quite true to the lives of those involved in that world.”