Willem Dafoe became a “gentleman farmer” during the Hollywood actors’ strike.
The 68-year-old “Platoon” star was out of work for about four months last year when the SAG-AFTRA actors union went on strike over pay and conditions, but Dafoe is using his downtime to focus on farming and grooming. He revealed that he had done so. He raises animals and grows vegetables at his mansion in Italy.
He told the Guardian: “I loved working, and I’ve been working longer than I’ve ever loved working. I don’t really know how much to say about this. Basically, I’d say I was a gentleman farmer.” . [I have] lots of animals [and a vegetable garden] …
“I’m basically a vegetarian, so I’m just trying to have fun with them and give them a good life, which is a little bit naive.”
Defoe and his wife Giada Colagrande raise chickens and turkeys, as well as goats and sheep, but admit they have a special relationship with alpacas.
The actor added about his zoo: [alpaca] is very distinctive. Some sheep and goats are familiar, some have names that are very memorable, and some are just plain sheep and goats.
“But with every alpaca, we have a special relationship and know their personality.”
He went on to say: “When I wake up, I get to work. My day is dedicated to doing things and taking care of things. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. What can I say? Is that okay?”
Defoe also explained why he doesn’t like to talk much about his farm, admitting that he worries others might find him boring.
“I remember one of the first movies I did,” he told the magazine. [1980’s ‘Heaven’s Gate’]. I had never acted in a studio or Hollywood movie before. I was used to being with the downtown New York crowd in a time of great affluence.
“When I went on set, I expected everyone to be talking about poetry and movies and philosophy, and everyone was talking about their dogs and horses and farms, and I thought, oh, this is annoying. And now I thought, ‘I’m one of them. ”
