interview by JANA LETONJA
Benjamin Walker is an acclaimed American actor whose career has moved seamlessly between Broadway, film, and television. From his Tony-nominated performance in All My Sons and memorable stage roles and films, he has built a remarkably varied body of work. He’s also known to audiences around the world as the legendary Elven king Gil-galad in Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a role he reprises in the show’s third season, premiering November 11. And next, he’ll also enter another very different world, starring as Peter Van Laar III in Netflix’s adaptation of the bestselling mystery The God of the Woods.
photography by CONNOR HARRIS
You’re returning as Gil-galad for season three of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. After living with this character for several years, what do you understand about him now that you didn’t when you first took the role?
I have a much better understanding of how much pressure he is under as the High King of the Elves. The Elves have an enormous responsibility, not only to protect Middle Earth from Sauron, but to unite Middle Earth, which is proving to be increasingly difficult. There really is no way to please everyone and make everyone safe. Truly, “heavy is the head that wears the crown.”
Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about where we find Gil-Galad emotionally in season three?
We find Gil-Galad exhausted I’m afraid. Where in the past, The High King has been a bastion of hope, time has passed between seasons and we know that the elves have been at war nearly the entire time. The fighting is taking its toll even on Gil-Galad.
Tolkien’s characters come with an extraordinary amount of history and a very passionate fan base. Do you find that mythology liberating as an actor, or can it sometimes feel like a responsibility you have to carry?
A responsibility I get to carry. The history is part of the joy of the job, in that, as prep we get to return to Tolkien’s text. And in terms of the fan base, no one puts more pressure on us than ourselves, as we are all part of that fanbase.
The scale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is enormous. Is there a moment when you walk onto one of those sets in costume and still think, “I can’t believe this is my job”?
Without being glib, every moment on set is hard to believe. Actually, it serves as a good barometer for our level of focus. If we ever feel like being on set is “just a job,” then it’s a good indicator that we need to focus and regroup. Luckily that hasn’t happened yet.
You’re also starring as Peter Van Laar III in Netflix’s adaptation of The God of the Woods. What was it about that story, and Peter in particular, that drew you in?
What drew me in was the book and Liz Moore and Liz Hannah. Both brilliant women as writers, directors, and show runners. Peter is a dark twisted character, but together we developed him into a complex character that helps propel the story forward. The material is particularly difficult but luckily we had the Liz’s as our shepherds.
The God of the Woods revolves around a wealthy family, buried secrets, and a disappearance. What makes Peter Van Laar III an interesting man to inhabit?
Peter III is interesting because there are so many layers to his trauma and the trauma that he passes down, but he is particularly unpredictable. The moment you think you understand him, there’s a twist in his behavior that makes you question everything.
Between September 5, The God of the Woods, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, you’ve recently inhabited three completely different worlds. Is that variety something you actively seek?
The variety is a luxury. I’m incredibly lucky to have the ability to hop from fantasy to drama, to ultra-realism to legend. The truth is though, my main guiding principle is who am I working with and will the job make me better. And, so far so good.
You also starred in Opening Night on the West End. What did returning to the stage give you that working in film and television doesn’t?
Opening Night was a unique production. Not only was it my first time on the West End, but our director Ivo Van Hove is notorious for his unorthodox way of working, namely, using live filming and an almost militant pared-back aesthetic. As I said in the previous question, I went into the job to learn and this one was no exception.
You’ve worked with directors and creators with very distinctive artistic visions, from Clint Eastwood and Ron Howard to Ivo van Hove. As an actor, how do you adapt to a director’s particular language while protecting your own instincts?
Ah, now we’re getting to the root of it. First and foremost, working just as hard as you are to protect your instincts. But one of my main guiding principles is “Can I learn a new way?” Every director works differently and part of the joy of the job is going on each particular ride. An actor is really a canvas for others, whether it’s prosthetic ears, wardrobe, or the text you must interpret. I really try and work with each director how they like to work. That way I come away from each job having new tools in my toolbox and the ones I already had have been sharpened.
Your performance as Chris Keller in All My Sons earned you a Tony nomination. What has stayed with you from playing Arthur Miller all these years later?
That play required endurance. It’ a monster of a part in a monster of a play. Luckily, I had an amazing cast around me, namely Annette Bening as my mother and Tracy Letts as my father, who also plays my father in The God of the Woods.
Is there a kind of character, genre, playwright, or director you still feel you’re waiting for the chance to tackle?
Again, my guiding principle is who you work with. As long as I keep looking for exciting voices and directors to steal from and learn from, I’ll be fine.
Finally, with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returning and The God of the Woods ahead, what are you most excited for audiences to discover in this next chapter of your work?
For the Tolkien fans, I’m exited for them to enjoy the next season, because especially if you know the books, you know we have some really exciting 2nd age ground to cover. And for The God of the Woods, I’m excited for people to see me working on something completely different to our work in Middle Earth.
