‘A lot of people don’t think I can act’: Wallace Shawn on Hollywood, therapy and speaking out on Palestine
At 82, the character actor is as frank and fired-up as ever with two hit stage shows and a summer blockbuster on the way. He’s embracing being odd, he says, even if everyone doesn’t quite get it
TL;DR
- Wallace Shawn, at 82, is actively engaged in theater with his new play 'What We Did Before Our Moth Days' and a restaging of his monologue 'The Fever.'
- Shawn expresses a feeling of being under-appreciated in Hollywood, believing many people do not recognize his acting capabilities beyond comedic or avuncular roles.
- His monologue 'The Fever' is a critical examination of the bourgeois class and their role as 'predators' contributing to global inequality and environmental issues.
- Shawn's latest play, 'Moth Days,' is inspired by personal family history and explores themes of grief and familial relationships.
- He discusses his political activism, including his membership in Jewish Voice for Peace and his support for Palestine, and has faced consequences for his outspokenness.
- Shawn prefers to keep his personal motivations private, likening his avoidance of therapy to his avoidance of psychedelic drugs, seeing it as a form of self-protection.
- Despite facing criticism, Shawn remains committed to his beliefs and continues to pursue diverse projects, including voice roles and biographical dramas.