Andrew Garfield: “I needed to recalibrate, reassess and refill my own cup”

As a seasoned actor with a career spanning over two decades, Andrew Garfield has seen and experienced the highs and lows of Hollywood. From his humble beginnings at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama to gracing the stage for the National Theatre and battling Daleks on Doctor Who, he has come a long way since his breakthrough role in Lions for Lambs in 2007.

His versatility as an actor is undeniable, with roles ranging from a disillusioned student to Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, and even a conscientious objector. Yet, he has rarely been cast in romances, which might come as a surprise to some given his charming on-screen presence. However, after taking a break to recalibrate and refill his own cup, he seems ready to take on new challenges with renewed energy and inspiration.

What sets Garfield apart is not just his acting prowess but also his ability to collaborate with auteur directors like Robert Redford, Brady Corbet, and Luca Guadagnino. He values authentic storytelling above all else, as evidenced by his recent work on the campus-set thriller After the Hunt, directed by fellow Marrakech juror Guadagnino.

In a world where superhero movies dominate the box office, Garfield remains open to the genre but is focused on making things that feel personal and resonant. His upcoming project with Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist,” is already being hailed as a masterpiece, and it’s easy to see why. After all, when it comes to storytelling, Garfield isn’t just an actor – he’s a craftsman who pours his heart and soul into every role he takes on.

On a lighter note, if you ever find yourself in the presence of Andrew Garfield, don’t be surprised if he starts talking about his love for windows. After all, sometimes the best ideas come when we take a moment to sit down and stare out one. Just make sure you don’t accidentally step through it – that could be a whole other story!

Andrew Garfield is embarking on a rejuvenating trip, as you might put it. When our conversation takes place on a pleasant afternoon, this renowned actor is participating in the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Yesterday, he was seen on the red carpet alongside Bollywood star Shraddha Kapoor, whom he had recently met at the festival, and he appears enchanted by this historically significant Middle Eastern city. “It’s a truly enchanting place,” he shares. “Last night, we dined under the stars on a rooftop in the old town. I feel incredibly welcomed here.

Just prior to that, Garfield had found himself in North Africa, sitting on the panel for the Marrakesh International Film Festival in Morocco. As he recounts, “I was viewing two films daily alongside these exceptional filmmakers as part of the jury.” Among them were Luca Guadagnino, director of Challengers and president of the jury, Ali Abbasi, Iranian movie maker behind the recent Donald Trump film The Apprentice, and Zoya Akhtar from India. “It was truly inspiring,” he says, “and a reminder of the countless stories waiting to be shared.

41-year-old Andrew Garfield returns with a heartbreaking romantic tale titled “We Live in Time.” In this movie, he portrays Tobias, a divorced individual who develops feelings for a chef named Almut, played by Florence Pugh. As Garfield explains, “This story revolves around loss. It’s about the price one pays for loving someone and the bravery to pursue a life filled with depth and purpose, even if it’s a humble existence. It’s an incredibly beautiful love story that seems to resonate with everyone, as it portrays a universal love between two ordinary people.

The movie is helmed by John Crowley, who had previously worked with Garfield on Boy A – a 2007 drama that portrayed a violent crime-ridden life of a youngster and earned Garfield a television BAFTA. Despite the contrasting themes, Boy A was intense and gritty, whereas We Live in Time is comforting and emotional. Since its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, it has been garnering admiration for its raw authenticity.

Garfield explains that Tobias seemed appealing to him because he didn’t openly display his emotions. He believes that if one behaves well, keeps feelings under control, stays focused, and maintains a low profile, rewards will follow. However, Almut unexpectedly collides with him, causing a massive upheaval in his life, enlightening his mind, awakening his heart, to the extent that he finds himself on the verge of love while simply watching her crack eggs.

Indeed, authentic love often faces bumps along the way, as demonstrated in the movie “We Live in Time”. Although the storyline presents a challenging, enigmatic structure, it houses a remarkable performance by Florence Pugh, a British actress known for films like Dune: Part Two and Oppenheimer. Garfield praises her acting abilities, stating, “Florence is a born talent, an innately skilled actor, who, once set in motion, can truly shine.” He adds, “I feel incredibly fortunate to work with someone I can really connect with; it makes the job all the more enjoyable.

Is We Live in Time a reaction to a dearth of romantic dramas in cinemas these days?

Garfield muses, after some contemplation, that he’s unsure about the subject. However, he suspects that looking back, it might have been overlooked, but it wasn’t initially considered. He believes that currently, there seems to be a scarcity of love in movies. This is also noticeable in our culture at large, where there appears to be less genuine warmth and authentic connections. I’m not certain if the same is true here, but in Western societies, there seems to be less sincerity and a greater sense of division and disconnection.

Garfield, who was born in Los Angeles with his father being from California and mother from Essex, embodies an interesting blend of American enthusiasm and British reserve. At the tender age of three, he was relocated to England and spent his childhood in Surrey. Acting seemed to be his calling, and he joined London’s Central School of Speech and Drama upon matriculating in 2004. Soon after graduation, he found himself performing on stage for the National Theatre and fighting off Daleks in a few Doctor Who episodes.

Read more Big RT Interviews:

Mark Gatiss on Doctor Who, Sherlock and how Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without any ghosts
Wallace & Gromit creator on bringing characters back for iconic Christmas Day return

His significant achievement occurred in 2007 when he portrayed a disenchanted student in Robert Redford’s Lions for Lambs, marking him as a true contender since then. Throughout his career, he has taken on diverse roles such as a Jesuit priest (Silence), Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin (The Social Network), and a conscientious objector (Hacksaw Ridge). However, Garfield’s roles in romances have been relatively scarce. Was this a role he was actively seeking? “I wasn’t searching for anything,” he casually says. “I was looking to take a break and gaze out the window. And I did. For a while.

Can it be surprising that all I desired was to gaze out the window? Indeed, everything seemed to be shifting around me, and I felt compelled to witness this transformation firsthand. Moreover, I had given so much energy to the changes that I needed a pause, a chance to recalibrate my thoughts, reassess my situation, and refill my personal reservoir. Only then could I return to my tasks with renewed vigor.

After taking some time off, he found that his passion for acting and storytelling had been revitalized when he returned to the set. He said, “I’ve got a fresh burst of energy now! It’s like, ‘Oh, yes! This is what I love!’ I think the break allowed me to recharge and feel more inspired.

More recently, Garfield finished working on the campus-based thriller titled After the Hunt, alongside Julia Roberts. This project is helmed by Guadagnino, who was a judge at Marrakech along with Garfield and is known for launching Timothée Chalamet’s career through Call Me by Your Name. Regarding the director, Garfield shares, “He’s an artist who deeply cherishes creating from within himself, without worrying about anything else. His productivity is truly inspiring to me.

Garfield isn’t opposed to the world of superhero movies that have dominated cinemas for the past two decades, but he seems determined to collaborate with independent film directors. One director he mentions is his friend Brady Corbet, whose film “The Brutalist” is a strong contender for awards this year. Garfield explains, “I think what I’m really after are projects that feel deeply personal, yet can take on any form or format. I’m not so worried about the process or the method; I care about the emotion. When I see something like Brady’s work, I know immediately, ‘That’s the feeling.’ No matter the result, it’s always the emotion that counts.

2025-01-01 13:11

Read More