The charisma and ease with which Willem Dafoe continues to appear on screen never ceases to amaze. A star in countless films and, now more than ever, courted by filmmakers of every generation, the American star has garnered media attention not only through his remarkable performances but also thanks to his spontaneous, ironic, and ever-jovial personality, achieving growing notoriety and appreciation among cinephiles and casual audiences alike.

Among the latest tidbits, the actor has returned to the spotlight after user ZoëBLEU posted a video of him in a black evening gown on TikTok. The clip sparked an immediate reaction of enthusiasm among fans, racking up thousands of views in just a few hours. The video alludes, in particular, to Dafoe's recent appearance in the film "Gonzo Girl," alongside actresses Camila Morrone and Patricia Arquette. In no time, users flooded the feed with approving comments and messages of affection, calling the moment—among many others—"iconic" and "full of healthy energy."

A guest at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, the actor attended the premiere of "The Birthday Party," a film directed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez and based on the novel by Panos Karnezis, which, with a cynical and decadent tone, chronicles the degeneration of power within the family. In the 1970s, wealthy shipping magnate Marcos Timoleon spends his days on a private island in the Aegean Sea. For his daughter Sofia's birthday, he invites a group of friends and acquaintances to his sumptuous residence. Beyond the rituals and refined manners required by the occasion, the event will prove an opportunity to surface unresolved issues between parents and children.

In one scene in the film, Dafoe appears intent on exercising naked in the garden, showing off a physique that, at nearly seventy, certainly hasn't gone unnoticed. When asked about the matter, and once again highlighting his absolute dedication to his craft, he stated: "When I accept a role, I like to do everything myself. I don't want a stunt double, otherwise I'd break the pretense. I have to feel fully involved. I have to become that person, so using my body is part of my job, which is why I try to stay as fit as possible."

Regarding another scene in the film, in which he performs a dance, he clarified: "I'm not a dance expert, although I enjoy dancing, but I usually do it in private settings. But this is a film about the exercise of power; we wanted to recreate the atmosphere of this horrible party where the fate of my character's daughter is being decided. Hence the intensity of my dance, where I seem on the verge of losing my balance, teetering on the edge of an abyss. It's a metaphor for my condition as a millionaire forced to endure the pressure of the media, power, and money. My dance is a struggle to stay upright, to resist pressure."

Regarding the location, the actor revealed some background information, suggesting that the choices weren't random here either: "We tried to recreate the era and find the physical location to shoot it, but it wasn't easy because our story is set in the '70s and the locations change. Today, the world is global and everything is standardized. So it took us a couple of years to find the right place."

Finally, speaking about the characterization of the protagonist—a wealthy, power-hungry businessman who closely resembles figures such as Aristotle Onassis—both Dafoe and Jiménez confirmed that they were not inspired by any real people, while admitting in an allusive tone: "We didn't think of any particular model when creating the character of Marcos, but if he reminds you of someone, we're totally fine with it."

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