One of my favorite films in the last 10 years is Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” especially since he’s on the list of my all-time favorite directors. I can’t help but think that since it was such a wonderfully creative film, do you look back at that experience and say, “Man, that was one hell of a creative endeavor”?
Oh, yeah. Guillermo was one of my absolute favorite people I’ve ever worked with, and I had the opportunity recently … They honored him at MoMA [the Museum of Modern Art] in New York City, and they have a wonderful exhibit on his film, “Pinocchio,” that I highly recommend — I think it’s still up [on Netflix]. I got to sit across from him at his table, and he makes me so happy, even being around him and talking to him. He’s got so much joy and creativity, and he’s so damn smart. He’s a beautiful person.
I’m very, very proud of that film. That’s what I meant earlier. It’s really hard to single out one film. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a lot of films that are pretty distinctive, but that one’s definitely at the top of the list.
Well, you probably never in your life thought you were going to do a film with an amphibian man, which is one of Guillermo’s many brilliant character designs. What an awesome character that was.
Yeah, and here’s to Doug Jones. That guy is a saint. I don’t how he does it, what he has to put up with physically. That guy’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever met. He’s a great artist too.
“A Little White Lie” is playing in select theaters and is available on digital video and video on demand.
This interview was edited for clarity.