Willem Dafoe says imitative biopics and ‘needy’ actors repel him

Willem Dafoe attends the UK gala screening of Poor Things (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Willem Dafoe has said biopics that “try to do an imitation” and actors that are “too needy” repel him.

The 68-year-old US actor, who has starred in films including Spider-Man (2002) and The Lighthouse (2019), discussed what it was like to play a character part-inspired by US journalist Hunter S Thompson in 2023 film Gonzo Girl.