Claes Bang: Who doesnt want to be a heartthrob? Its great – iNews

Claes Bang gets the giggles when I ask him what its like to become a heartthrob in your fifties. I dont really see myself as that, he says in Danish-accented English that somehow makes every syllable sound flirtatious.

I just go about my business, and if thats the case then its absolutely fine by me. Its not something Ive strived for or wanted. But who doesnt want to be a heartthrob? Thats great. Id love to be something more as well.

Bang was 50 years old when his life changed; he became an overnight international sensation at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for his role as a Stockholm-based art curator in the Palme dOr-winning The Square. In awarding the prestigious prize to the film, a searing satire of white liberal guilt, two jury members, the actor Will Smith and the French actress-director Agns Jaoui, couldnt help but mention how part of the attraction of the movie was its 64 man-mountain star.

Earlier this year, Bang famously made Dracula sexy in the three-part BBC/ Netflix TV series, in which his portrayal emphasised the Transylvanians twinkly-eyed side (I was dead nervous about it, because its taking on something that people know that well, that is so iconic, and everybody has their own opinion of what Dracula should be like. But it seems to have gone down well, he says, modestly.) Now in his new film, The Burnt Orange Heresy he plays an arts journalist, and yet another charming sinner. Is that now his type?

I was dead nervous about it, because its taking on something that is so iconic, and everybody has their own opinion of what Dracula should be like

I can totally see what you mean, he says. Dracula has a sort of awareness that hes on the flipside. Then, when I read The Burnt Orange Heresy script, I was like, what is this? Is this the continued story of what happened to the guy in The Square? I mean, Christian in The Square loses his job in a big museum and this guy, James, has just lost his job in a big museum.

Giuseppe Capotondis art-world drama opens with James, a failed artist-turned-critic, now bent on revenge, delivering a lecture in Milan. In it, he makes the case for the importance of critics in shaping the value of work by revealing that the painting he has been waxing lyrical about is a fake. Its a grand opening.

So, what does Bang think about the power of the critic? Why would critics still be there if there was no place for them? he says. Its great when criticism works well, but when it just becomes nasty, you feel exposed. Criticism works best when it tries to relate art to what is going on in the world as a whole.

I get devastated about bad reviews, he admits. I also get far too excited and over-the-moon about good reviews, and thats not a good thing either. So, I try not to read them. I have my people screen them, and if they have ones they think are alright, then I will.

His aversion to reviews began when he realised the influence that they were having on him. He recalls reading some first night theatre reviews and, I actually found myself sort of trying to change the performance. That was the worst idea ever. You definitely shouldnt say bye to what youve agreed with the director and the other actors and adjust your own thing, according to what the reviews say.

Just before James lecture ends, a beautiful woman, Berenice Hollis, played by Elizabeth Debicki enters the room and quickly seduces him, because this is in the land of la dolce vita. Soon they embark on an adventure that involves a con, meeting highfalutin art-world characters played by Donald Sutherland and Mick Jagger, along the way.

I thought I might faint when I met Mick Jagger. He is just the sweetest guy

Bang recalls that he tried not to crumble under the size of the Rolling Stones frontmans superstardom. I remember thinking that they would probably need to sit me down, or Id need to hold onto something because I thought I might faint.

In the event their meeting was less dramatic. I was on the phone talking and when I put the phone down, he was right there. I said, Hey well, its great that youre here man, I want to talk about the scene tomorrow. He is just the sweetest guy. The weird thing was that every time he came on set, he just spread this vibe that put everybody in a good mood.

Bang was born in Denmarks third city, Odense, but when his parents divorced when he was young, he went to live with his father in the tiny town of Haarby, which has a population of 2000. There, sport mainly football, badminton and swimming were all he could do for entertainment. He fell in love with acting later, during a school production of Hair and then went to the prestigious Danish National School of Performing Arts.

When he failed to land parts in major Danish television series, he concentrated on his side projects, which include a one-man theatre show, The Evil, by Jan Guillou, that hes been performing every year since 2002 in an effort to ensure he always spends some time on stage. Hes also a part-time New Romantic under his electronic synthpop moniker This is Not America. He borrowed the name from Bowie after hearing a DJ complain about actors who think theyre rock musicians.

Whenever he is away from Lis, his stylist wife of 10 years, he always takes his computers. So, if Ive got waiting time, Im just moving bits and bobs of my music around. He loves British bands like Yazoo, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys. I think there is always an age where you start listening to music that shapes you for the rest of your life. For me it was the sort of end of punk and into the whole new romantic synthpop shit where my musical persona was set.

Bang is currently in Belfast with his guitar where he is playing a Viking in Robert Eggerss new film, The Northmen, a bloody adaptation of Hamlet set in 10th- century Iceland and co-starring Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard. He is sporting a healthy beard for the role and has been working out a lot. Theres a big fight scene, bare-chested that they wanted me to look a bit more Viking-ish.

Production of The Northmen was suspended in March because of the pandemic. Now shooting has recommenced under pandemic rules and Bang hates it. I cant think of one positive thing to say about this COVID shit. Its just restriction, victims, lockdown and bullshit. Its weird going to work. All the people Im working with, Id probably walk past them in the street, because everybodys in face masks and visors. I like the social aspect of work and Im miserable about this, I got to say.

Of course, hes writing songs about his emotions. Ive released a ton of shit this year. But the songs about COVID, Im actually writing them now that whole feeling of being incarcerated.

The Burnt Orange Heresy is in cinemas from 30 October

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Claes Bang: Who doesnt want to be a heartthrob? Its great - iNews