Becoming the Joker
In 2018, Phoenix’s streak of success continued: he played in four films released in 2018, some more successful than others, but all critically acclaimed. He played alongside his now-fiancee, Rooney Mara, in Mary Magdalene, and later he portrayed, once again, a war veteran suffering from PTSD, in the thriller You Were Never Really Here. Although Phoenix was praised for all his roles this year, it was in 2019 that he was back on the map as one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, with his unforgettable role as the notorious DC villain.
Although critics have been eyeing Phoenix for years for his ability to portray the most intense characters in Hollywood, the world-wide attention Joker has received exceeded everyone’s expectations. Phoenix outdid himself this time, perfecting the character of Arthur Fleck – the lonely, misunderstood individual who becomes a menacing villain. Phoenix is no stranger to portraying complex roles with heartbreaking stories, and so it seems as if he was the perfect fit for the part, and he didn’t disappoint.