Christoph Waltz’s ‘Spectre’ role was written especially for him.
The Austrian actor plays the villain, Frank Oberhauser, in the forthcoming James Bond movie but didn’t have to audition for the coveted role because director Sam Mendes knew he wanted him for the part.
He said: "This time I didn’t have to audition. For ‘Spectre’ they already had me in mind.
"In a way, yes [they wrote it for me]. Let’s say it was tweaked in my direction."
The 58-year-old star went on to compare the franchise to puppet show ‘Punch and Judy’ and insisted the project will be "artistically fulfilling" for him.
He said: "A James Bond film can be artistically fulfilling. Absolutely it can. It can be complex and it can be interesting. I consider Bond movies to be an extension of popular theatre, a kind of modern mythology. You see the same sort of action in ‘Punch and Judy’, or in the folk theatre of various cultures, like Grand Guignol."
Though the fiercely-private actor acknowledges such a high-profile role will only draw more attention to him, he is hopeful that it will provide greater benefits.
He told GQ magazine: "This film might help get other projects green-lit. And I prefer working to walking down the Kings Road any time."
Christoph Waltz didn’t audition for Spectre
