Conference Call Interview With Billy Bob Thornton On Fargo

What do you think is the meaning of Malvo’s journey?

Billy Bob Thornton: The meaning of Malvo’s journey. I think Malvo in a way…..he’s more like God and the devil. I think it’s almost as if whether he knows it or not, Malvo is there to facilitate people’s true selves. It’s like he brings out in people who they really are. He’s very impatient with people who are stupid or if they’re ridiculous. Malvo likes to get to the root of what everything is about and sometimes he has to mess with people in order to do that. But I think Malvo symbolizes that sort of spirit in the world that ultimately brings to the surface who people really are, and I think that’s probably the best way I could put it.

When an actor plays a very dark role or there are dark forces at work, is there any point at which you really have to protect yourself from it?

Billy Bob Thornton: I don’t know. I think it depends on the actor and I think it depends on how fragile that actor’s constitution is. I’ve never had a real problem with it I don’t think. I’m pretty able to just go home and have an omelet. I’m not really the type to let it permeate my life.  For the most part I don’t let it creep into my regular life. It was really interesting playing a character like this who had no conscience, though. I’ve never done that. When I played odd characters or whatever, they usually had their softer side, but Malvo is pretty straight ahead. He doesn’t, as I say he just kicks a** and takes names. He’s not worried about the consequences.

You got to have a few different disguises with Malvo during the show, like Frank Peterson and dentist Mike. Did you have a favorite persona to get into on the show?

Billy Bob Thornton: The thing is is at the end of the day, he was still Malvo and he knew who he was. No matter what he was pretending to be, it was just part of a way to—it was like camouflage for an animal in the forest really, so I tried not to think about it too much. But I have to say, playing Frank Peterson I think gave me a particular thrill, just because I was around all those other actors, who were doing these type of characters and I was thinking I wish I could do one of those just one day. So I was thrilled when I found out I got to do it even for a minute there, so I would say, yes, Frank Peterson really thrilled me.

But I also liked playing the dentist because of my interaction with Stephen Root. I just thought that was a funny little relationship and also going from that character into a guy who can just clean out an elevator instantly after working on teeth.

One of the lines that really stuck out with me through the course of the show is the line Malvo says to Gus about shade the green and it comes full circle in the finale. Everybody wants to survive and people will do sinister things to survive. Can you relate to that line or idea at all in your career or otherwise?

Billy Bob Thornton: It’s certainly hard to survive in Hollywood, so that’s one place where I’d probably put that as a practice. Also I grew up poor and in a rough way, so I think I’ve had to be a chameleon at some points in my life, both in my career and as a person. I always had a knack for if I’m hanging around English people, I think I probably get a little fancier. If I’m hanging out with the folks back home, it’s easier to fall in with that vibe. So I’ve always been very aware of who I need to be in a certain situation and it’ll get you out of a knifing sometimes. I’ll tell you that much.

The Malvo the character is very meticulous and economical in everything that he does. He just does enough to get by and not go out of his way, but he did have a little fun terrorizing those kids who moved into Lester’s old home. Do you want to talk a little bit about was that just for fun for Malvo, or was that on purpose?

Billy Bob Thornton: Malvo does have fun messing with people and more than messing with the kids, he was really messing with the father. I think Malvo was probably pretty pissed that he didn’t find Lester yet, so who’s the nearest person I can poke with a stick? It’s like Lester is not here, so you bought Lester’s house. You’re not the guy I wanted, but let me just leave you with this little tidbit. Malvo definitely likes to mess with people and I think particularly people that are too cheery. And that guy was just a little too friendly in the beginning and he thought he’d leave him a little something more serious to think about.