In an interview with Wild Card, the actor described the pleasure he takes in household tasks, tending his flock and learning from the people around him.
Willem Dafoe described a life away from film sets: at his rural home in Italy, he enjoys washing dishes and putting his animals to bed at night. In an interview with NPR’s Wild Card with Rachel Martin, the 71-year-old actor said he prefers simple tasks to professional vanity and Hollywood glamour.
“I’m never happier than when I’m washing the dishes and then putting the animals to bed,” Dafoe said. He described bringing the animals into their enclosure at night to protect them from predators. One of his favorite moments is when 35 goats and sheep run toward him, waiting for him to open the door.
The actor said he still has much to learn about farm life and relies on local people’s advice before trying things himself. He said living in the countryside had increased his respect for the work of others and helped him remain humble. He connected that attitude to his experience with the experimental theater group The Wooster Group, where teamwork and putting ego aside were important.
Dafoe also reflected on fame and recognition in connection with the film Late Fame (2025). He plays former poet Ed Saxberger, who spends decades working modestly at a New York post office after publishing a single collection. “We all crave attention. We all crave validation,” the actor said.