Stellan Skarsgård recently offered a heartfelt look back at his collaboration with the iconic Robin Williams during the production of the critically acclaimed film "Good Will Hunting." Skarsgård portrayed Gerald Lambeau, an MIT professor, while Williams took on the role of Sean Maguire, the therapist for the brilliant protagonist. Their on-screen dynamic, deeply rooted in mentorship and intellectual sparring, mirrored a fascinating off-screen contrast in Williams' personality, as revealed by Skarsgård. Williams was remembered as both a quiet, charming presence in private and a driven performer who felt a constant urge to entertain in public settings.
During a recent Q&A session that followed a special screening of the 1997 drama in Los Angeles, Stellan Skarsgård captivated the audience with his recollections of Robin Williams. He emphasized that in one-on-one interactions, Williams exuded a serene and affable demeanor, capable of engaging in profound discussions on various topics. However, Skarsgård observed a notable transformation when more people were present. He speculated that this shift, where Williams felt compelled to be amusing, might have stemmed from a deeply ingrained coping mechanism developed during his formative years.
Gus Van Sant, the director of "Good Will Hunting" and moderator of the event, corroborated aspects of Skarsgård's observations, highlighting Williams' meticulous approach to his craft. Van Sant recalled Williams' frequent requests for additional takes for almost every scene. This wasn't merely about perfecting a performance, but about exploring a spectrum of emotional and comedic nuances. Williams would suggest attempting a rapid, then a deliberate, a joyous, a melancholic, a humorous, and a serious version of the same scene, showcasing his extraordinary range and dedication to his characters.
Skarsgård further elaborated on Williams' compulsion to generate humor. He explained that if an idea for a joke or a witty remark came to Williams, he simply "had to produce it and get it out of the body. He couldn't live with it inside." This urgent need for creative expression, coupled with his rapid mental processing, suggested to Skarsgård that Williams was operating with "three parallel brains working, and very fast." This intense creative energy, while challenging for his costars, ultimately enriched the film's narrative and Williams' performance.
The actor acknowledged the rigorous nature of working alongside Williams, particularly due to his improvisational brilliance and the diverse emotional textures he brought to each take. Skarsgård noted that these varied performances meant he and other cast members had to remain highly adaptable, constantly adjusting their own portrayals to match Williams' dynamic interpretations. He praised Van Sant and the film's editing team for their remarkable skill in weaving these disparate takes into a cohesive and tonally balanced final product. Skarsgård remarked that with such rich and diverse material, the role could have been molded into either a purely comedic or a deeply melancholic character, underscoring the editorial team's masterful decision-making.
Reflecting on his character, Professor Gerald Lambeau, an MIT mathematics genius, Skarsgård admitted his personal struggle with the advanced mathematical concepts presented in the script. Despite portraying a brilliant academic, he openly confessed that he did not comprehend the complex subjects and made no attempt to do so, acknowledging they were far beyond his own understanding. To maintain authenticity, the production enlisted real-life mathematician John Mighton, who not only coached Skarsgård through the intricate jargon but also made an appearance in the film as Gerald's assistant, Tom. Skarsgård highlighted Mighton's crucial role in ensuring the scientific explanations sounded credible, even if the actors themselves didn't fully grasp them, emphasizing that the focus was on delivering the lines convincingly.