Joaquin Phoenix recently opened up about his widely discussed 2009 interview with David Letterman during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on July 15. The actor, known for his role as the Joker, shared candid insights about the unusual experience more than 16 years after it happened.
Phoenix revealed that he initially chose to attend the pre-interview in character, which he later recognized as a somewhat absurd decision.
“When I went on David’s show, I initially did the pre-interview in character, and I realized it was a bit ridiculous,” he told Colbert.
Following this realization, Phoenix contacted the show’s producers to clarify his intentions:
“I told them, ‘This is what I’m doing. I’m coming out here fully committed, and I want Dave to really challenge me. I want it to be intense and dangerous.’”
His aim was to provoke a genuine reaction and gauge how he would respond to the tension on air.
“That was my intention — I wanted to see how it would play out and keep things under wraps unless absolutely necessary,” he explained.
Despite his bold approach, Phoenix admitted that the interview was far from a positive experience.
“It was a terrible experience—very uncomfortable. I regret doing it and I won’t ever do anything like that again. I’m truly sorry,” he confessed.
Reflecting on the overall encounter, Phoenix described it as a complex mix of both accomplishment and personal discomfort:
“In some ways, it was a success, but it was also one of the most difficult nights of my life.”
