Iceland review - 2013, Qupperneq 21

ICELAND REVIEW 19
ART
of another Hallgrímur Helgason adaptation, Baltasar Kormákur’s
101 Reykjavík] who leaped fully-grown from Zeus’s head—I’m
not that kind of actor. It took time for me to develop my skills
and I’m grateful for the patience that I’ve been shown. It’s not a
given.”
Director Marteinn Þórsson of Stormland placing his bets on
Darri apparently paid off, as he took home the Edda, the Icelandic
Film and Television Award, for Best Actor in 2011. “I was so ner-
vous that I forgot to thank the director and the producer. What
a mess-up. I still feel bad about that. I’ve thanked them in private
but I’m waiting to win the award again so that I can thank them
in public and make up for it,” he jokes. “But that doesn’t happen
every day.”
SHooTing wiTH THe STarS
Being a founding member of the award-winning innovative the-
ater collective vesturport, Darri has taken part in various overseas
productions. vesturport’s acrobatic take on Shakespeare’s Romeo
and Juliet from 2002, directed by Gísli Örn Garðarsson, where
Darri played Juliet’s nurse, has been staged at The Playhouse in
London’s West End. In 2011, Darri played Marion’s goofy accom-
plice in Gísli’s staging of The Heart of Robin Hood at the Royal
Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Darri has also caught the eye of Hollywood big shots. These
include Ben Stiller, who wanted him for a supporting role in his
remake of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, partly filmed in Iceland
in 2012, set to premiere late this year.
Stiller actively tweeted about his experiences in the country
and praised Darri’s performance, calling him, “One of the best
actors in Iceland.” Darri modestly dismisses Stiller’s opinion of
his acting. “He just liked the country and nation so much.
And he wasn’t the only one. I believe foreign filmmakers were
generally happy with their experiences in Iceland last summer.”
Darri cannot comment on his role in The Secret Life of Walter
Mitty—“the only thing I can say is that it was a lot of fun”—but
judging by the picture Stiller posted of him on Twitter, screaming
in the pilot’s seat of a helicopter, holding a drill with a wild glint in
his eyes, it was likely also an exciting one.
Lure oF HoLLywooD anD King Lear
Next up for Darri is playing Lennie in Reykjavík City Theater’s
staging of John Streinbeck’s Of Mice and Men “I’m very much look-
ing forward to it; it’s such a beautiful story,” says Darri. XL, another
film by Marteinn Þórsson where Darri plays the lead—an alcoholic
parliamentarian—premiered in January 2013 and the group behind
that film is now working on a new project.
Darri holding dual citizenship—he was born in New Britain,
Connecticut in 1973—means that he doesn’t need a special permit
to participate in U.S. projects. When asked whether his ambitions
might lead him to Hollywood, Darri responds, “I would go there
for the right part but not necessarily move there. Artistically, I have
all the motivation I need in Iceland. But I like to keep my options
open.”
Darri balances acting for the silver screen with performing in
plays but cannot decide whether he prefers movies or the theater.
“It’s just different. It’s like saying you either like ballads or you
don’t. It depends on the story, the subject matter. And in motion
pictures a different technique is applied.”
Either way, Darri’s roles have been diverse: Funny, serious,
dramatic and tragic. “It’s vital to try new things, to push one’s
boundaries,” he states. As to whether he has a dream part,
Darri first says “no,” then reveals, “I’ve always wanted to play
King Lear.” 
“We have often covered
the country romance but
not given seamanship its
fair share and faced this
part of our heritage.”