Viggo Mortensen has consistently charmed people with his powerhouse performances, tough charm and confident acting style. Apart from his acting, another aspect of his life has made people wonder about him.
Over the years, Mortensen has been spotted kissing one particular man as if it were a favorite pastime. As a result, there is now speculation and a common question: Could there be more to the story?
The actor himself has now come out to discuss the matter. You might find his thoughts very surprising…
With three Oscar nominations and his popular role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen, 66, speaks for himself. Yet, aside from the fights and the big-name movies, there’s another part of Mortensen — his decades-long relationship with a special person.
Born in Watertown, Mortensen’s family life was not like that of many others, since his father was Danish and his mother was American. He had lived in Venezuela, Denmark and Argentina when he was young, after which he and his family moved back to the U.S. He didn’t become famous instantly —when he finished college, he sold flowers and drove a truck in Denmark to make ends meet. I hadn’t dreamed of being an actress when I was young.
Footage from his first role in his first movie was cut out severely.
However, in 1982, when he was 24, he headed back to the U.S. to try out as an actor. His first film role in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) was never released, since all of his scenes were edited out. His determination led him to make a space for himself in the industry.
No matter what, he continued to build his career, acting in many films even though he never quite became a superstar. This all shifted in 1997 when he acted alongside Demi Moore in G.I. Jane.
G.I. Jane was the biggest project for Mortensen, with its huge $50 million budget. Despite the fact that the film did poorly at the box office and Demi Moore was heavily attacked for her performance, Mortensen did very well.
Many people praised his performance as Command Master Chief John James ‘Jack’ Urgayle.
After all the drama surrounding G.I. Jane, it seemed unlikely that Viggo Mortensen would star in one of cinema’s biggest hits. Only a few years after Slovak dropped out, he eventually appeared as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings movies and created magic on the big screen.
The greatest sword fighter among the characters in Lord of the Rings
It wasn’t enough for Mortensen to act as a warrior — he truly became one. The sword master herself referred to him as ”the best student I’ve ever had.” In fact, Mortensen regularly did his own stunts and accepted the accidents that came with them. Wasn’t it your two broken toes? Every part of what you do.)
And how much he loved horses? In Hidalgo (2004), he really performed his horseback stunts without assistance.
It was revealed on the Special Extended Edition DVD of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring that Mortensen was brought in as the new actor just before Stuart Townsend was set to play Aragorn. At first, he wasn’t sure if he wanted the role — until his son’s love for Tolkien’s stories swayed him.
He got fully into the role, so director Peter Jackson honestly called him Aragorn for nearly forty minutes and Mortensen did not realize it. Impressive how dedicated she seems.
What is a love story in Hollywood
Although Mortensen is widely known for his acting, what fans have been fascinated by for years is his warm relationship with director David Cronenberg off the screen.
Mortensen and Aragón exchanged their first greetings at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival during the celebration of The Lord of the Rings. They instantly had fun working together and decided they wanted to work as a team in the future.
It was A History of Violence (2005) that marked the start of this approach. It was only after meeting with director Cronenberg that Mortensen decided to join the project.
The movie became very popular and was considered one of the best films of the decade. They grew closer in their professional lives. He said, “I have never felt as aligned in understanding with a director as I am with David.”
This connection was romantic as well as artistic for them. After having a great year at the movies in 2006, the two men shared a tender, lasting kiss publicly at a press event in front of photographers. It was an event that told us a lot.
The kind of actor that I am
Their work together went on — with Eastern Promises (2007) and A Dangerous Method (2011) — making their link even stronger.
Viggo Mortensen stands out, according to Cronenberg, as someone who brings a leading man’s attention to supporting roles.
In 2014, they decided to make things even more interesting. In front of the Canadian Screen Awards attendees, Mortensen presented Cronenberg with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
With great respect, he introduced the director as “the finest director and the sanest man” I have met. Following the announcement, he leaned in and kissed the man, right in front of all the famous Hollywood stars.
There was a strong sense of excitement, a sign of how strongly they liked each other. Never afraid to speak his mind, Mortensen focused part of his speech on the film industry’s failure to appreciate Cronenberg’s talent. Even after four decades as a director, Cronenberg never received a nomination from the Academy Awards.
Despite praising him at times, mainstream movie people are reluctant to officially give him any special awards. Mortensen believes this is understandable because David doesn’t fit in with the rest.
Is Viggo Mortensen sexually attracted to men?
Since his and Bardem’s relationship is openly intimate, many people have wondered about Viggo Mortensen’s sexuality. When asked about being gay or straight, he quickly quipped: “People keep asking me about it.” I suppose it’s correct to say that I’m not completely straight.
The question arose when Mortensen was asked about the movie Falling which he wrote and acted in. In the movie, Oliver plays John, a gay man who must care for a father who is not only racist but also very homophobic.
Because Alexander Skarsgård seems heterosexual, many critics questioned whether it was okay for him to play the part of John.
His answer was, ”How can you guess what my life is like?” You’re acting as though I’m always attracted to the opposite sex. Perhaps, I do, perhaps I don’t. Really, you have nothing to do with it.”
I want the movie version of my story to succeed and I want John to be portrayed effectively. If I didn’t consider it worthwhile, I would never do it.
Whether at work or at home
This is noteworthy; David Cronenberg also plays a small part in Falling. This time, mothers were the ones looking after their children.
While shooting their scene, Viggo watched as David Cronenberg placed his gloved fingers closer to the lens. After Viggo noted too deep a perspective made the hand appear bigger than it should be, Cronenberg said, “Sure, I understand.”
For Mortensen, true love can’t be put in a box — it’s about making a connection. Also, what is his relationship with David Cronenberg like? Hollywood has seen many friendships, but few are as passionate, professional and striking as this.
We’re skilled specialists which means it’s possible for us to refuse things from each other. Should I suggest Viggo be in one of my roles and he shares in confidence that he’s unsure or doesn’t want it, he has to be able to refuse and I’m not going to be upset with him or think less of him all of a sudden. The same principle applies in the opposite way. If Viggo had something he wanted me to direct but I really wasn’t interested, I would have to decline. There is still professionalism behind the scenes despite all the “tomfoolery” we love.
Viggo Mortensen has a girlfriend.
Not much is known about Viggo Mortensen’s romantic history.
In 1986, while making the film Salvation!, he met singer Exene Cervenka and they married the following year. Not long after, in 1986, they had a son named Henry, who was cast as Viggo’s on-screen son in the movie Crimson Tide.
It’s also worth mentioning that Viggo gave Henry a supporting part in the film Falling. During another script workshop, Henry’s imitation of the upstate New York accent really made his father proud. To look more like a 1977 state trooper, he shaved his hair and sported a mustache.
They decided to end their relationship in 1992 and their divorce was official in 1997. Over the past few years, Viggo has been together with Spanish actress Ariadna Gil.
In 1972, David Cronenberg married Margaret Hindson when he was 28. They broke up in 1979 because of disagreements they experienced during their marriage and at work. Cronenberg and his wife had only one child together, their daughter Cassandra. From 1979 until her passing in 2017, his second wife was film editor Carolyn Zeifman.
