John Malkovich Confesses He ‘Didn’t Like’ Doing Movies at First at Telluride Honors: ‘Later, I Fell in Love’

The first day of the Telluride Film Festival commenced with the world premiere of the acclaimed film "Wild Horse Nine," written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The event set the tone for an eventful week ahead for its star, John Malkovich, a seasoned actor known for his unique characters and nuanced delivery. Upon receiving the Golden Medallion, one of the four special Telluride awards, Malkovich was met with a standing ovation.

The 72-year-old actor, who has perfected the art of scaring audiences with just one line, shared a humorous anecdote about arriving seven hours late to shoot a scene in "The Glass Menagerie" with director Paul Newman. Newman's kind and gracious demeanor towards the incident impressed Malkovich, who praised Newman's professionalism.

Malkovich began his career on stage at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, but initially found filmmaking less appealing than the stage. However, he later developed a deep appreciation for cinema's technical elements. During the Telluride Film Festival, Malkovich shared a light-hearted moment with director Stephen Frears, who famously asked Malkovich, "Why are you never good in the cinema?"

The actor responded, "Because I don't control it," to laughter in the Werner Herzog Theater. The tribute also featured a discussion about Malkovich's iconic role in "Being John Malkovich," where he expressed that he had initially intended to direct and produce the film but ultimately chose director Spike Jonze. Malkovich praised everyone involved in his cinematic triumph, including director Martin McDonagh, actors Steve Buscemi and Mariana de Girólamo, and producer Graham Broadbent.

"Wild Horse Nine" will be screened at Telluride and will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, with a U.S. release by Searchlight Pictures on November 6.