Danny DeVito has nothing but fond memories of playing The Penguin in Tim Burton’s 1992 film Batman Returns.
Now 80, the actor recently shared how much he loved diving into the role of Oswald Cobblepot, a character that gave him a chance to go big and fully embrace the movie’s theatrical flair.
“I loved it because it gave you a freedom that burst out,” DeVito told Variety, looking back on the experience with clear affection. For him, working with Tim Burton was a major highlight. “You can go off the rails with something,” he said, referencing the film’s bold, operatic style. “The operatic element of Batman Returns was my favorite thing about it-the music and sets and the whole thing. The Shakespeare of it-‘All the world’s a stage.’”
He was particularly taken with The Penguin’s twisted world: his minions, his underground lair, and of course, the real penguins. To prep for the role, DeVito actually visited the San Diego Zoo where he got up close with king penguins, giving him a deeper feel for the character’s vibe.
One of the more demanding aspects of the role was the makeup. DeVito recalled spending up to six hours in the chair each morning at the start of filming. Eventually, they got it down to about three and a half hours. “I was there every day for 66 days,” he said. “In make-up, cooking pasta in the afternoon, having meals, making meatballs.”
That wasn’t a joke either. DeVito got so comfortable on set that he turned his trailer into a kitchen. “I’m in the middle of a scene in the Penguin’s lair,” he remembered, “and this wonderful guy who worked with me, I [call] him over. He goes, ‘What is it, Dan?’ And I said, ‘Stir the sauce.’”
He also spoke warmly about his co-stars, especially Michelle Pfeiffer, who played Catwoman. “She was a goddess,” he said. “If I knew she was going to be in a scene that day … I got all flushed. Put extra makeup on-‘Give me another pound of makeup.’ It was very difficult.”
Despite the long hours and heavy prosthetics, DeVito looks back on Batman Returns as one of the most fun roles of his career. He’s even open to doing it all again-under one condition. “If Tim Burton was directing it, I’d be there in a second,” he told ScreenRant. “Oswald Cobblepot is my favorite. I had a good time. It’s operatic. I like every once in a while going big, and so I’d do that in a second.”
Whether or not The Penguin ever waddles back to the big screen, DeVito’s take on the character remains one of the most iconic villain performances in any superhero movie.
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