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Entertainment November 4, 2016
Tilda Swinton may be playing the role of the Ancient One, but her off-screen persona truly deserves the title “Dr. Strange.” She has shared a home with her lover and her ex at the same time, tried to murder her younger brother and lived in a glass box – twice.
Rumors that she engaged in an open marriage with her ex-husband are unconfirmed, but she did live with both her former partner and her lover simultaneously. After her relationship ended with John Byrne – with whom she has two children – her new beau Sandro Kopp moved in for a few years. Though surprising to some, Swinton doesn’t view the living situation as obscure.
“It’s all quite boring really,” Swinton told Daily Mail. “The father of my children and I are good friends and I’m now in a very happy other relationship. And we’re all really good friends. It’s a very happy situation. Life doesn’t have to be complicated. You just have to have compassion with yourself and stop blaming yourself when things do get complicated.”
On a darker note, she attempted to kill her brother at age four – but was discovered saving his life instead. Swinton entered his nursery with the intent to murder the baby, she told The Telegraph. However, she was distracted by ribbons in his mouth and decided to remove them first. When her family found her committing this heroic deed, a story was born that she upheld for years.
While celebrities’ coveted private lives are often kept under wraps, Swinton opened herself up to psychical scrutiny in a 2013 MoMA art exhibit where she slept in a glass box. And this wasn’t the first time – she debuted her performance piece, titled “The Maybe,” back in 1995. The intention behind her artistic nap was left intentionally vague and garnered mixed emotions among onlookers.
Swinton also carries this mysterious – and sometimes troubling – persona on-screen. She has starred in a collection of cryptic films, including dramatic thrillers and romantic fantasies that tend to twist viewers’ minds. It is a hauntingly beautiful collection that has won her an Academy Award, a BAFTA honor and three Golden Globe nominations.
READ MORE: Women in Film: ‘Change the numbers, change the game,’ says Rainy Kerwin.
Her latest cinematic venture with the movie “Dr. Strange,” which opens in the U.S. November 4, has received heavy backlash. Outraged fans claim her character The Ancient One appears Asian in the comics – a stark difference from Swinton’s British/Australian descent. However, Marvel Studios released a statement via Mashable that confirmed this character’s ethnicity is fluid.
“The Ancient One is a title that is not exclusively held by any one character, but rather a moniker passed down through time, and in this particular film the embodiment is Celtic,” the statement said. “We are very proud to have the enormously talented Tilda Swinton portray this unique and complex character alongside our richly diverse cast.”
READ MORE: 11 Comic Book Heroes of Color You Should Know About.
Despite the controversy, Swinton proves she is just as talented as her credentials claim. She tackles the role of The Ancient One with grace and strength. This is apparent from the very first scene when The Ancient One manipulates time, space and perception on the streets of New York City with a wave of her hand.
Swinton stars alongside actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the title role. When Dr. Strange first meets The Ancient One, he sees her as an energy loving hippie in a yellow jumpsuit. Yet the all-knowing spiritual healer is far more than a trendy free spirit – though she is just as magical as she appears.
While the good chunk of the film focuses on Cumberbatch, Swinton makes calculated appearances to keep his ego in check. In addition to verbally punching Dr. Strange a few times, The Ancient One pushes him to his physical, mental and emotional limits to help the leading man learn and grow.
In addition to “Dr. Strange,” Swinton will appear in Okja, a South Korean-American film. Netflix will release the flick in 2017. While she might not be playing an Asian character in this movie, the South Korean element may draw similar controversy to her portrayal of The Ancient One.
Swinton challenging the norm is nothing new for the celebrity, who is known for her androgynous style and experimental roles. Most notably, her standout performance as the male lead in “Orlando” questions gender presentation. Her fashion taste off-screen, likely inspired by her childhood growing up with three brothers, similarly serves as a trademark for gender fluidity. She previously collaborated with designers Viktor & Rolf and continues to grace best dressed lists with her boundary-testing looks.
READ MORE: Androgynous Style in the Fashion Industry.
Kira Cochrane – Opinion Editor for The Guardian – sums up Swinton’s elegance and power after an intimate conversation with the celebrated celebrity.
“At 50, Swinton’s face still shifts effortlessly between ages, sexes, aesthetics,” Cochrane writes. “She is cool, intelligent, engaging with questions deeply and happily when she likes them, and chewing them up roughly when she doesn’t. She chides imprecision, asks for a rephrase, has a frightening talent to make you feel small.”
Other interviews, such as her Dr. Strange promotional appearance with Jimmy Kimmel, show charismatic Swinton similarly. Her tall, slim frame sits with poise and her eyes welcome an engaging conversation. Yet a slight smile graces her lips – one that hints that despite her candor, Swinton may not always accurately match the public’s perception of her.
Will Tilda Swinton’s newest role challenge our expectations and exhibit the experimentation she is famous for?
