According to Yahoo, Robert De Niro has faced a tumultuous year, marked by personal and professional challenges. In April, the iconic actor celebrated the arrival of his daughter, Gia, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. However, just three months later, he tragically lost his grandson, Leandro, to a drug overdose at the young age of 19. The adversity continued with an industry-wide actors’ strike, causing a four-month shutdown that left De Niro unable to promote his acclaimed performance in the crime saga “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Amidst these struggles, the 80-year-old actor found himself entangled in a legal battle with an ex-assistant, resulting in a heavily publicized trial that, while absolving him of personal liability for gender discrimination, left his company facing a $1.2 million judgment. Reflecting on these challenges, De Niro shares his determination to persevere, stating, “I have no choice but to plow through.”
In a candid interview at his Tribeca office, adorned with photos of De Niro alongside luminaries like Nelson Mandela and Federico Fellini, the actor delves into his recent experiences. He discusses the impact of the actors’ strike on his work, the legal challenges he faced, and the emotional toll of losing a family member to substance abuse.
Amidst these personal trials, De Niro expresses deep concern about the political landscape, particularly highlighting his apprehensions about former President Donald Trump. Drawing parallels to totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, he emphasizes the far-reaching consequences of such leadership.
The conversation shifts to De Niro’s latest film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” where he plays William Hale, a character involved in the shocking Reign of Terror in 1920s Oklahoma. The film, directed by Martin Scorsese, marks their tenth collaboration over five decades, solidifying one of the richest actor-director relationships in cinema history.
Touching on personal matters, De Niro discusses his recent role as a father to a half-Asian child, expressing his desire to teach her both English and Chinese. The interview also touches on De Niro’s reflections on being a father at an older age and his hopes for a more inclusive America, particularly considering his children who are of mixed race.
The interview concludes with De Niro addressing allegations of censorship by Apple during his Gotham Awards speech, where he voiced concerns about the potential dangers of another Trump presidency. He clarifies the miscommunication that occurred and how the incident prompted a discussion with Scorsese about the content of his speech.
