Mark Wahlberg reminisces on his time filming Martin Scorsese’s crime drama ‘The Departed’, revealing some behind-the-scenes challenges, including unexpected alterations to his role and hair-related disagreements with the production team.
In a recent interview on Josh Horowitz’s ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, the 52-year-old actor, known for his portrayal of undercover cop Sean Dignam, disclosed that he was initially slated for a different character. He also mentioned discrepancies in compensation and clashes over his hairstyle.
“I was a little [angry] about a couple things but look, it all worked out in the end, I think,” Wahlberg reflected. “Originally I was supposed to play another part. Originally, I was supposed to get paid.”
The actor elucidated on the challenges he faced, particularly regarding his hair, attributing the unconventional style to preparations for his subsequent role in ‘Invincible’. He clarified, “I was trying to grow my hair out, which is why I had that weird hair. You know, everybody’s like, what was that wig about? I was like, it was not a wig, I was just trying to grow my hair for the next film.”
Despite these hurdles, Wahlberg acknowledged the complexities Scorsese encountered managing a star-studded ensemble cast. “I completely understand where Marty was coming from. He had to deal with Jack [Nicholson], he had to deal with Matt [Damon] and Leo [DiCaprio] and Alec [Baldwin] and everything in the studio and everybody else who was in the cast and then I was supposed to be in and out in five weeks,” he said.
Even after resolving his hair situation, Wahlberg faced additional setbacks upon returning to set. “So I went off to go and shoot ‘Invincible’, got my hair extensions, came back and then they were like, oh you gotta take out the extensions. I was like, [this] shit took eight hours. I’m not gonna take this out. We had a couple of issues,” he recounted.
Despite the challenges, Wahlberg’s portrayal in ‘The Departed’ earned him his first Oscar nomination, a milestone he reflects on with pride. “Ultimately, I think when I read that particular role, I was like, OK, this is, this is a good role. This is an opportunity for me to really kind of go off and have some fun for me,” he expressed.
Wahlberg’s journey during the filming of ‘The Departed’ highlights the intricate dynamics and personal challenges often encountered in the process of creating cinematic masterpieces.
