Bill Murray makes rare confession, sees roles as 'penance' to accept responsibility for past damage

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bill Murray recently opened up on his career and personal reflections during a surprise appearance at the Sundance Film Festival.

The 'Riff Raff' actor joined the Elvis Suite presented by Darling&Co to share his thoughts on the complexities of life and acting.

Bill Murray says it's always interesting to play who has done 'some damage'

Bill Murray admitted he finds fulfillment in portraying flawed characters who have caused harm, hinting at parallels with his own life.

Although he avoided delving into specifics, the veteran actor touched on the broader notion of accountability through his work and the roles he chooses to play.

During his candid conversation, Murray noted, "It’s always interesting when you’re playing a guy who has done some damage."

"I know I’ve done some damage. It's unconscious damage, but it's some sort of penance to play them and to show that, you know, to show accepting responsibility for it," Murray said, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Bill Murray reflects on playing one such messy character in 'On the Rocks'

 Bill Murray cited his performance in Sofia Coppola’s 2020 film 'On the Rocks' as an example of this perspective of playing messy characters.

Murray portrayed Felix, a father navigating a complicated relationship with his daughter, Laura, played by Rashida Jones.

Reflecting on the role, he said, "I was answering for a lot of things through that role."

In 2022, Bill Murray faced allegations of inappropriate behavior on the set of 'Being Mortal,' a project directed by Aziz Ansari.

'Being Mortal' suspended production on complaints regarding Bill Murray's actions

Searchlight Pictures suspended production after complaints were made regarding Bill Murray’s actions toward a young female assistant.

Commenting on the incident, Murray acknowledged that at the time, he found his actions were conflicting. 

"I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn't taken that way. The company, the movie studio, wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it, and so they stopped the production," Murray said at the time. 

The actor acknowledged the learning experience, saying, "It's been quite an education for me," as per People.

Murray’s latest remarks also coincide with renewed discussions about his alleged on-set behavior.

Lucy Liu, his co-star in 'Charlie’s Angels,' recounted an incident during filming where she confronted Murray for using "inexcusable and unacceptable" language.

In a 2021 interview, Liu shared that she "stood up" for herself during the confrontation. Speaking to The Guardian on January, 13, Liu said she had no regrets about addressing the issue at the time. 

"I would have done that in any situation. I think when I sense something is not right, I am going to protect myself. It’s an innate thing to do if you feel there’s injustice, and I always feel that way," Liu said.