Willem Dafoe Quit Hollywood Life to Raise Alpacas in Italy, and It Is Wholesome
Willem Dafoe has spent more than five decades working with some of the most demanding directors in film, appearing in nearly 150 films, and earning multiple Academy Award nominations. He has crossed art-house cinema, blockbusters, experimental theater, and everything in between. That kind of career usually leads to one of two outcomes: doubling down on the industry or burning out completely. But, what Dafoe chose is something more surprising, and far removed from red carpets.
How Italy Became Home Base
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Dafoe’s move away from a traditional Hollywood lifestyle traces back to his relationship with Giada Colagrande. The two met in Rome in 2004 while he was working on “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.” Their connection moved fast, and they married within a year in a low-key ceremony with two witnesses.
Living arrangements followed a similar logic. Colagrande wanted to stay in Rome, and Dafoe had spent over 40 years in New York and felt no pull to argue. Italy became a practical choice rather than a symbolic one. He continued acting, traveling for projects, and working at the same pace. Rome simply replaced Los Angeles and Manhattan as the place he returned to when the cameras shut off.
The Farm That Changed His Routine
Away from the city, Willem Dafoe settled into a slower, hands-on routine. He owns a small farm with a vegetable garden and a mix of animals, including chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, and alpacas. The farm briefly caught public attention after a photo of Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo standing beside a baby alpaca circulated online during Poor Things promotion.
The moment made him smile, but the place was never meant as a backdrop. Dafoe has called himself a gentleman farmer. He handles the daily care himself and treats the animals as individuals, not scenery. The alpacas stand out most. Each one has its own temperament, and he adjusts to them rather than expecting the same response every time.
Why This Life Works for Him
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Dafoe has always resisted idle time. During periods when film work slows down, he looks for structure rather than rest, and the farm fills that gap. Feeding animals, maintaining land, and managing routines give his days momentum without tying his identity to constant production or promotion.
He has spoken openly about how working less than usual unsettles him. Farming keeps him engaged during gaps between films and replaces the familiar pace of rehearsals and sets with something equally demanding, but different.
Stepping Away Without Walking Away
Calling this a full exit from Hollywood misses the point. Dafoe continues to work steadily and collaborates with major directors. The difference lies in how little his personal life revolves around the industry. Living in Italy creates distance from the constant noise without cutting professional ties.
That distance also shapes his views on modern filmmaking. He has noted that movies now compete with shortened attention spans and home viewing habits, and cinemas feel less central than they once did.