Nicolas Cage has revealed that not only did the two pet king cobras he used to have as pets try to kill him – but they also influenced his acting.
The actor told The New York Times: “I did have two king cobras, and they were not happy. They would try to hypnotise me by showing me their backs, and then they’d lunge at me.”
Cage then revealed that he had to have the snakes re-homed in a zoo after he spoke about themon the Late Show with David Letterman, because “the neighbourhood wasn’t too pleased that I had cobras”.
On whether animals have ever influenced his acting, he confessed: “The cobras, definitely. They would try to hypnotise you by going side to side, and when I did Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, that’s something my character does before he attacks.”
He added: “Animals are fun places to get inspiration. Actually, I thought Heath Ledger was doing some reptilian stuff as the Joker, with the tongue darting out all the time.”
In the long and digressive interview, Cage also spoke about his pet cat who kept trying to eat the magic mushrooms he stored in his fridge. “He loved it. Then I started going, ‘I guess I’ll do it,’” said Cage. “It was a peaceful and beautiful experience. But I subsequently threw them out.”
Cage is currently starring as an ex-con seeking revenge in A Score to Settle
