Viggo Mortensen

Living outside the Hollywood bubble

based on the Astrology of Jeff Jawer

Viggo Mortensen is an unconventional actor. In spite of gaining worldwide fame as Aragon in the Lord of the Rings series, he seems to be drawn to difficult roles in complex movies that earn him more respect than fame. Viggo is a thoughtful man whose upbringing and political activism place him outside the Hollywood bubble.

Not surprisingly, Viggo's astrological chart is strong in Air signs, the element of intellect. Born October 20, 1958 in New York, Viggo has the Sun, Venus and the Moon's North Node closely joined in gracious Libra, a sign of sociability, the arts and fairness. Venus, the planet of beauty, is at home in Libra, and her conjunction with his Sun reflects his good looks and gracious manners. Still, we don't get the sense that Viggo has fallen victim to the people pleasing extremes that compel many Librans to smile even when they're angry.

Viggo's Moon, representing emotions and habits, is in unconventional Aquarius, which is intellectual like airy Libra but less inclined to suffer fools gladly. Aquarius is a sign of individuality and rebelliousness with strong beliefs and principles that aren't freely traded for approval. The Moon also symbolizes family, which is often atypical with it in Aquarius. Viggo's mother is American, his father Danish and he spent much of his childhood in Argentina. It's clear that he's cut from a different cloth, making it easy for him to feel like an outsider as many with the Moon in Aquarius do.

Viggo also has his Mars, the action planet, in an Air sign. Its presence in adaptable Gemini is ideal in a profession where performance depends upon change rather than consistency. This chart placement gives him a variety of approaches to his work that shift according the role he's playing.

Still, all this cool airy energy in Viggo's chart doesn't account for the intensity he displays on screen. We don't think of him as an easygoing Libra charmer but see him as a complex individual rich in secrets and mystery. Astrologically, that's a reflection of his Mercury, the planet of communication and perception, in deep dark Scorpio. His eyes and mind go places most dare not go. Expansive Jupiter's conjunction with his Mercury suggests a broad view of reality that's not limited to the narrow narcissism of his fame-based profession. The man is a thinker who is interested in provoking us to examine the nature of ourselves and our world more deeply. This combination of intellectual passion and Libran grace will likely keep him close to the top of his field for as long as it maintains his interest.