Joaquin Phoenix didn't speak to Robert De Niro on Joker set, even though he's a fan

Director Todd Phillips also revealed a touching moment before the pair began filming together, after Phoenix struggled to do a script read-through

Joaquin Phoenix has revealed that he and Robert De Niro barely spoke while filming their movie Joker, despite Phoenix citing De Niro as one of his favourite actors.

In a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair, the actor spoke about his family, work, and the process of making the controversial film about Batman's nemesis.

"He is my favourite American actor," Phoenix began. "I got the impression from him that he did things in [a] scene, certain behaviours, certain gestures or movements, whether the camera was on him and registering it or not.

"For me, I always thought that acting should be like a documentary," he continued. "That you should just feel whatever it is that you're feeling, what you think the character is going through at that moment."

He then explained that the pair didn't really converse on set, because of their shared acting methods and superstitions.

"I didn't like to talk to him on set," Phoenix said. "The first day we said good morning, and beyond that I don't know that we talked much."

However, director Todd Phillips also revealed that there was some disagreement before shooting began, as De Niro wanted to do a read-through of the script – a process that Phoenix dislikes.

After being persuaded to attend, Phoenix reportedly mumbled his way through the script then went off to smoke, and De Niro asked to see him in his office.

After they talked over a few issues, De Niro apparently turned to Phoenix, took his face in his hands and kissed him on the cheek, saying: "It's going to be OK, bubbeleh."

"It was beautiful," Phillips recalled.

Read the full Vanity Fair interview here, and our review of Joker here.