Javier Bardem found himself in a foreign country surrounded by strangers during one of his first American films, No Country for Old Men.

Bardem, who later won an Oscar for the Coen brothers’ iconic Best Picture-winning feature, told Deadline that he was “depressed” during the production of the thriller. It was his co-star Josh Brolin who became a beacon on the set.

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“I was kind of depressed in ‘No Country’ for a number of reasons, some personal reasons,” Bardem said. “It was a moment in my life in which, like many other moments, I experienced a crisis. But I was kidnapped from the middle of America to play this very dark role within an American cast and crew for the first time in my life. It made me feel somehow alone and completely detached from the whole environment.”

He added that some of these emotions were crucial to the role of serial killer.

“I think some of that carried over into the character as well because he was someone who was emotionally distant from others. He doesn’t care,” Bardem said.

When he wasn’t acting, Bardem relied on Brolin as a source of human contact to help him settle in.

“Josh Brolin was my lifesaver. I mean, he was so kind and helpful and loving, and he really saved me and showed me the light,” Bardem said. “We had a great time. I think he’s a great person and a good friend.”

Bardem is now nominated for a Golden Globe for another crime drama, this time with his first limited series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” However, Bardem’s roles do not reflect his personal taste.

“I’m not particularly into violence myself, and I’m not a viewer of particularly violent films,” Bardem said. “I don’t like it. Funnily enough, I did some of these when I was younger too. Also, I don’t feel comfortable watching very explicit sex scenes in any movie. I guess I’m getting older. I say, ‘Listen, guys, unless it’s absolutely necessary for the story to be told and the story to move forward, fine.’ But most of the time it’s just free.”

Bardem will next star in his second TV role in the violent thriller Cape Fear. Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, who directed the 1991 version, are executive producers of the reboot from writer and showrunner Nick Antosca.

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