Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) — A shoot for a war film turned out to be a participation in one of the key moments in Philippine history for American actor Willem Dafoe.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Dafoe recalled the “incredible feeling” he felt when he joined the People Power Revolution in 1986 that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

“For about three or four days, me and a couple of other people that were there ahead of time were out the streets with the people. And it was an incredible feeling because it was a revolution that happened, for the most part, without violence,” Dafoe said.

Dafoe had been flown in to the Philippines to shoot “Platoon,” which was met with critical acclaim and bagged Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

But Dafoe’s flight was apparently the last one in, as crowds spilled into the streets calling for the ouster of Marcos.

He recalled being told to “sit tight” and that production will find a way to get him out.

But after Marcos was toppled, Dafoe said production got the movie “back on track.”

Dafoe was nominated for his performance in the film at the Academy Awards and the Independent Spirit Award.