Morgan Freeman has had a long and successful career moving from serious roles in Million Dollar Baby and Driving Miss Daiy to more familiar parts as cops in Seven and Kiss the Girls as well as playing God.
Wanted sees him take on the big budget action flick that dominated screen sthis summer in the role of Sloan alongside James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie.
What was it about Wanted that made you want to be a part of it?
I received the script and I liked my character and the story. And I didn’t know that director, but he had a good rep.
What is director Timur Bekmambetov like, to work with?
He is very easy to work with. At first he takes some getting used to, because he is very hands on, but he always has such a sweet disposition. Somebody who was familiar with Russian directors asked me if he cursed a lot; but the truth is that he doesn’t don’t work with directors who curse a lot.
And with Wanted he proves to be very creative
Oh yes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the proof of his creativity is up on the screen.
Is it hard to find an action film with a good story?
Yes, and you see it in the script. I think I have been very fortunate so far in my choices to be able to see the story maybe not in every case, but at least in enough of them to survive the bad ones.
So, how do you see Sloan, your character?
I see him as a man who likes to be in control. He likes power, and I find myself gravitating towards these kinds of 'power parts' I enjoy them. It’s a good role in an exciting movie.
And he is the mentor of Wesley, the lead character in the story
Yes, Sloan is his mentor and teacher, but primarily because this kid is necessary in his scheme of things. Sloan won’t be able to accomplish his goals without him he is an absolute necessity.
What do you think young Scottish actor James McAvoy brings to the role of Wesley?
I first saw him in The Last King of Scotland and he pulled that off with much aplomb, as it were. He comes off younger than he is, but he has old chops, knows what he is doing and gives it his all.
Wanted is also about his evolution and discovery of who he really is
To realize that your life for a long time has been a disaster area, because you are in the wrong section of it, is something that happens. People have done that and gone through a long period of time without knowing their basic talent was in a completely different place.
Did that happen to you in your career? Did you take time to figure out who you were and what you wanted?
I kind of knew at an early age that I wanted to be in movies; but I suffered from the romanticism of cinema, because there is also real life. So, I joined the military thinking I would live it out, but I realized almost immediately that it wasn’t for me and I went back to my dream.
You have always chosen your roles very carefully, and it seems you like to do different things.
I do! I think there are those among us, as actors, that get off on eclecticism. I like to do a wide range of things even wider than what I am doing.
Is that why you are on Broadway now?
Yes, and because I am playing a completely different kind of character. But, in any case, I am only acting. The difference between the stage and movies is large. In movies, for one thing, you almost never have to raise your voice.
I remember when Kurt Russell was playing this character called Snake -or something like that- and he talked to someone who was two blocks away, but spoke very softly. On stage you have to reach the back of the house and speak loud enough for them to hear you, and that takes a certain kind of training. So, they are different disciplines, but it’s still only acting.
Had you worked with Angelina Jolie before?
No, I hadn’t, but if I ever get the chance to do it again I will leap at it. She is just wonderful! Angelina is a total professional and obviously very good at what she does, and she has history before this to prove it.
What was the shoot in Prague like?
Prague is warm and lovely, and I really enjoyed it. And when I wasn’t shooting I could play golf up there. It was a very nice experience.
And was it hard work on set?
Hard work is work you don’t particularly like doing. And let’s be honest: the people that work hard on a set are the crew, not the pampered actors.
So, you consider your profession a blessing?
Oh heavens, absolutely! Being able to work in it is a blessing. And it is what I was meant to do.
Wanted is based on Mark Millar’s graphic novel. Isn’t it interesting how comics and graphic novels have become an inspiration for Hollywood?
Yes, but it doesn’t surprise me. I remember how the first two Supermans became major strikes, and the minute Hollywood sees a niche they leap in with all four feet. And the evolution of computer graphics has helped too, because now we have the technology to do them.
How comfortable are you working with computer graphics?
Very comfortable. It is all make-believe.
Speaking of the first two Supermans, one of the main villains in these movies was portrayed by British actor Terence Stamp, who you get to work with now in this film?
Terence is a great actor. I met him in Dubai and then we had dinner in Los Angeles. I loved him in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. He was so on it!
Guns also play an important role in Wanted. Are you good with them?
I am comfortable around them. I have guns in the country, were there are critters you have to deal with from time to time, like beavers or armadillos. So, it is good to have something to scare them off, but I don’t know about having them in the city. In Wanted the guns are very cool and stylized.
Wanted is released on DVD 20th October
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