Dork Shelf got a chance to catch up with the actor during a press
appearance in Toronto and found out all about The Woman in Black, his future
plans, and his recent experience hosting SNL.
After Harry Potter you must have been offered many roles, what drew you to this one?
The main thing about this film was the story. It was so compelling
that I wanted to be a part of it. It was that simple. Obviously the part
was really interesting and when I met James (Watkins, the director)
that became an incentive as well. And also because of those little art
house movies I made, people would be going in specifically to try and
see bits of Harry in the performance. I thought with a film like this,
which has an incredibly strong story, after the first ten minutes they
would forget about what they came in there to try and see.
Did you find that doing Equus was your first way of breaking free from the baggage of Potter?
I think so, it’s interesting. Somebody said to me the other day, “Do you think your Harry Potter fans will stick with you in this film?” I was like, if they stuck with me through Equus,
they won’t mind this. It’s nothing in comparison to that. So, I’m not
worried about it. It’s a very good first step. I was under no illusions
that people would see this and suddenly go, “Oh Christ, he’s not Harry
Potter anymore. He’s completely transformed.” I didn’t ever think that
was going to happen. But I think it’s a good first step in terms of, I
look very different and I’m playing a man rather than a boy. It’s a
different type of film to be in and I think all that stuff is very
useful at this point for an audience to see that I’m going to try to do
different stuff. We all are, Emma and Rupert and Tom and everybody, we
want to do that. But also it’s interesting. People ask us those
questions a lot. “Why are you searching so different? Are you
intentionally trying to be diverse?” Yes, I am, but I don’t think that’s
specific to someone coming out of a franchise. Any actor worth their
salt wants to show as much versatility as they possibly can. So, over
the next couple of years it’s going to be about doing as much work as
possible and making it as varied as possible.
I read that you aren’t so enamoured with horror movies personally.
No, I mean I was terrified of them. A lot of modern horror can leave
me cold. And also I’m not good with blood and gore and all that stuff.
I’m really not. It’s not fun for me. There’s nothing entertaining about
watching a film like that.
Was it strange to be in one?
A bit. During all those days where you just play terrified reactions
for hours, I found it useful to take myself over to a corner of the set
and just pace and mutter insanely to myself and work myself up into a
frenzy. This is why I’m really desperate to have a process as an actor.
You know, I used to joke and say I’m a point and click actor. My whole
process has really been about trusting my instincts and hitting my mark.
Which is why I love the stage, because the nature of filming is that
it’s really broken up. So you can be innately something one minute and
feel really in the moment, but then if you don’t have a solid process
you’ll come back to it in the next take and be vaguer in what your
intention is. Whereas on stage, you just have to go on and look and
listen and it will all happen. There’s no room for self-consciousness to
creep in like there is on film. So the next few years and I’ll keep
looking for a process in lieu of training.
Because this is associated with the new Hammer Horror Films
label, did you go back to look at some of the classic Christopher Lee
and Peter Cushing movies?
Yeah, the first Dracula movie that they made is the one I
know well. I think I’m probably the last generation in England to have
sort of grown up with that. It was on TV a lot when I was a kid, but
also I think the first time I watched it was when I was at school. It
was an end of term sort of thing when teachers can’t be bothered to
teach you anymore. One of our teachers brought that in and played it and
everyone in my class wanted to be Christopher Lee, except for me who
wanted to be Peter Cushing because I thought he was really cool and
there’s no doubt that had The Woman in Black been made 30-40 years ago he would have beaten me to this part ten times out of ten.
I heard that you avoided seeing the play version of The Woman in Black, but you did track down the original book’s author. What did you learn from speaking with her?
Well, it was mainly about just making sure I was on the right track.
The script is an adaptation and it’s very different both in terms of the
character of Arthur and the entire framing of the story. I was very
keen just to make sure that I wasn’t doing anything that would piss her
off, so I just ran a certain things by her. I spoke to a couple of
friends about depression and the nature of depression and one of the
things that I found kind of fascinating and in the kind of exploitative
actor’s minds that we have useful, was the fact that they both said how
physically exhausting true depression is. How it is a serious effort
just to get out of bed in the morning physically and mentally. So that’s
kind of where I started with Arthur, just that he is completely
physically and mentally depleted and has been for five years. He’s just
putting one foot in front of the other in the hope that something will
change or maybe death will come. I wanted to just make sure that would
line up with the vision of the character that she had. It did, so I was
fine and I was told that I could carry on along those lines. I didn’t
see the play because I’m a terrible mimic and I didn’t want to be
influenced by all that. But, generally speaking I took my cues from
James my director rather than Susan.
What other work did you do to prepare for this role?
Well, I spoke to a bereavement counsellor one day for a few hours and
read a couple of books on grief and loss. I know I can never fully
imagine myself into the head of someone who lost somebody, so I think it
was important just to furnish myself with as much information as I
possibly can. That way when I’m on set without having to think too much,
that stuff just kind of naturally informs your choices. One of the
things I concentrated on with Arthur was that I have this very excitable
energy and Arthur should not and it would be completely wrong for the
character. So, James was keen to, as he put it, “take the fizz out of
the bottle and let it go flat.” It was about stripping away my natural
zeal and showing somebody who has been devastated by a loss to the point
where they’re in a state of emotional paralysis.
It seems that you enjoy the mechanics of acting nowadays as
opposed to where you were as a child when you were kind of being rushed
along into it. Do you feel like you’re starting to catch up to where you
want to be as an actor?
Possibly, but there’s no blue print to where I should be. I see
myself as a young good actor who still has a lot to learn. I think
that’s where most actors who are my age are. There is nobody who at any
point in their career is the finished article. So the next couple of
years for me are really going to be about finding people to work with
who really want to push me. I’ve never trained, so the only why I can
get better is by taking risks and working with people who I think are
going to improve me. So that’s what the next couple of years are going
to be about.
Does that include playing Alan Ginsberg?
Yes, that’s the next project. It starts filming in March. It’s a first time director. I’m terrified, but very excited.
Through the Potter franchise you worked with some of
the finest British actors alive, so who is still on your wish list in
terms of English actors you’d like to work with?
Um, Judy Dench, never got her in. Seems amazing, but we never got
her. There’s loads of young British actors that think are fantastic who
I’d really like to work with. Ben Whittle. I’ve seen him on stage many
times and he’s wonderful. Aaron Johnson. Helen Mirren. Russell Brand,
actually. I’ve always thought he’d be fantastically entertaining and
really great to work with. I don’t know who else. There’s so many.
Did you get any advice from the actors you worked with in the Harry Potter movies that you’ve tried to apply to your career?
Um…not particularly. They were all just very supportive and generous
with their time. Alan Rickman particularly was amazing this year. He was
in New York quite a lot, so he came to see the show twice and took me
out for dinner. I don’t think any of them would really have wanted to
give me advice, but they certainly were generous with their time.
Actually, Alan has given me some advice, but you know some things sound
amazing in Alan Rickman’s voice and if I said them to you they wouldn’t
have nearly the same impact and wouldn’t seem quite as profound.
I’m wondering what role a director plays for you since you’ve
had the opportunity to work with some incredible international
directors already. Have any had a particularly strong impact on your
work as an actor?
Um, it’s interesting. I rely very heavily on the director,
absolutely. When I get a lot of direction, I do better, I think. I like
having a close relationship with the director. Alfonso Cuaron is a
gifted filmmaker and I would love to work with him again now. Because
now I feel ready and could really appreciate it. I do absolutely stick
close to the directors and it’s interesting because the director who I’m
about to work with has already shown me an entirely new way of working
that I never knew existed before and it’s kind of amazing to me that
nobody ever told me this stuff. So we’re working with action verbs and
loads of different techniques and I’m very happy to be doing that. I
feel that I’ve been very lucky in terms of having the right directors
come along at the right times to take me where I needed to be. Alfonso
was one, Thea Sharrock, who directed me in Equus, was one and I
think John is going to be the next one. It’s funny because everyone is
talking about The Woman in Black now and it’s a slightly horrible
feeling in a way because we filmed this movie a year and a half ago and I
think I’ve come a long way since then. It’s sort of like my current
ability and potential is being based on my work from a year and a bit
ago, which is a very strange thought. It’s quite hard to come to grips
with that. But yeah, I think over the next couple of years I’m going to
improve by leaps and bounds. I want to work with people who want to
stretch me.
How did you find the Saturday Night Live experience a few weeks ago?
Fantastic. I just had the best time. I’m someone who thrives off of
fear and panic and chaos, so for me that was perfect. I liked the fact
that someone said, “ok there’s been a slight change, just look at the
cards.” Love that. Those are the situations that I live for. In the
reactions to it people didn’t feel like it was the strongest episode or
whatever, but I had a blast. That’s the thing, the people who are a bit
scathing about SNL and for me that’s very lazy. Because they
have no concept of what is actually going on. They put on an hour and a
half music and comedy show from scratch in a week and actually it’s two
and half hours if you include what you do at the dress rehearsal. So I
just loved it, the fact that you’ll do a sketch and someone will grab
you and run you to another quick change. It was great. I said to them at
the end, “Ask me back any time I will run across oceans I don’t care.”
And also, the Casey Anthony Dog sketch was possibly one of my favorite
things I’ve ever done. I had a great time. They all were very kind. I
have to see what’s impressive about that show is that there are people
who have been there for 21 years who say, “There is nowhere I would
rather be.” That’s speaks highly of the cast and the crew. It’s a really
cool atmosphere.
source: dorkshelf.com
Archive
-
►
2021
(24)
- ► February 2021 (18)
- ► January 2021 (6)
-
►
2020
(249)
- ► December 2020 (11)
- ► November 2020 (6)
- ► October 2020 (5)
- ► September 2020 (8)
- ► August 2020 (11)
- ► April 2020 (22)
- ► March 2020 (50)
- ► February 2020 (41)
- ► January 2020 (33)
-
►
2019
(207)
- ► December 2019 (17)
- ► November 2019 (13)
- ► October 2019 (6)
- ► September 2019 (18)
- ► August 2019 (17)
- ► April 2019 (16)
- ► March 2019 (24)
- ► February 2019 (44)
- ► January 2019 (11)
-
►
2018
(191)
- ► December 2018 (18)
- ► November 2018 (11)
- ► October 2018 (28)
- ► September 2018 (18)
- ► August 2018 (14)
- ► April 2018 (7)
- ► March 2018 (10)
- ► February 2018 (24)
- ► January 2018 (14)
-
►
2017
(162)
- ► December 2017 (10)
- ► November 2017 (10)
- ► October 2017 (43)
- ► September 2017 (20)
- ► August 2017 (10)
- ► April 2017 (13)
- ► March 2017 (9)
- ► February 2017 (12)
- ► January 2017 (9)
-
►
2016
(303)
- ► December 2016 (7)
- ► November 2016 (12)
- ► October 2016 (31)
- ► September 2016 (49)
- ► August 2016 (37)
- ► April 2016 (16)
- ► March 2016 (17)
- ► February 2016 (11)
- ► January 2016 (18)
-
►
2015
(159)
- ► December 2015 (17)
- ► November 2015 (53)
- ► October 2015 (13)
- ► September 2015 (19)
- ► August 2015 (8)
- ► April 2015 (7)
- ► March 2015 (9)
- ► February 2015 (4)
- ► January 2015 (4)
-
►
2014
(317)
- ► December 2014 (8)
- ► November 2014 (18)
- ► October 2014 (32)
- ► September 2014 (19)
- ► August 2014 (78)
- ► April 2014 (34)
- ► March 2014 (16)
- ► February 2014 (8)
- ► January 2014 (11)
-
►
2013
(279)
- ► December 2013 (25)
- ► November 2013 (34)
- ► October 2013 (56)
- ► September 2013 (50)
- ► August 2013 (6)
- ► April 2013 (8)
- ► March 2013 (9)
- ► February 2013 (19)
- ► January 2013 (18)
-
▼
2012
(323)
- ► December 2012 (15)
- ► November 2012 (22)
- ► October 2012 (13)
- ► September 2012 (18)
- ► August 2012 (11)
- ► April 2012 (10)
- ► March 2012 (33)
-
▼
February 2012
(88)
- Updated: Filmclub meets Daniel Radcliffe and James...
- WestJet magazine Q&A
- Filmeditie van The Woman in Black
- Daniel's message to Italian Fans
- Updated: Outtakes from Daniel Radcliffe's photosho...
- NOW magazine photoshoot (Canada)
- Update: Prijsvraag: Win vrijkaarten voor The Woman...
- Daniel Radcliffe on InnerSpace
- Daniel's message to Turkish fans
- Updated: The Woman in Black press junket interview...
- Updated: Second Trevor Project PSA with Daniel Rad...
- Bullett magazine photoshoot and interview (US)
- Cine y Comedia interview
- The Woman in Black trailer with commentary from Da...
- Daniel Radcliffe on Centralnoe Televidenie and Pro...
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe on The Graham Norton Show
- Public reactions to The Woman in Black (Spain)
- Dan receives portrait from artist in Russia
- T4: Daniel Radcliffe gives acting lessons (to use ...
- Gwen Faberge meets Daniel Radcliffe
- Daniel Radcliffe on LBC
- Daniel Radcliffe visits the Trevor Project, record...
- Behind the scenes of The Woman in Black (Spanish s...
- The Woman in Black photocall & press conference in...
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe attended Moscow premiere...
- Updated: Daniel's Mikhail Bulgakov museum visit
- BBC Radio 1 interview: "I had a drinking problem"
- Updated: The Woman in Black photocall in Madrid
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe attended Madrid premiere...
- Daniel Radcliffe on Eye on New York
- Daniel Radcliffe on T4
- Daniel Radcliffe on Q101's Mornings with Hobart
- Daniel Radcliffe on Film 2012 with Claudia Winkleman
- El PaÃs digital interview with Daniel Radcliffe
- Updated: The Woman in Black press junket interview...
- Daniel Radcliffe on El Hormiguero
- Update: The Woman in Black NL TV spot
- Updated(7): Daniel Radcliffe attends and presents ...
- Daniel introducing two The Woman in Black screenings
- Review: Harry Potter Places Book One - London and ...
- IndieLondon's interview with Daniel Radcliffe
- RTÉ Ireland: Rick O'Shea in the Afternoon interview
- Daniel Radcliffe on Heart FM Breakfast
- Daniel Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2's The Chris Evans ...
- Updated(2): Radio interviews & Glamour magazine's ...
- Daniel Radcliffe on Watch What Happens Live
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe attends The Woman in Bla...
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe attended Paris premiere ...
- BBC News: The Woman in Black on set interview
- Wonderland magazine interview (UK)
- Scans: Cinemania magazine (Mexico)
- Updated(4): The Woman in Black press junket interv...
- Attitude magazine photoshoot (UK)
- Daniel Radcliffe on Daybreak
- Empire's The Woman in Black on set visit
- National Post photoshoot
- NJ Zombie Walk Undead Festival message from Daniel...
- Daniel Radcliffe on The Wendy Williams Show
- Daniel Radcliffe on Popcorn with Peter Travers and...
- Daniel Radcliffe on KTLA 5 Morning News
- Daniel Radcliffe as guest editor of Band of the Da...
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe at the LA premiere of Th...
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe on Extra
- The Woman in Black press junket interviews (US)
- The Woman in Black US poster
- Updated: The Woman in Black press junket interview...
- Daniel Radcliffe on Your World This Week & The Wom...
- Vanity Fair Italia photoshoot
- Daniel Radcliffe on The Talk
- The Woman in Black press conference in LA
- J-14 magazine Q&A
- Daniel Radcliffe on The Late Late Show with Craig ...
- Daniel Radcliffe on 99.7 NOW!'s Fernando & Greg mo...
- Metro US interview
- Daniel Radcliffe on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
- The Woman in Black clip and TV spot (US)
- Rotten Tomatoes: Five favorite films with Daniel R...
- Daniel Radcliffe on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- The Grid photoshoot and interview
- Daniel Radcliffe on Voir
- Dork Shelf interview
- Daniel Radcliffe on CBS This Morning
- ShortList magazine's interview and photoshoot with...
- Channel One News pop quiz: ghosts
- Toronto Star photoshoot
- Updated: Daniel Radcliffe guest co-host on Live! w...
- Updated: Los Angeles Times photoshoot
- Behind the scenes: ShortList magazine photoshoot (UK)
- ► January 2012 (74)
-
►
2011
(326)
- ► December 2011 (18)
- ► November 2011 (24)
- ► October 2011 (23)
- ► September 2011 (21)
- ► August 2011 (22)
- ► April 2011 (26)
- ► March 2011 (38)
- ► February 2011 (22)
- ► January 2011 (14)
-
►
2010
(231)
- ► December 2010 (24)
- ► November 2010 (73)
- ► October 2010 (33)
- ► September 2010 (19)
- ► August 2010 (10)
- ► April 2010 (6)
- ► March 2010 (8)
- ► February 2010 (7)
- ► January 2010 (7)
-
►
2009
(160)
- ► December 2009 (8)
- ► November 2009 (11)
- ► October 2009 (6)
- ► September 2009 (7)
- ► August 2009 (8)
- ► April 2009 (5)
- ► March 2009 (6)
- ► February 2009 (8)
- ► January 2009 (11)
-
►
2008
(96)
- ► December 2008 (10)
- ► November 2008 (9)
- ► October 2008 (8)
- ► September 2008 (15)
- ► August 2008 (13)
- ► April 2008 (12)
- ► March 2008 (5)
- ► February 2008 (4)
- ► January 2008 (7)
-
►
2007
(208)
- ► December 2007 (9)
- ► November 2007 (17)
- ► October 2007 (13)
- ► September 2007 (49)
- ► August 2007 (13)
- ► April 2007 (5)
- ► March 2007 (4)
- ► February 2007 (8)
- ► January 2007 (5)
-
►
2006
(44)
- ► December 2006 (8)
- ► November 2006 (7)
- ► October 2006 (5)
- ► September 2006 (7)
- ► August 2006 (3)
- ► April 2006 (1)
- ► March 2006 (3)
- ► February 2006 (3)
- ► January 2006 (2)
-
►
2005
(61)
- ► December 2005 (5)
- ► November 2005 (33)
- ► October 2005 (14)
- ► September 2005 (3)
- ► February 2005 (3)
- ► January 2005 (1)
-
►
2004
(56)
- ► December 2004 (3)
- ► November 2004 (5)
- ► October 2004 (1)
- ► September 2004 (2)
- ► August 2004 (1)
- ► April 2004 (2)
- ► March 2004 (1)
- ► February 2004 (1)
- ► January 2004 (2)
-
►
2003
(12)
- ► December 2003 (1)
- ► November 2003 (1)
- ► October 2003 (2)
- ► September 2003 (2)
- ► April 2003 (1)
- ► March 2003 (1)
- ► February 2003 (1)
-
►
2002
(38)
- ► December 2002 (6)
- ► November 2002 (13)
- ► October 2002 (12)
- ► September 2002 (2)
- ► March 2002 (1)
- ► February 2002 (1)
- ► January 2002 (1)
-
►
2001
(36)
- ► December 2001 (2)
- ► November 2001 (22)
- ► October 2001 (6)
- ► September 2001 (2)
- ► August 2001 (1)
- ► March 2001 (1)
- ► February 2001 (1)
- ► January 2001 (1)
-
►
2000
(1)
- ► August 2000 (1)
-
►
1999
(2)
- ► December 1999 (2)
Dork Shelf interview
Marion
|
01 February 2012
|
19:37
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a comment
Rude or hate comments will be deleted. Same for commercial links.