”I’m happy to be talking to a true white American."
”God bless white America."
For an actor, portraying a real life person can be the greatest challenge - if it’s a well
known public figure, audiences will have very specific ideas of how that person should be
portrayed and if it’s a less familiar figure, the actor is faced with the task of telling another
person’s story - perhaps with less information to draw from. 'The Hollywood Reporter'
spoke to 14 actors about how they brought their characters to life, from the physical
transformations to the emotional work of getting to know the real people they'd be
playing. Here, we take a look at 5 of their stories.
”You’re a bunch of boys making models out of balsa wood!
You don’t have anything under control!"
To prepare for playing the role of Neil Armstrong’s first wife, Janet, in Damien Chazelle’s
astronaut biopic ‘First Man,' Foy began by reading the book upon which the film is based:
James Hansen’s 'First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong.' The Golden Globe winner also
spoke with loved ones who knew Janet who passed away in June.
The actress says she discovered that her character was “the force that drove the family
engine” and someone who deserved to have her story told. Says Foy,
”I think about men. I don’t know why. I’m so sorry."
'Boy Erased' tells the true story of a boy whose parents send him to a gay conversion
camp with Lucas Hedges playing Jared. The film is based on Garrard Conley’s 2016
memoir of the same name and Hedges reveals that he felt as though his character was a
combination of Garrard and himself.
For the film, which also stars Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, Hedges says he did feel
a sense of responsibility to get Garrard’s story right, and he says he was able to do that
in part because he connected to the character’s need to please those closest to him.
"Roger, there's only room in this band for one hysterical queen."
In Queen biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' Rami Malek took on the task of bringing the
incomparable Freddie Mercury back to life - and did so to critical acclaim. “I knew
there was more to Freddie Mercury than a man who holds an audience in the palm of
his hand,” says Malek. The 'Mr. Robot' star began by researching the beginning of
the singer’s life — starting with Mercury’s mother.
Malek also took piano and singing lessons and worked with a movement coach to learn
Mercury’s signature stage style — but also to never feel restrained by it.
"I know your heart has more within it than the men who counsel you."
”You would do well to watch your words."
"I will not be scolded by my inferior."
Saoirse Ronan stepped into the shoes, and wig, of Mary Stuart the ambitious queen of
Scotland who attempts to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I (played by Margot Robbie)
for 'Mary Queen of Scots.'
In addition to reading John Guy’s book 'Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart,'
on which the film is based, Ronan also felt that the physical transformation was key to
her performance.
For Ronan, a big part of her self-expression on screen, came from a particular headpiece.
"My mouth to God’s ears, I really hate those black rats. And anyone else really that
doesn’t have pure white Aryan blood running through their veins."
For 'BlacKkKlansman' - which tells the story of Ron Stallworth, the black police officer
who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1979 - John David Washington pushed away
modern distractions to embody the man he calls a “true American hero.” Says Washington,
The talented actor also had the benefit of having unlimited access to the real-life
Stallworth.
And the admiration was absolutely mutual as the actor reveals to 'THR,'
To read the full list of 14 actors who have taken on the challenge of portraying real
people, head to THR.com.
For The Hollywood Reporter News, I’m Lyndsey Rodrigues.