David Strathairn
David Strathairn
David Russell Strathairnis an American actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying journalist Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck. He is recognized for his role as CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen in the 2007 film The Bourne Ultimatum, a role he reprised in 2012's The Bourne Legacy. He played a prominent role as Dr. Lee Rosen on the Syfy series Alphas from 2011 to 2012 and played Secretary of State William Henry...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth26 January 1949
CitySan Francisco, CA
CountryUnited States of America
This movie isn't out to railroad you toward any particular bias, and that's where I think its power comes from,
deep sense of the common man. He was born to the job that he did.
The movie is a collaboration of idea and entertainment.
After a little while, I forgot I was watching black and white film. There's something luscious about all the gradations of gray that adds so much texture to film. It's good they didn't shoot this one in color; they would have lost all those subtleties, all those layers.
I think the film is beautifully realised. His legacy as a journalist was recorded - as it were - well, and certainly the important issues of the '50s - or even today - are delivered and presented to the audience in a rather honest and objective way.
I think they were being kind saying that. Murrow read his stuff, so I had that ace in the hole. If I froze in front of the camera, I could always just look down. But George said, 'We want you looking at the camera a little bit more than reading, OK?' ... And it was scary.
There is always something ticking with Murrow. He was described as a prince of doom, a man carrying a crown of thorns. I tried to show what was going on in his head.
He used his power to get it made with absolutely no compromises or concessions. He had hurt his back just before we started, and he was in terrible pain through much of the filming. It was a heroic effort on his part.
He kept saying that he was a better actor than he was a director, and that he was the worst actor in the room. That's what makes you want to work for him. He's the most modest star I know.
He has the biggest part in the movie. we wouldn't be here without him.
But I find it's usually a collaboration. Very rarely does a lead exist without someone else holding on to the leash, so to speak.
It's really a presentation of life, as it was at that moment, in a really artistic way. Everything was double-sourced. George was determined to do this as a journalist.
Apart from stark fear, I was taken aback quite a bit. It was a huge responsibility to try and depict such a great man - such a great American.
In this film George presents issues that are important, essential and vital, whoever you are, about constitutional rights and the bedrock of a democracy. I am drawn to those kinds of stories because they inspire me - they are responsible to a populace and responsible to man.