Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker IIIis an American actor, director, and producer...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth15 July 1961
CityLongview, TX
CountryUnited States of America
trying different push-yourself
There's a thing you confront when you're going into something new and you come to this sort of abyss, and then you push yourself. It makes you try different things.
blood understanding different
Filming in Africa touched something really deep inside of me, really. It changed my matrix, my insides. My blood even feels kinda different. I don't know how to describe it. It's really kind of Eucharistic. I feel like I ate the place and now it's part of my system, part of my being. I'm not claiming that now I know what it's like to be African, but that now I have a deeper understanding of myself.
chance connection expand universe
was a chance to expand myself and deepen my connection with the universe and with God.
act decided perception presented
When I first decided to act Amin, I had that perception of Amin as presented by the west,
characters connection energy enter others spirit
As an actor, I've always wanted to do characters that would help me find my connection with others and connect all of us together. You always want the energy of the character, the spirit of the person, to enter you. I've been doing this for 26 years and some of the things I've done are always with me.
beginning blessed coming environment grew growing
They're growing up in an environment so different than what I grew up in. I think they're beginning to see how blessed they are. They'll be coming back from now on, I think.
doors films hopefully open
Hopefully this film is going to open the doors for a lot more films like it to be made.
helped men
He did things like other big men who did things that helped their countries.
defend found good trying
I'm not trying to defend him, the Amin I found was not a good man.
character mirrors climbing
I try to serve the character all the time; this one took a lot of work and was consuming. It's like climbing up a ladder and sometimes you're afraid to face yourself so you make excuses; you avoid going to the top of the ladder and look in the mirror.
men people african-american
Things are shifting; man is evolving in many different ways. The Internet has created a portal for people to connect with each other in a way they never could have before. When it comes to African-American or black films, it's different because there is a model that you can actually look at, an equation that shows that these films earn money.
jobs joy way
I could never have gone to Africa another way and had the same experience. It was my job and my joy at the same time.
men play looks
I can play a man who's despicable. But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection. If I can find that kernel, audiences will relate to me.
moving numbers roles
I never acted in anything I've directed but I have produced a number of films and I have acted in some of the movies I've produced. Usually with first time filmmakers and pushing a move forward I have played a small role but never the lead.