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
character thinking people
I care about people. In the end, I think they feel it. It comes across, regardless of the character I'm portraying.
character thinking uganda
I certainly don' think I could've played the character [Idi Amin] the same way without being in Uganda. I loved working in Uganda.
thinking uganda people
I think the place fed me completely. Not only was I in Uganda, but I was around many people who had a personal relationship with Idi Amin. I was eating the food constantly. I was culturally hanging out with the people. You can't help but absorb the energy, and try to get inside the culture.
thinking artist understanding
I think the biggest thing that motivates me when I'm choosing a part is a role that will help me continue to grow as a person and as an artist, and a role that will deepen my understanding of humanity, and my connection to it.
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.