Movie Talk with Eddie Marsan
Description
Actor Eddie Marsan discusses his film X+Y 2014 in which he plays a Professor of Maths who coaches gifted children. He was drawn to the role, based on a real person because of his eccentricity and intelligence but also his kindness. The film is set in Taiwan, China. Still Life 2013 Marsan talks about playing the role of a isolated Funeral Director, he was very interested in the subject matter and the love story involved. Gangster No 1 2000 Marsan says he took the role because he was keen to play the coward, a stand out character. He then goes on to talk about the predominance of the London 'gangster film' and his instinct to not get type-cast, his intuition is to be as versatile as possible, saying this is the key to career longevity. Vera Drake 2004 directed by Mike Leigh, Marsan discusses the 6 month process preparing to film with Leigh, the in-depth character research and negotiating his way through the process not knowing the actual plot or even who the main character in the film was. Happy Go Lucky 2008 was another collaboration with Mike Leigh, Marsan talks about how he initially thought the film would be a dark drama but once he was told to act alongside Sally Hawkins he knew it was a comedy. The next film discussed is Gangs of New York 2002 directed by Martin Scorsese, here Marsan talks about how being a British character actor in America is a huge advantage. He goes on to talk about how he learnt so much from his co-star Jim Broadbent, how to handle a big movie set and to not take it too seriously. Marsan believes an actor at any level can handle a big movie set, he saw that there's no big mystery to it, nobody is doing anything he can't do. The New World 2005 directed by Terrence Malick follows next, Marsan describes what it was like on set with the enigmatic director. Snow White and the Huntsman 2012 Marsan talks about what it was like working with his co-stars and the way they performed in their scenes as the Seven Dwarves. Funeral Parlour 2014 Marsan made this film with his hero and friend Philip Seymour Hoffman, he compared it to 'like jamming with Miles Davis' he had the freedom to really lose himself in the film and be creative. Marsan reflects on getting older and more scripts coming his way, he credits his strange appearance and his commitment to playing characters that are real and provoke empathy. He finishes by saying he is looking to start directing when he turns 50 and to also carry on with his acting career.