May 2002 Morgan Freeman : More than an Actor

(May: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Gallery * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive

by Shelby J. Jones, Editor Morgan Freeman : More than an Actor About ten years ago, I was wide-eyed and excited about my new itch for film, and the possibilities that lay ahead. I was a connoisseur of all that Hollywood offered and all that I presumed the culture delivered. It was during that time that I first met Morgan Freeman. He was receiving a lifetime achievement award at the historic Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. After meeting him briefly, I was stunned and happy to realize that he was “not” like the glossies that I read which suggested that all Hollywood stars were spoiled, selfish and egotistical. Morgan was real and even offered me a bit of advice on life. Explaining that anything you set your mind to, you can do. After that night, I abandoned my quest to become a lawyer and resigned from the legal behemoth that I slaved for just out of college. I packed my mind, and enrolled in drama school to learn the fine craft of acting. When I was informed that Morgan would be in Washington DC for a roundtable discussion of his latest work, Sum of All Fears, I jumped at the opportunity to sit with Morgan and see the man that in many ways, ever so slightly changed my life. Standing well above 6 feet tall, dressed in a blazer and sporting a diamond earring and an exquisite black pearl, Mr. Freeman arrived and held court. Naturally, with the current state of affairs in the world, The Sum of All Fears is a serious piece of work addressing many issues that are affecting our everyday life. When asked about how we should understand the terrorist state of affairs, Morgan explained in simple terms. “I am not worrying. Individually our lives have changed. And our proposed or supposed encounters of disaster are the same as being struck by lightning. I heard a broadcast saying that every morning when you drive to work, a certain number of motorists will be killed everyday. So does that mean you don’t go to work? Of course not, you take that risk everyday. If the people that are charged with telling and informing us that these things can happen, then it is up to each of us as individuals to be aware of what’s going on around us. Keep your eyes open. If you see a suspicious box or something, tell somebody. Maybe we have to get more proactive, but I don’t think we need to run scared.” Morgan’s character, Bill Cabbot, is the head of the CIA. In order to understand that role and to pour ingredients into the role, Morgan says he did not have to look very far. “Colin Powell was my model. His being – the facts of him. When you see Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice; these people are in very high places in government. They are real. I did not have to use much imagination. It was no stretch at all. Just jump in and do it.” It was uplifting to hear Morgan’s thoughts on the current rippling inside the beltway that the Oval Office knew something about 911, and crucial FBI information did not find itself to the right places. I asked him what did he think about this situation considering the history of the United States in times of war? Specifically, the infighting and between the military, Congress, CIA and the Oval Office during the Vietnam era. “It troubles me because we don’t find out about any of this until its too late. And we can’t do anything about it. It is hard to accept the notion that the President had enough information to make any type of decision. It is not hard to imagine that certain FBI agents had enough information to cause their superiors to turn around and take another look. In light of the aftermath, and only in light of that does it appear that someone definitely should have looked deeper at this information. But we must also remember that in recent years, law enforcement was receiving a lot of flak for racial profiling.” MORE WITH MORGAN What was your favorite film role? “Glory. It was an excellent movie, wonderfully acted, and very well made. It was a story about American history and everyone that saw it said, I didn’t know that.” What do you think is the biggest problem with race in film & TV? Amazingly, the real problem with this issue is ignorance. People simply do not know. But there is poise now and we are in a position to go back and tell some of these stories." What motivates you to accept a role? “Script and Character.” Do you think there have been changes, good or bad for black actors? “I think our world is changing at an excessive pace. When I was coming up, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte were my models, but there were not a lot of actors out there who had careers. But now, look at television, movies and you see many of us starring, writing and directing so I don’t think any of have anything to complain about. The biggest thing is to get up and do it.” When you venture out to see Sum of All Fears, understand the depth of Morgan Freeman as his character plays inside the beltway and on the world stage to protect the interest of the United States. As a man, Morgan still stands tall. Understand that this man is far more than just an actor. He is a real human being with gifts that he has decided to share with the world. Sit back and watch him deliver to you a new performance that you will not forget. Thanks Morgan.