KING ARTHUR
 Q&A with Ioan Gruffudd		 Search all of phase9.tv






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Have you always known that you wanted to be an actor?

I didn’t always know, but I had a great and lucky experience when I was a kid. I was in a Welsh language soap opera off and on as a child from the age of 13 until about 20. As a Welshman, I grew up in a culture of singing and performing with music, and I think it was through this performing that I got my confidence as an actor. When I left school at 18, I decided to study drama – I sang in musicals and pageants, I sang in the local choir, and I played the oboe. So I was immersed in performing.

What were some of the films that inspired you to pursue acting?

SPARTACUS was a huge favorite of mine, as was BEN-HUR. Those chariot sequences were incredible, and I don’t think Hollywood has even come close to duplicating that action since then. GLADIATOR was very close to doing it, and I think KING ARTHUR has elements of that bigger-than-life action, especially the big ice battle, which is a big, defining moment in our movie that people will remember. We all love these historical, epic films because they give us an opportunity to look back on the way we used to be – how courageous and brave we used to be. These are all attributes that these characters have.

So do you prefer to play a hero in a film?

It’s a real pleasure to play these heroic characters because they reflect well on you. Horatio Hornblower is a positive image that I had – I wish I had half the attributes that he had. Same goes for Lancelot. I don’t think I would’ve survived a day back in those days. As far as playing a hero, I think it’s sad that we don’t have more role models or symbols in film. We tend to forget about these people who were heroic. In this day and age, our heroes are not the same type of heroes people had back then. When we talk about heroes today, we don’t think of warring heroes. We have sports heroes and heroes who work in hospitals.

You mentioned HORATIO HORNBLOWER. Were you at all surprised at how well that was received in the United States?

Not really. I think that the people in the United States are very curious about history because their history isn’t as old as that of Europe and Britain. There is something romantic and attractive about that time period as well. Also, the series wasn’t marketed as well in Britain as it was the States.

Having been in both big-budget films like KING ARTHUR and TITANIC and smaller films like SOLOMON AND GAENOR, do you have a preference?

I enjoy them all equally. Certainly KING ARTHUR was more enjoyable because I was more involved in it than, say, TITANIC. I was on the TITANIC set for five months, but I was in the background and had nothing to do. And when you’re in that situation, you go mad as an actor. I do enjoy the faster pace.

Speaking of a faster pace, you recently moved to Los Angeles. How do you like it?

I’m homesick for Wales, but I don’t miss London as a place. I miss my friends. I enjoy being in Los Angeles because it’s the easiest place in the world to drive, and it’s a real pleasure to do that in my black Jag XK8. I’ve gone all out. But I don’t feel so guilty about getting into a nice car because in L.A., you have to drive everywhere … you’re in your car all day. So if I can relieve the pressure of being in a car all day by choosing to be in a nice car, I think it’s justified.

When you’re driving around town, what’s it like for you to see your face splashed across billboards and ads for this movie?

I’m thrilled. I’ve always sort of dreamed or had this ambition to be on billboards and be involved in these types of films and now suddenly I’m part of one. It really is a dream come true and I’m determined to enjoy it.

Question & Answer Text Copyright Buena Vista International

King Arthur – movie information
PHASE9 movie review
PHASE9 Q&A with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Antoine Fuqua, writer David Franzoni, historian John Matthews and actors Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd and Ray Winstone
Q&A with producer Jerry Bruckheimer
Q&A with director Antoine Fuqua
Q&A with actor Clive Owen
Q&A with actress Keira Knightley

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