“I think it’s perhaps one of the most uplifting, extraordinary tales of a pioneer who was challenging old fashioned values about disability,” divulges Andy Serkis during our recent webcam chat (watch the exclusive video above) about his film “Breathe.” This Bleecker Street release tells the true story of Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield), an advocate for the disabled who became paralyzed from polio at the age of 28. Forced to breathe through a respirator, he devises several ways to remain mobile for the rest of his life with the help of his wife Diana (Claire Foy). The film marks Serkis’ directorial debut.
Best known as an actor, Serkis has been a pioneer of motion capture performances, including Golum in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. This year he said goodbye to another signature role, Caesar the ape, in “War for the Planet of the Apes.” “I have been going through a grieving process,” he admits. “It was the most amazing opportunity as an actor, to play a character from birth through to death, and such an extraordinary character who goes through so many changes throughout the course of three movies.”
Serkis received a Golden Globe nomination as Best TV Supporting Actor for “Longford” in 2008 and an Emmy nomination as Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actor for “Little Dorrit” in 2009. He competed at BAFTA as Best Actor for “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” in 2010 and as Best Actor at BAFTA TV for “Longford” in 2007. He will next be seen as Supreme Leader Snoke in the highly anticipated “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
Check out our full interview above for more about Serkis’ work, including a sneak peek at his next directorial effort, an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling‘s “The Jungle Book.”
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