Get set for a Bumpy ride
Forest Whitaker, who stars in Godfather of Harlem, was recently in SA for a fan tour and master class. Debashine Thangevelo found out more about his highly praised gangster role
OSCAR-WINNING actor Forest Whitaker relishes slipping into the skin of multi-layered and fascinating characters. In fact, he appears to feed off it. To him, delivering a bona fide performance is all the acknowledgement he needs. From playing Idi Amin in The
Last King of Scotland, Cecil Gaines in Lee Daniels’s The Butler, Zuri in
Black Panther, Curtis Ames in ER to his latest role as Bumpy Johnson in
Godfather of Harlem, he cements his genius as an actor.
Last week, Whitaker arrived in town for a fan screening as well as a master class. In between his busy schedule, he agreed to a one-on-one, which was held at The Pivot in Johannesburg.
Nestled comfortably in his seat, looking very debonair with his spectacles, I shook his hand before taking a seat next to him.
There was no time for goosebumps or for small talk, so we dove right into the interview.
Having caught up on all the episodes available the night before, I asked him about a poignant line delivered by Bumpy.
In one of the scenes, he said: “To be an old dog, you got to learn new tricks.”
The actor explained: “I think the complexity of what happened then in the ’60s and now – the situations are similar. It’s interesting to me. I think that was one of the most interesting things about the story is the relationship dynamics.
“There is the criminal world, the civil rights movement and politics, which was making the actual nation run. And it looks at how people were fighting for their own independence even if it was through criminality.”
He also wears the hat of co-executive producer on the series.
When asked whether it becomes tricky to navigate his way between that role and lead actor, he said: “Well, we started working on this story a year before we actually did it.
“The process of doing the research and getting the story worked out by the writers fuelled me as an actor because I would get all this knowledge and information and incorporate it into the character.
“When you are working on set, you want to focus on the scenes. But you still have to deal with whatever problems come along, as a producer. You have to put yourself at a point where you see it as this is a part of my character as well as the show.”
In a way, it works out beautifully he pointed out, as Bumpy is trying to run the world that he is in.
One of the ironies of the show is born from his relationship with his estranged daughter. He appears conflicted by his loyalty to her as a father and his devotion to his wife, who is none too pleased about the situation and is pushing Bumpy to cut ties with her.
Whitaker explained: “My daughter has caused a lot of havoc in my life, in the show. You have to look at him and what he is doing. His daughter is a heroin addict and a prostitute on the street. And he is selling drugs. That friction is one of the frustrations he deals with. At the same time, he knows he is one of the better leaders but he has to constantly be fighting for respect. Those things are his struggle throughout the show.”
Although he has ventured into directing, he isn’t keen to return to it any time soon.
“In a few years or so. I haven’t done it in a while. It has to be something very special for me to do it. Right now, the characters I’m getting are just so interesting. I do love being in front of the camera,” he explained.
When it comes to agreeing to a part, he bases it on how it helps him grow as an actor. “Sometimes, it is just an instinctual feeling.”
And on that note, I said my goodbyes to the inimitable actor, silently marvelling over his Zen disposition and impassioned responses.
Respect!
Godfather of Harlem is on Showmax and 1Magic (DStv channel 103) on Tuesday at 9.30pm.