To play Agent 47 is to become one of the most iconic characters in video game history.
Needless to say, Friend has big shoes to fill in the film.
Oh thank you, which one was it?
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The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers.
I did make one after that, calledSteve.
After seeingSuicide Brothers, I wondered why you dont write features.
After theSuicide Brothers, I wrote and directed a short calledStevestarring Colin Firth.
Im really looking forward to it.
So, youre directing, and now youve just doneHitman.You seem to be diversifying a little.
Is there something deliberate here or is that just the way the dice are rolling?
In the beginning of my career, I didnt know that.
I read somewhere that you were actually considering giving up the profession at one point.
That seems to be the misnomer of today.
Somebodys printed that, but I never said that.
I did say that I was out of work very decisively.
I didnt work for a long time.
I guess Ive always been interested in more than just acting.
I did that with them, and I learned construction stuff.
I did some horse whispering.
You say you learned horse whispering.
Do you think those sorts of experiences play into your ability to perform roles now?
Have they improved your skillset?
Theres a parallel from one being a metaphorical throwing yourself into something and the other being a literal one.
Its useful you brought up the stunt side because thats something I wanted to ask about.
How much bearing does the physicality of a role like this have on your role as an actor?
Physicality is hugely important for me.
I studied the games quite a bit to understand how this guy moved.
I was interested in trying to embody that.
You say youve studied the games.
Im not trying to be mystical or deep about my understanding of the psychology ofHitman.
You just have to accept that your job is to take out the target.
Im literally talking practicalities.
Im talking about, literally, how did he move.
Im a big fan of imagination.
I think its the strongest tool we have, and there are some things that you just cant practice.
You cant practice killing people, so really it needs imagination.
The more you trust in that, the more powerful it becomes, I think.
When I spoke to Aleksander and Zachary, I asked them the same question.
Id love your thoughts on it.
Why do you think audiences find characters like Agent 47 so compelling?
If I met someone like that in the pub, Id run.
If they are well done, then we get to have a little bit of everything as well.
Do you play games yourself?
Ive had one or two phases in my life where Ive done it.
One of the things I talked to Zachary about it is how storytelling elements work in a computer game.
It seems that a lot of film actors are working on computer games at the moment.
I dont consider the viewer or anything objective at all when Im doing these things.
I give a shot to consider it subjectively.
I think thats folly.
But I am very interested in where computer games and movies can, and almost certainly will, converge.
Were effectively stepping inside computer games, which is what Im doing when Im playing Agent 47.
Finally: whats your favorite Jason Statham film?
They all go round him in a circle, and its the most homoerotic fight scene ever.
Rupert Friend, thank you very much!
Hitman: Agent 47is out in cinemas now.
