Sam Rockwell | actor | Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

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Sam Rockwell

Profession: Actor
Place/Date of Birth: California, 05 November 2020

Yes, Zaphod’s a charismatic guy who’s in a good mood all the time and that’s very hard. It’s much easier to play a darker character, because if you go to work in a bad mood - which you usually do - you can just use that for the part. But if you’re in a bad mood and you’ve got to play Zaphod’s happy head, it’s tough. The only bit of relief was playing his second head, because that head has all Zaphod’s bad vibes trapped in it, so it’s more mischievous.

Q: Talking of heads, you’re in new movie Jarhead, as a tribute to your war hero uncle. Does your family have a big influence on the movies you choose?

Sure, I want them to be a part of what I do. My grandfather was a war hero in the navy, so it meant a lot to be able to pay a tribute to him in Jarhead. The film made me think about what he went through. It’s based on the true story of Marine Anthony Swofford’s pre-Desert Storm experiences in Saudi Arabia and his experiences fighting in Kuwait. I play Jake Gyllenhaal’s uncle in a flashback. My character’s a red-neck, which is a great little cameo. I like to appear here and there in different parts, big or small, to keep myself from getting labelled.

Q: Is that your big fear, being typecast as a particular actor?

People always want to label you: "Oh he’s a comedy guy, or some weirdo character actor." I don’t have traditional leading man looks and I’m not really a character actor, so I’m in-between. That’s good, because I can do what I like. I’ve got a pretty malleable face and I’ll wear wigs or false teeth, whatever, to make sure I have a diverse career. If you play a paedophile in the Green Mile, Hollywood offers you the paedophile in the Blue Mile, so you have to take the initiative or you’ll keep playing the same parts and that makes acting really boring. Who knows what I’ll be next time?
(CM/WN/ES)

By Charli Morgan

Read review of the film:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy