David Oyelowo: ‘I’m very aware of how culturally impactful film can be’
nypost.com“Selma,” said he’s always willing to take chances in different types of roles.“I’ve always believed that the way to a long career is to challenge yourself and the audience’s perception of you,” Oyelowo, 45, told The Post. “I’ve gravitated towards roles that are different from my cultural background, my physical appearance, my accent.
My acting hero is Daniel Day-Lewis. I love his ability to be so chameleonic. So, when opportunities come along that present that possibility, I tend to jump at them. “When Gugu Mbatha-Raw, my dear friend, called me about [‘The Girl Before’], she talked about it as a role she’d be curious to see me in.
It’s hard to pin down if [my character] is an out-and-out villain, or just a guy who’s deeply complicated.” Now streaming, “The Girl Before” is a four-episode limited series based on a 2016 novel about PR exec Jane (Mbatha-Raw), who gets a chance to move into an unusual minimalist house designed by the controlling and enigmatic architect, Edward Monkford (Oyelowo).
In order to live there, Jane must adhere to Edward’s peculiar rules and answer his strange series of questions (such as, “Would you sacrifice your life to save 10 innocent strangers?”) But, she’s game as the two grow closer and bond over suffering similar past tragedies, involving losing children.
Read more on nypost.com
