Tag: 3.2.1…frankie go boom
ComingSoon.net — Hitting theaters this Friday, 3,2,1… Frankie Go Boom is an off-the-wall comedy from writer/director Jordan Roberts with a cast that includes Charlie Hunnam, Chris O’Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Nora Dunn, Whitney Cummings, Ron Perlman and Chris Noth.
In the film, Hunnam plays Frank Bartlett a seemingly ordinary young man who has spent his entire life being tortured, embarrassed and humiliated by his older brother Bruce (O’Dowd) who has a fondness for catching Frank on film at his very worst. As Frank begins a new phase of his life and hits it off with a girl, Lassie (Lizzy Caplan), he thinks that his brother is finally going to let him be. Before long, however, Frank finds himself, Lassie and Bruce involved in a situation that involves a sex tape, a feature film production and a 200 pound transsexual named Phyllis (Perlman).
ComingSoon.net spoke with Perlman, Hunnam and Caplan about the unique indie comedy and playing against type. Perlman and Hunnam also talked about carrying over their friendship from “Sons of Anarchy” and how they’ll again appear together in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim.
ComingSoon.net: How did “Frankie Go Boom” come your way?
Ron Perlman: Charlie [Hunnam] was signed on to do it. I guess the filmmakers said, “How would you feel about passing this on to your pal Ron from ‘Sons of Anarchy’?” He said, “Sure, I’ll do that. Ron loves to read stuff.” Which I do. I knew by about page two and half that I wanted to be in the movie. I didn’t know until about page 55 where Phyllis first appears that that would be the incarnation that I would be assuming. It all happened in, like, one day. They sent me the script, I read and I signed on in one day. There wasn’t even a discussion with the filmmaker.
CS: It’s funny to think of you as a guy famous for intricate makeup roles. This is definitely a makeup role, but it’s a decidedly different approach.
Perlman: It is and it isn’t. Makeup roles create transformational kinds of characters that you don’t see in the everyday world. Nor would you see Phyllis, probably, very often.
CS: One of the funniest things about Phyllis is that it’s such a straight performance. How hard is keeping a straight face while doing a scene?
Perlman: Well, that’s basically what they pay us for. To find the reality of everything. What makes comedy funny is that people can be so serious about their reality to the point of ridiculousness. Therein lies the comedy. If you really deconstruct any comedic performance, you’re going to see huge amounts of earnestness to the point where it’s comical. I figured this was the best approach for Phyllis. Find the reality of who he was as a guy and find the reason that was compelling him to transform himself and how he feels about life now that he’s got his wish.
CS: It seems like you have a lot of range to craft Phyllis’ character. How much of who she is came immediately from the script?
Perlman: All of it. I didn’t alter a word. I thought the script was perfect. I didn’t think it needed improving upon or more explanation. It just needed to be digested and then spit back out on a performance level.
CS: This is a film that has attracted a lot of interesting talent and I’m curious if that might be because, on one level, the plot sort of plays like a microcosm of the film industry.
Perlman: No, it’s just funny. It delivers. Jordan [Roberts] is a great writer of comedy. He got me from page one. Like I said, I wasn’t even up to page three when I thought, “S–t, I’m going to be in this movie. I don’t know if it’s going to be for the role they’re looking at me for, though I’d love that role, too.” I felt as though I had kind of come close to playing that role on other occasions while I didn’t feel like I had ever come close to playing Phyllis. Nor would I ever feel the need to play a character like Phyllis again. This was going to be my lady. (laughs)
CS: You’re at a very interesting point in your career where the projects that you pick can be projects that truly interest you.
Perlman: That is true. I’m a really, really lucky point where I have this phenomenal day job with “Sons of Anarchy,” which is now finishing its fifth season and promises to have at least one more and probably two more to go. That enables me to not do anything else if I don’t want to and, if I do want to, to only do the things that I feel really strongly about. It doesn’t have to be about money. This is probably the happiest place I’ve ever been as an actor in my life. I get a chance to just do things for the love of it because the commerce part has been taken care of by the grace of God. I’m pretty fortunate.
CS: One of the other things we saw you in this year was the quasi-Punisher short film “Dirty Laundry,” which really seemed like a labor of love…
Perlman: Absolutely.
CS: And most incredible was the work you did with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, dressing as Hellboy again for a young fan.
Perlman: It’s just a real blessing to be in a position to help where a kid who’s struggling who has had his life a little bit lightened by something that you’re involved in doing. To be asked to participate in the amazing work of the great Make-A-Wish Foundation is an honor. It’s a blessing. If you don’t know why you’re here and that’s not the reason, you’re missing something. What good is doing a comic book hero if you can’t put a smile on a kid’s face who’s really struggling for his life.
CS: It’s also so great that that kid loved Hellboy.
Perlman: Yeah, he spent many, many hours in chemo watching those movies. Continue reading Charlie discusses ‘Frankie Go Boom’ and more with ComingSoon.net
Collider.com — The outrageous comedy Frankie Go Boom, from writer/director Jordan Roberts, tells the story of Frank Bartlett (Charlie Hunnam), who tells himself that he’s holed up in the desert to write, but in reality is just hiding from his family, namely his brother Bruce (Chris O’Dowd). A reckless but charming addict, Bruce has always enjoyed secretly filming Frank in all sorts of compromising positions and sobriety isn’t making their relationship any better. And as much as Frankie tries to move on with his life, family just keeps sucking him back in.
At the film’s press day, actor Charlie Hunnam spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview about why he didn’t think he was right for this role, what finally convinced him to sign on, what made Ron Perlman the perfect actor for Phyllis, how it was to work with Lizzy Caplan, and giving CPR to a pig. He also talked about what it’s been like to be a part of Sons of Anarchy and how bittersweet it is that they’re closer to the end of the show now than the beginning, and his desire to direct a film that he’s written for Tommy Flanagan (who plays Chibs on SOA) to star in. Check out what he had to say after the jump.
Collider: How did this role come your way?
CHARLIE HUNNAM: For some reason, through the process of writing this and talking about casting it, (writer/director) Jordan [Roberts], in the most unlikely choice ever, arrived at me, as the guy he desperately wanted to play this lead role. He wrote me a beautiful letter, for when they submitted the script and offered it to me. I just read it and didn’t see myself in that role and didn’t understand why he had arrived at that decision, or what he saw in me that he thought was going to be interesting, in this role. I thought, “There are so many great unemployed comedic actors out there that could just kill this.”
So, I somewhat reluctantly agreed to meet him. I said, “Listen, I just feel like this guy is a slightly dorky, meek guy, who constantly is getting taken advantage of. Not to say that I couldn’t play that, but it’s not an obvious leap for me. I’m usually the guy that’s kicking everyone’s ass, and that’s kind of who I am, as a person. This is going to be a huge departure for me and a huge challenge.” And he said, “Let me explain to you why you’re the guy that I want. The very obvious way to tell this story is this weak, dorky, meek guy who can’t stand up for himself. What about if he is just a regular guy that, in any other situation, could stand up for himself, and who every dude in the audience can relate to. He just has this giant larger-than-life brother, who’s a complete psycho, who would dominate anybody. That’s the more interesting way to play this, and that’s why I want you.”
That opened it up to me, and I started looking at it in a way that did, all of a sudden, seem feasible. And then, I still said, “Listen, I don’t think it’s for me. I think you should hire a comedian.” He just wore me down. Ultimately, we made this for less than half a million dollars and I figured, “If it’s shit, no one’s going to see it. But, if we do a good job and if I manage to do a good job, and people do see it, then that’s going to be fun.” It just felt like a no-risk way to go and challenge myself.
Did you immediately decide that you wanted to torture Ron Perlman and get him to play Phyllis?
HUNNAM: Yeah, pretty much! Any time I can torture Ron, I jump at the chance. Chris O’Dowd had been cast, and then I was cast. And then, we had to find the girl, so I read with a bunch of girls. When Lizzy [Caplan] came in, she was just spectacular and it became very clear that she was the choice. And then, we had no time. We had about 10 days and we needed to cast the rest of the movie. So, we had a long conversation and Ron got brought up to play the Chris Noth role. We talked about it and talked about it and talked about it, and I said, “You know, we’ve got a shot at him. He might actually come do this.” So, we sent it to him and I said, “Listen, man, we’ve got a week to cast this movie. Please, if you’re going to read it and actually engage, could you do it tonight and let us know tomorrow ‘cause we’re really up against it.” And he said, “Yeah, I’ll read it.” I figured that I wasn’t going to hear back from him, but he called me in the morning and said, “Okay, I read the script.” I said, “What do you think of the role?,” and he said, “I don’t like it.” I said, “Okay, well, thanks for reading it,” and he said, “Wait, I want to play Phyllis.” I said, “What?! What are you talking about, man?,” and he said, “Charlie, I need you to keep this just between you and I. I have always secretly wanted to play a woman.” I said, “You’re a twisted dude, but I think the director is going to be very excited to hear that.” So, I told Jordan and he just laughed hysterically and said, “Tell him, he’s got the job,” and that was that. And then, Ron shot his entire performance in one day. He just came in and did it, and it was fun.
What was it like to work with Ron Perlman, in this capacity?
HUNNAM: It was really great for me. Ron’s been doing this a long time and is very, very good at what he does. He can just show up and do it. I’m a little more internal, and I work at it a little harder ‘cause I haven’t been doing it as long as he has. So, I find it very difficult to flip-flop on the set. When Ron and I are doing a bunch of scenes together [for Sons of Anarchy] where it’s really contentious, I’m not really good at just being friendly between takes and changing gears and laughing and joking, and then, as soon as they say, “Action!,” acting like I hate this guy. I need to believe that I hate him. So, I really keep Ron at an arm’s length on set, which is difficult for both of us, particularly him, because we really, really like each other. But, it’s just what I have to do. It’s the only way I know how to get the results I want. Hopefully, as I get older, I won’t have to be as crazy, like that. But, this was an opportunity for us to work together where it was just light and fun. It was just my favorite day of filming that I’ve ever had. I love Ron, as a man, and I think he’s an incredible actor. It was good to have fun with him and actually enjoy each other’s company, rather than hating each other, even if he did have to stick his tongue in my mouth.
What was your reaction when you saw him in the make-up and wardrobe? Was it ever hard not to laugh?
HUNNAM: It was just like we won the lottery, when he stepped out of the trailer. We flip-flopped. Normally, I’m the crazy one that’s being a bit method, but he just turned into Phyllis. I said, “Whoa, man, this is just too deliciously absurd for words! I can’t believe what I’m looking at right now!” And he said, “Oh, stop it, darling! Now, walk me to set.” So, he put his arm out and we walked, arm-in-arm, to set. I thought, “This is so perverse and absurd, but I kind of love it.” Continue reading Charlie talks ‘Frankie Go Boom’, the success of ‘Sons of Anarchy’, his desire to direct and more with Collider.com
Make sure you check out the entire interview with Charlie and his Frankie Go Boom co-star Lizzy Caplan over at BUZZINEFILM.COM – It’s hilarious!
Q: You and Ron have now done three projects together, and we were wondering, are the two of you having this built into your contracts now, that one doesn’t work unless the other is brought in?
Charlie Hunnam: You know, safety in numbers. Why not? We’re huge stars now. We get to call the shots, so why not just bend them to our will?
Lizzy Caplan: What’s the third one?
Q: Pacific Rim.
CH: Ahhh, just this little three hundred million dollar movie [laughs] that we’ve just done, doesn’t matter.
LC: I really don’t follow Charlie’s career, I mean I knownothing about him! Nothing.
Q: How much rehearsal time, if at all, do you have to develop the chemistry that you have on screen?
CH: I think it’s just innate.
LC: I’m a genius actress. I mean, really good.
CH: And we’re just clearly very attracted to each other.
LC: Oh god. If you even knew what was happening beneath this table right now… [Laughs]
CH: We didn’t actually really have much time at all. You know what I think was actually kind of a fun thing, is that we did all of the rehearsal and costume and make up and everything all at Jordan’s house. So we kind of, that’s the thing that I remember, more than any rehearsal, I think you were there [looks at Caplan] – ‘cause I cut my locks off for this movie –
LC: You were such a crybaby about it.
CH: I was such a crybaby about it, but those guys were there to witness it and hold my hand through the process. So we had probably two or three days of hanging, but this whole thing was a very, very fast process. We shot the film I believe in 20 days… 19 or 20 days –
LC: Yeah, something like that.
CH: – for no money at all, and it was really just kind of – more than any type of rehearsal or bonding or anything, I just feel like the movie had something of an energy to it, that was just like, none of us had to do this, or [do it] for money, ‘cause none of us were getting paid. And it was just kind of a fun couple of days, a fun four week romp that we got together and had this experience together. You know, it just felt kind of free –
LC: Summer camp!
CH: And summer campy –
LC: Yeah, you really have to want to be there because you’re definitely not doing it for any of the creature comforts. And they were long days, and some of them were hard days. But it was you know, it was fun. Chris O’Dowd was fantastic. Like our whole cast – I’m such a fan of all of theirs, except for Charlie… and so, I was just having a good time hanging out with all those guys. And I knew Whitney [Cummings] for a few years before…
CH: Ah yes, Whitney.
ShockYa.com — Charlie Hunnam is perhaps best known to American audiences as Jax Teller in FX’s rough-and-tumble “Sons of Anarchy.” In fact, he’s so convincing in that gritty biker serial that a lot of folks don’t even know that in real life he’s a considerably accented Brit. In his new film, however, Hunnam tosses another curveball — returning to comedy for the first time in many years, in writer-director Jordan Roberts’ “3,2,1… Frankie Go Boom.” In it, Hunnam plays the perpetually beleaguered title character, whose newly sober, would-be filmmaker brother, Bruce (Chris O’Dowd, of “Bridesmaids”), throws his life into further disarray by posting a sex tape of Frank’s. For ShockYa, Brent Simon recently had the chance to talk to the amiable Hunnam one-on-one, about “Frankie,” Internet piracy, his gangster friends and sharing some decidedly wild scenes with his “Anarchy” co-star Ron Perlman. The conversation is excerpted below:
ShockYa: So Jordan was just telling me that this movie is the most pirated on the web this week. What do you make of that?
Charlie Hunnam: It’s just one of these unfortunate realities of this technological revolution. It’s easier to make films like this and get them out into the marketplace, for people to see them. We don’t have to have a huge distribution deal and 1,000 screens to get it out there, but the flipside of that is that it’s much easier to then go and pirate that material and send it out into the world. You know, of course, not being the financier, my feeling is that I really wish people wouldn’t pirate, because it makes it more difficult to make films… but there’s still a certain satisfaction that people are going out and seeking out the material, seeking out the thing we made. It’s a tricky thing.
ShockYa: Did you ever download illegal music via Napster or anything when you were younger?
CH: No, I really didn’t — partly because I’m not really technologically savvy, and partly because I grew up in a very backwards place, an economically and socially depressed area that was definitely 10 years behind the rest of the south of England, Newcastle Upon Tyne. I actually didn’t even really have access to a computer until I was 18 or so. I’d never sent an email or anything like that. You know, if you grew up in Los Angeles at the same age as me you would have had a computer at age 12, but it just wasn’t a reality for me. And so by the time I got connected, I was already working in this business and wouldn’t and couldn’t justify stealing the product that I was participating in making, you know? Sometimes a friend of mine and I will be talking about a new band and they’ll be like, “Will you burn that for me?” And I’ll be like, “Yeah, yeah,” but then I’ll be like, “I’d actually rather just give you the money and let you go buy it.” I actually really enjoy corporate theft — I’m not a guy who particularly has a weak stomach when it comes to crime. I have a lot of friends who are criminals — just, like, actively, everyday gangsters, and I have no problem with that whatsoever. A friend of mine robbed 32 banks and ended up [getting] caught, did his time, and is out now, and that’s behind him. But he targeted institutions that he didn’t think were righteous — big banks that are not being very nice to their customers. He was a righteous gangster. And his story I just find absolutely marvelous. But it seems like stealing from artists, knowing what it is to be a struggling artist, doesn’t seem that cool to me. Hurting the individual I really disdain; hurting big corporate America I kind of absolutely admire.
ShockYa: How did Jordan pitch this to you? I’ve seen a lot of your films, and wouldn’t necessarily initially see you as this character.
CH: Of course, I know! The rest of the cast is no-brainers for these roles, but this was an offer, actually — Jordan submitted the script with an offer and a long letter telling me not really why he wanted me but that it wasn’t an arbitrary decision. He said he’d been a fan of mine for a long time, and cited several different movies I’d done in the past. Then we met and had a long conversation. I’d read the script and not to say I didn’t like it… but [I saw Frank as] a really meek guy who’s really put upon, just this dorky guy. And I would love to think that I could pull that off, but I was even a little heavier than I am now and in thick of “Sons of Anarchy” mode, and really couldn’t see myself in the role. And Jordan said, “Yes, you’re right, that is the opinion of the vast majority of people who read that script, but that’s not what I want. It’s a much more interesting dynamic if this guy is just an Everyday guy that any dude in the audience could relate to. He’s maybe been in a half dozen fights in his life, and this and that. It’s not that he’s a meek guy, it’s the fact that his brother is so overwhelming and such a psycho that he would dominate anybody.” So that was the initial pitch, and it seemed all of a sudden a little more accessible to me. But I was still very nervous about it. We talked and talked about it, and I ended up turning it down, but he came back to me, and ultimately I just fell in love with Jordan. He had such integrity, and I was for the first time in my life was at a place where I’d risen to a place where, on a tiny movie like this, I could actually help get it made. So I felt like I wanted to help. And it also felt like a huge challenge to me, because the more I thought about it the more I felt like I’d settled into a safe zone where I was playing characters that were very easy to access. So I thought, why not stretch and try something? Ultimately we’re making this movie for $500,000, so if it’s a total disaster then no one’s going to see it anyway. It was a long process to pluck up the courage to say yes.
ShockYa: You’re a younger brother in real life, right? Did any of your experiences jibe with Frank’s in the movie?
CH: Yes, I’d completely forgotten about that. I definitely do feel some similarities, though. I [told Jordan my brother is] one of the toughest guys I’ve ever met — the kind of guy, at least when we were growing up together, where you’d go out on a night of drinking and you might end up on a stolen boat in the North Sea, because at some point in the night he might say, “Yo, let’s go sailing!” And this is that type of guy — totally dominated by brother. As I was. Now I have two younger brothers too, because I’m in the middle, and so for a period of time I dominated them too, because that’s how it works with brothers — you just pay it forward.
ShockYa: Your “Anarchy” co-star, Ron Perlman, plays a transsexual in this movie. What were your scenes like with him?
CH: Chris O’Dowd had been hired, and then Jordan hired me and I read with a bunch of girls and Lizzy (Caplan) was spectacular. Then we had about 10 days and had to find the rest of the cast. So we sent it to Ron to play the Chris Noth role, and then kind of cheekily put in parantheses at the bottom, or you can check out the Phyllis role, because that wasn’t cast. And then he called the next morning and said he’d fallen in love with the role. And I was like, “Really?! Why?” And he said (adopting deeper voice), “Well, Chuck, I’ll tell you this, but you can’t tell anyone else — secretly, I’ve always wanted to play a woman.” (laughs) And I said, “OK, you’re totally psycho, but let’s go.” I told Jordan and he was so delighted. We shot Ron’s entire role in one day, and it was the most fun day on set that I’ve ever had. Ron has been doing this for thirty-some years and is such a pro, and so great at what he does that he doesn’t have to work in quite the same way that I do. Like, our approach is very, very different. I feel like I need to do a lot of work to get myself to certain places, and I’m not really comfortable jumping in and out of certain dynamics, so on set when Ron and I have seven scenes over the course of a day where we’re supposed to loathe each other I am not really that comfortable joking around with him in between takes. Now he is very comfortable with that, but I kind of hold him at arm’s length, which is difficult for both of us because we both like each other and we work together for five-and-a-half moths out of the year. But I always feel like my own work is better when I “method” it a little bit — I don’t really phrase it to myself like that, but it’s just a process that I go about. So with this it was just so lovely to have a day where we could just be pals and laugh and have fun. He showed my his “man-gina.” (laughs) So I really do hold it as my favorite day on set ever.
Name: Charlie Hunnam
Age: 32
Provenance: Newcastle, England
Relationship status: In a Relationship (with Morgana McNelis)
On the “Brad Pitt” curse: “I was playing pretty boys and these angelic roles like Nicholas Nickleby and all that stuff. And I was like, ‘What am I doing? This isn’t who I am, as a man or an artist.’ I had to overcome people’s belief that I was too pretty to be a badass.”
On initially resisting the role of Frankie: “It seemed too much of a stretch. I’ve been playing Jax Teller for so long and these other aggressive roles. I thought it would take me awhile to get out of that and into a place where I could play this meek, put-upon, dorky guy.”
On Vespa versus Harley: “I don’t think I’ve been on a Vespa? Oh, that’s right…for this movie! I have two motorcycles. This is my pride and joy [reveals a picture of his Harley Davidson]. No comparison. I would rather be the guy steering the big Harley. It’s empowering and makes you feel like a badass. [The Vespa] is really humiliating and makes you feel like an idiot.”
On similarities to Jax Teller: “A lot of my friends are gangsters. Not like gangsters–well, yeah, all sorts of levels of criminality—but not the types that are preying on innocent people. I have no interest in the type of criminality that has no respect for collateral damage. But I don’t condemn the guys who say, ‘This society we’ve created is kind of [messed up], and I’m willing to take it down—for selfish gain—but also to make a point.'”.
On receiving jewelry from his girlfriend: “She told me she was making me a diamond encrusted ring—she’s a jewelry designer, not an actor—and I was like ‘Uh-oh. This is not going to go well for me.’ But I love it. It’s so discrete and beautiful. Her company is Maison de Morgana.
Playboy.com — Since storming onto the scene four years ago as the heir apparent of the fictional Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Jax Teller, 32-year-old English actor and screenwriter Charlie Hunnam has quickly risen up the ranks as one of the most desirable young thespians in the business who would rather cast off his own opinions and concentrate on his craft than cut another paycheck in the spotlight.
Despite his heavy SOA schedule, Hunnam is already slated for two major releases in the next nine months: crime drama Deadfall, costarring Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde, and the highly anticipated sci-fi flick Pacific Rim from acclaimed fantasy director Guillermo del Toro.
Sons returned to FX last month for its fifth season, already dominating both cable and broadcast network ratings; Hunnam’s next move is independent comedy 3,2,1…Frankie Go Boom, out on VOD now and in theaters Friday, alongside Lizzy Caplan and Sons costar Ron Perlman. After an attempted drunken night’s hookup leads to a sibling-filmed incompetent sex video being marketed to a porn studio, Hunnam’s hilarious Frankie must deal with the likes of angels, over-eager swine and, naturally, a murderous father-in-law.
Charlie sat down with us to chat about his new film, the origins of Ron Perlman and the legend of the infamous white tennis shoes. It would be unfair to neglect the fact that he also shares a birthday with Mr. Hugh M. Hefner himself.
Playboy.com: What did you enjoy most about visiting the Playboy Mansion: meeting Hugh or the Bunnies?
Hunnam: I was actually more excited to meet the animals. [laughs] I’m an animal lover. He has a huge variety of animals out back.
Playboy.com: 3,2,1…Frankie Go Boom is coming out next month. Tell us about the film.
Hunnam: It’s a really sweet, wacky sex comedy. It’s a pretty hard film to sum up. It’s a love story set amongst the backdrop of total eccentric mania.
Playboy.com: Frankie’s parents would be the type to keep around little blue pills; wouldn’t that have solved the film’s conundrum?
Hunnam: That would work, but what would we do for the other hour? [laughs] I think that after being screwed over so many times by his mom and his brother, he has developed an absolute refusal to go to his family for anything, which is probably what stopped him from going to borrow one of Dad’s Viagra.
Playboy.com: Similar to Frankie in the film, have you ever been given reason to be afraid of your girlfriend’s father?
Hunnam: I’m not very good at most things, but I’m pretty good at relationships. I grew up with a single mother, so she kind of drummed into us being chivalrous and treating our partners well and not being a total asshole. So I’ve gotten along well with the fathers-in-law.
Playboy.com: What was the most bizarre scene to film in FGB?
Hunnam: I think having to wrestle that pig; it was a harrowing experience. They are very aggressive, strong, loud creatures. You can’t even believe the noise and ferociousness of this little beast. He was so placid before I picked him up, and the second I did he pissed all over me. Screaming and crying and wriggling and tried to bite me! I was like, wow; could we not get a prosthetic pig? But then he got used to me and was a little better to work with.
Playboy.com: So no threats of bacon were uttered?
Hunnam: No, man. I haven’t eaten pork in 25 years so I thought I was a shoo-in with this pig! I thought he was going to love me, but I didn’t get any bonus points for that. [laughs] I don’t even get points from cops for not eating pork, which I also kind of regret.
Playboy.com: The fifth season of Sons of Anarchy just started up; what can we look forward to this season?
Hunnam: It has felt to me like a fresh, really new dynamic within the club. Now that I’m president, it went from, overnight, the old-school dictatorship to the new, cool democracy. The young and up-and-coming guys in the club like me and Chibs and Tig and those guys are really starting to run the show a little bit more. Of course Clay (Ron Perlman) still has a dangerous presence hanging over the guys, and you never know what to expect from that guy, but it really feels…and Perlman actually just walked into this room — it’s always going to be a little bit contentious between them.
Playboy.com: You’re costarring alongside Ron Perlman in Frankie where he plays a cross-dresser. He has some pretty crazy storylines with both this and Sons of Anarchy. What species is that man?
Hunnam: [Laughs] Did you just say what species is he? Man, I don’t know, but there’s not too many of them walking around! I’m pretty sure it’s not human, might be some crossbreed like half-human, half — Wait…Maybe if a caveman mated with a Neanderthal mated with a contemporary man — with a little bit of rhino thrown in there? That’s Perlman.
Playboy.com: Sons creator Kurt Sutter is known to be very transparent in his opinion of the media, the industry and entertainment as a whole. What is it like working with him and how does it affect his role on the show compared to working on other projects?
Hunnam: I have a great relationship with Kurt and interact with him often. But in terms of the day-to-day making of the show, he’s not that involved with my part of it. He writes every episode and he edits every episode, but he only directs the finale. When’s he not directing he doesn’t come to set.
He’s a very opinionated guy; we have a different strategy in that regard. I only want to be known for my work. I’m an actor and I’m a writer and that’s all I want. I have no interest in being a celebrity or a personality — or even to share my opinions publicly. I want to share my opinion as a character in a film, not my opinion as an actor in the world. But that’s fine if he wants to go out and kind of make his narration on how he sees things. That’s his prerogative; I just have a different approach, personally. That’s because I’m not so sure about my opinions. For an actor, anonymity is the absolute best friend, because then you can reside solely in the world of the characters you play.
After a while, in the period when Tom Cruise was out talking about his stuff, you get the sense — when you’re walking into a Tom Cruise movie, you do that with baggage. I like the Daniel Day-Lewis route, where you go in and you show up every three years, and you never hear anything otherwise. Though there’s absolutely part of an actor’s life where he’s required to go out and publicize his movie. But still, that’s not me talking about myself, that’s me talking about my movie.
Playboy.com: What research did you do to come across as an authentic biker? Was it hard to mask your British accent?
Hunnam: I have the ability to do it perfectly, but I definitely slip up. [laughs] I love research, when you’re welcomed into a world. Hollywood is so seductive; it gives you access into worlds that you’d never normally be given access to. I got access to — and I don’t want to say their name outright — the most famous white bikers’ club in the world. I got to go hang out with them for a couple of weeks. Out of that research I learn so much, but the stuff I get absolutely right in the TV show is the stuff I get criticized for the most.
I’ve got “weekend warriors” who aren’t really living the life. They’ve got a Harley, and they ride bikes once or twice a month; I ride my motorcycle every single day, exclusively. I have a car, but I don’t even know where the car keys are anymore. These guys come up to me, “Why do you wear white tennis shoes on the show? Bikers don’t wear tennis shoes!” I’m like, “No, man, you don’t wear tennis shoes ’cause you’re a fucking dentist!” All my friends that are actually patched members of the most famous outlaw motorcycle group in the world all wear tennis shoes, so why don’t you go fuck yourself.
That thing drives me crazy about the white sneaks on the show. Because I wear the same shoes, the same jeans — same make, same cut, same wash — same hoodies and exact same construct as a guy that I met who had grown up in that motorcycle club. He’s 22 years old; he has had every single birthday party of his life in the clubhouse in his hometown where he grew up. His father was a 37-year member of that club. I actually found the guy that I was playing in the show. He was part of that life, and a total outlaw, and he was shot dead two weeks before we started filming.
Playboy.com: You have Pacific Rim coming up next year. What can you tell us about the project?
Hunnam: We’re telling a story in a world where monsters are living among us, coinhabiting this planet with us, and they’re very, very hostile. It’s a beautiful drama about a few people who are embroiled in this fight with these monsters. I feel like I don’t have an appetite for a lot of these comic book movies that come out about monsters and robots and stuff because I feel they are unmistakably cynical enterprises, exclusively designed to make money. That’s not the kind of thing I’m interested in; I’m interested in telling beautiful stories. So when you have that kind of world with Guillermo at the helm? All of that cynicism falls away and you’re actually making an authentic film with integrity and it just happens to be about monsters.
Playboy.com: What was your first Playboy?
Hunnam: I came to Playboy pretty late; I can’t remember what beautiful lady was on the cover, but I was probably about age 16 or 17.
3,2,1…Frankie Go Boom is available now on VOD and in theaters Friday. Sons of Anarchy airs Tuesday at 10/9c on FX.