Quote

I like to play complex characters and the duality, and trying to reach for the light, it's more interesting really. I've gotten to play so many types of guys and I just try to find the humanity in each one of them the best I can.

Forest Whitaker

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Forest Whitaker
Age: 63
Born: 1961
Born: July 15
Actor
Film Actor
Film Director
Film Producer
Karateka
Television Actor
Television Director
Voice Actor
Longview
Texas
Forest Steven Whitaker
Trying
Guy
Gotten
Really
Interesting
Complexes
Like
Light
Complex
Character
Reach
Best
Guys
Find
Characters
Play
Type
Duality
Many
Humanity
Types

More quotes by Forest Whitaker

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Since Idi Amin was from the Sudanese section in the north of Uganda, he was darker skinned. He had more of a blue undertone. So, we did change the coloring of my skin to be closer to his. But otherwise, there were no transformations besides acting.
Forest Whitaker
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Until film is just as easily accessible as a pen or pencil, then it's not completely an art form. In painting you can just pick up a piece of chalk, a stick or whatever. In sculpture you can get a rock. Writing you just need a pencil and paper.
Forest Whitaker
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I do look at that thematic of healing of humanity.
Forest Whitaker
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As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this [Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland]. And then, as a person, I had never been to the African continent. So, I knew, personally, it would reshape me.
Forest Whitaker
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I stay true, because whatever the project is, I'm still looking for inside of that character.
Forest Whitaker
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The true wealth of a community is measured by how carefully it listens to its women and how sincerely it values their wisdom. Empowering women empowers us all.
Forest Whitaker
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There are places where life could exist. And we've already discovered that there's been life on certain planets that we've explored. That may just be algae or whatever, but life on Earth began a certain way, too.
Forest Whitaker
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When I was a kid, the only way I saw movies was from the back seat of my family's car at the drive-in.
Forest Whitaker
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I care about people. In the end, I think they feel it. It comes across, regardless of the character I'm portraying.
Forest Whitaker
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I was pretty much consumed by this character. Even when I was off, I was continually searching to find something else new about [Idi] Amin, and to embed myself deeper into the culture to the point that, in the end, I was so entrenched that I could tell what tribe someone was from just by looking at them.
Forest Whitaker
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I do believe there's life other than on our planet.
Forest Whitaker
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I found the people to be very kind and generous. It was unique because the crew was mainly Ugandan [filming The Last King of Scotland]. They had never done a film before. So, they were learning the process of making films, but at the same time they were also helping with the authenticity of the film.
Forest Whitaker
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It is important to make the best out of every generation.
Forest Whitaker
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Stereotypes do exist, but we have to walk through them.
Forest Whitaker
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I think the biggest thing that motivates me when I'm choosing a part is a role that will help me continue to grow as a person and as an artist, and a role that will deepen my understanding of humanity, and my connection to it.
Forest Whitaker
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I really wasn't even sure if I should continue acting. I would like try and figure out if I could be good enough to do it. It was like 10 or 12 years into my career before I felt like maybe I can do it. It was such a different time than now.
Forest Whitaker
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I've always wanted to do characters that would help me find my connection with others and connect all of us together. You always want the energy of the character, the spirit of the person, to enter you.
Forest Whitaker
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I went through two schools of acting but I learned more about acting from meditating and from my marshall arts teacher.
Forest Whitaker
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I certainly don' think I could've played the character [Idi Amin] the same way without being in Uganda. I loved working in Uganda.
Forest Whitaker
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I was trying to capture this man's [Idi Amin] energy, and I did a lot of research in studying him. I tried to capture his 'Warrior King' energy inside of me as much as possible.
Forest Whitaker