Interviews from the Premiere: Richard Roxburgh BACK
Interviews from the
World Premiere of "Van Helsing"
The fact Hugh Jackman looks up to Richard Roxburgh worked in Roxburgh's favor
when it came time to cast "Van Helsing's" Count Dracula. Director Stephen
Sommers wanted Van Helsing to be in awe of Dracula, and Jackman's real life
admiration of Roxburgh's work helped capture the exact spirit Sommers was
looking for.
Sommers believes Roxburgh's portrayal of Dracula is right on target. "The movie
takes place in the 1800s and Richard plays Dracula like a kind of privileged
rock starin a really good way. Theres something sexy, twisted and cool about
the way Richard inhabits the role."
INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD ROXBURGH ('Dracula'):
How do you take a
classic character like this and make it your own?
Really, I think in the same way as you do when you do a role that everybodys
seen on stage before. Its the same thing. You have to sort of see the way that
the character behaves, and what the character says and does, and claim it in the
same way that you claim anything, really.
Did you study the old
classics before taking on this role?
No, not really. I did have a look at the Bela Lugosi Dracula because there was
a sense of homage to those old films in this that Steve [Sommers] wanted to
achieve, so I looked at it for that reason.
What makes these
creatures still so appealing to moviegoers?
I dont know. I really dont know. I think theyve been scaring and tantalizing
people for decades, if not hundreds of years, obviously before cinema. I guess
they must appeal to people on a sort of deep level. But thats a job for a
shrink (laughing).
What type of training
did you do for your walking on the ceiling stunt?
There was no training really. They just said, Here, put on this harness and
well throw this thing up between your legs. And then they drag you upside
down. The hard bit is trying to talk without spitting up your own nose, which is
actually what happens if you hang upside down (laughing).
Did you think they
were crazy when they told you what you were going to be doing?
No, I actually enjoyed the challenge of all those things, I have to say. I kind
of love all that stuff those physical challenges. I guess there will come a
time when Ill get sick of it but at this stage, I just like it all.
Shuler Hensley and "Van Helsing" star Hugh Jackman shared the stage for the London revival of the musical, "Oklahoma." Friends off screen, "Van Helsing" marks the second time Hensley and Jackman have appeared together in a feature film.