Forest Whitaker interview
Whitaker stops by LIVE with Kelly and Michael to promote Taken 3. He also discusses how he is ready for Broadway.
I’m talking to different producers right now to figure out what I might be able to do, I’m excited. When I was in college, that was my goal.
‘Special soul’
Whitaker tweets a poem and releases a statement on the death of his Good Morning Vietnam and The Butler co-star:
The world has lost a special soul. Robin Williams touched our hearts, he gave us laughter, he gave us joy, he made us think about the impossible. I’m blessed to have been able to walk inside his universe. He forever changed this world with his presence. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all those who hold him dear. Rest in Peace
U touched our lives
U touched our hearts
U gave us laughter n joy
U'r a beautiful soul
U will be missed
Our love to the family
RIP Robin W.— Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) August 12, 2014
Tavis Smiley interview
Whitaker discusses his latest movie, Repentance, and touches on his foundation that empowers young people into becoming community leaders.
It tries to work with peace-builders to become community builders in their neighborhoods. We work with the first 34 youths and we train them in conflict transformation and life skills, because we work with life coaching and things of that nature, and trauma release and stuff like that.
Essence Cover
Winfrey, Whitaker, Jordan, and Ejiofor appear on the cover of Essence magazine to discuss their upcoming movies, The Help and 12 Years A Slave. Winfrey on being sexy:
I don’t think of myself as being sexy and I’m not even sure how one is sexy.
Ejiofor on his role:
Even though there were emotional moments to shoot, overall I think every member of the cast and crew was there for one reason: They felt it was a tale that deserved to be told.
Wins Oscar
Whitaker wins the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Idi Amin in Kevin MacDonald’s biopic The Last King of Scotland. Reese Witherspoon presents the award.
When I was a kid the only way that I saw movies was from the backseat of my family’s car at the drive-in, and it wasn’t my reality to think I would be acting in movies. So receiving this honor tonight tells me that it’s possible, it is possible for a kid from east Texas, raised in South Central L.A., in Carson, who believes in his dreams, commits himself to them with his heart, to touch them and to have them happen. Because when I first started acting, it was because of my desire to connect to everyone, to that thing inside each of us, that light that I believe exists in all of us. Because acting for me is about believing in that connection; and it’s a connection so strong, it’s a connection so deep that we feel it and through our combined belief we can create a new reality.
