Morgan Freeman on the Roles He Finds Most Challenging
Morgan Freeman opens up about the emotional toll of portraying real people, sharing why he’s only taken on such roles twice, including his turn as Nelson Mandela in Invictus.
Stepping into someone else’s life on screen is no small feat, and for Morgan Freeman, it’s a challenge that’s left a lasting impression. With a career that’s spanned decades and included everything from playing God to grizzled detectives, Freeman’s still going strong well into his eighties. He’s got a list of things he’s keen to tick off, like working alongside Meryl Streep or finally getting a spot on Saturday Night Live, but there’s one ambition that’s slipped out of reach with time: portraying the legendary Bass Reeves. Freeman’s always been more than capable of handling a biopic, but these days, he prefers roles that don’t demand quite so much emotionally.
Freeman’s experience with playing real people is surprisingly limited, especially for someone of his stature. He’s only done it twice, but both times left a mark. The most notable was his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Invictus, a role that came with its own set of pressures. Freeman once said it felt like “destiny” to take on Mandela, especially after Mandela himself named him as his preferred choice in his autobiography back in 1992. That sort of endorsement would give anyone a boost, but it didn’t make the job any easier.
Facing the Realities of Playing Real People
Freeman has spoken about the unique difficulties of playing someone who actually exists, especially when you can’t meet them in person.
“I don’t play living people—I’ve only done it twice now,”
he explained. Comparing his experiences, he said that working on Lean on Me was a bit easier because the real Joe Clark was around on set.
“With Lean on Me, the real Joe was there every day, and that made it easier, because if you’re going to play a living person, it helps to hold hands, literally. You get a sense of their energy, whether it’s high or low or if this person is calm or humming with anxiety.”
That direct connection made a world of difference.
When it came to Invictus, Freeman had to rely on hours of footage and interviews to get a sense of Mandela’s mannerisms and presence. He watched everything he could find, from casual moments to major public appearances. It was through this deep dive that he picked up on subtle details, like Mandela’s tendency not to use his left hand much. Freeman didn’t know the reason behind it, but it struck a chord with him, especially since he’d had trouble with his own left hand after a car accident.
“I was sort of relieved, because I can’t use mine well either, since my car accident last year. There’s no reason to. You don’t act like there’s something wrong with the hand; you just don’t use it.”
Building a Connection Without Meeting
Without the chance to meet Mandela in person, Freeman had to find other ways to connect. He reckoned that picking up on those small, almost invisible habits helped him build a sense of who Mandela was, even if it was just through a screen. It’s the sort of thing that most punters wouldn’t notice, but for Freeman, it was crucial to getting the role right.
Looking back, Freeman’s time preparing for Invictus stands out from the rest of his work. The process was intense, and the responsibility weighed heavily, especially knowing how much Mandela meant to so many people. Even before he officially signed on, Freeman had been watching and learning, almost as if he was getting ready for the part without realising it.
Why Freeman Prefers Fictional Characters
After Invictus, Freeman found that most other projects just didn’t have the same impact. The emotional load of playing a real person, especially someone as significant as Mandela, was something he didn’t take lightly. These days, he’s more drawn to roles that let him create a character from scratch, without the pressure of living up to someone else’s legacy. It’s a choice that’s kept him going strong, with no sign of slowing down any time soon.