| AOLiveMC22: |
We welcome Gabriel Byrne to chat about his role as Satan in the new
movie End of Days. Gabriel has played many diverse roles, such as
Father Andrew Kiernan in Stigmata, and in The Man in the Iron Mask. |
| AOLiveMC13: |
Let's start with this audience question: |
| Question: |
Could you give us the story line of the movie?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
The devil comes back to take over the world at the end of the world
2000. [sic] Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only one who can stop it.
|
| Question: |
Why
did you want to be a part of End Of Days?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Cause it's a great role. It's funny, and villainous.
|
| Question: |
How does one prepare for playing Satan?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
You can't! You use your imagination.
|
| Question: |
You seem to do primarily drama films. Is this by choice, or just
the type of parts you're offered?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
The type of parts I'm offered.
|
| Question: |
Of
all the movies you've done, which stands out in your mind as the
one you're most proud of?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
The Usual Suspects... because it's a great movie.
|
| Question: |
How has the movie affected your perception of religion? Has it changed
your views in any way?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Not at all; it's just a movie.
|
| Question: |
This part was very different form your part in Little Women, to
say the least. Was the part in End of Days a big challenge?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
No, it was more fun than the part in Little Women.
|
| Question: |
Is playing Satan really any different than other evil characters?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
No, it's not.
|
| Question: |
What do you look for when you are offered a role in a movie?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Some kind of challenge that I haven't had before.
|
| Question: |
Who is your favorite actor? Who inspired you?
|
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I've
several. Gene Hackman, Spencer Tracy, Michael Caine, Vanessa Redgrave,
Paul Scofield. |
| Question: |
Mr.
Byrne, I just wanted to say that you are one of my favorite actors.
One of your films in particular, Siesta, is an absolute masterpiece.
Do you have any comments or thoughts to share about that role? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Sincere
thanks for that. And the movie changed my life. I met my wife on that
film. |
| Question: |
I've
seen you in several films and want to know if being the bad guy is
more of a preference than the good guy. |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Oh,
always, good guy is boring. It's boring to act. |
| Question: |
How
do you mentally prepare to play the devil? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
really just used my imagination. I don't know that many devils. |
| Question: |
What
do you do to relax? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
like to read...go to movies, hang out with my kids. These are the
only things I can tell you. :) |
| Question: |
Would
you like to do a comedy in the future? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Yes,
I would like to do more comedy. |
| Question: |
Do
you have any ideas of what role you will pick to play next? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I'm
going to do a play on Broadway called The Moon for the Misbegotten,
after Christmas. An actress called Cherry Jones will be in it with
me. |
| Question: |
Comment
on how this role compares to that of your character in ''The Usual
Suspects.'' |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Well,
I don't think there is any role that compares to playing the devil.
He is the king of all bad guys. |
| Question: |
What
are your thoughts about Stigmata? It was an excellent film, but very
disturbing, in my opinion. |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
found it too scary, I didn't see it. :) |
| Question: |
Did
your role in the movie influence your current thoughts of the theory
that the world will end in 2000? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
don't think the world will end in 2000, and you can quote me on that.
That's official. :) |
| Question: |
Which
role has been your favorite role so far? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
think Tom in Miller's Crossing. |
| Question: |
I
first saw you in Hello Again. Do you have any older film roles that
I can view? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Check
at Blockbuster and look up my name. I think there are about 20 there. |
| Question: |
What
county in Ireland are you from? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I'm
from Dublin. |
| Question: |
What
was it like working with the very talented Kevin Spacey on ''The Usual
Suspects''? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Oh,
Kevin is a great actor, and it was a pleasure working with him in
Little Red Riding Hood. I played the wolf. It was the beginning of
my acting career, even though I was inside a wolf's costume. |
| Question: |
What
was it like working on ''Excalibur''? It's one of my all time favs. |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Excalibur
was my first film, and I didn't have a clue of the process of film
acting. I felt completely at sea. |
| Question: |
Could
you talk about doing the film ''Trigger Happy''? I just loved you
in that. |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
Trigger
Happy was probably the most fun I had on the film. I'm sorry it didn't
do better, because it was a joy to work on it. The cast was incredible,
and I also got to play comedy. |
| Question: |
If
there is anything you would change in your career, what would it be? |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
probably would have started acting earlier. I was 30 years old when
I began. |
| Gabriel
Byrne: |
I
would like to say a very sincere thank you to all of you asking me
these questions. I deeply appreciate it, and I hope people enjoy the
film. I want to wish everybody a Happy Christmas, Hannukah, and a
joyful New Year! Thank you for supporting my work and appreciating
my work over the years. It means a great deal to me. Thank you. |
| AOLiveMC13: |
Many
thanks for being with us and taking our questions, Gabriel Byrne. |
|
Portions
of this transcript may be edited by AOL to correct spelling, punctuation
and/or remove any material that violates AOL's Terms of Service.
©
1999 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
