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Metrolife
7DAYS
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2009 21
A reformed character
Acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman discusses his latest challenging
TIME FOR CHANGE:
Hoffman as Father Flynn
role, as modernising priest Father Brendan Flynn in Oscar hopeful ‘Doubt’
and Amy Adams as
Sister James
P
hilip Seymour Hoffman isn’t church was undergoing a dramatic home the Best Actor Oscar back do and that’s what I’m thinking Physically it was just really
giving the game away. reformation. As an advocate of in 2005 for his portrayal of about. So if any of that stuff comes comfortable.”
In fact, he’s positively defensive making the church more tolerant Truman Capote. into play, I’ll answer that when I get Comfortable or not, Philip admits
over the question of whether and accessible, Father Flynn is ‘Doubt’ has already won him critical to it. Do you know what I mean? he almost didn’t sign on for the
his character, the modernising put in direct conflict with the plaudits and a Golden Globe “Because I don’t know how I’ll deal role, admitting that he had his
Catholic priest, Father Brendan austere Sister Aloysius. nomination. But he doesn’t seem with that at this juncture at all.” doubts that he could do it justice.
Flynn, inappropriately interfered “The film is about a priest who is bothered about the Oscar In the flesh, Philip doesn’t exactly “When I was offered to do this
with a young male student in his progressive with the church and buzz, not least, because conform to the movie star film, I was kind of busy at the time
new film ‘Doubt’. about a nun who does not want he has other things on his stereotype, with his unkempt and wondering if I could even do
“Is he guilty or not? That question change,” he says. mind. His girlfriend, hair, rolled up newspaper under it,” he admits.
wouldn’t be a question that I’d ever “So it’s the argument about society costume designer Mimi his arm and dishevelled “I pussyfooted around which was
answer,” the actor says. changing in the world and painful O’Donnell, gave birth to appearance. So he laughs at me just putting off saying ‘yes’. I’d
“I would never ever tell a living soul change being talked about as a his third child, Willa, last the suggestion that he scrubs up seen the play and I knew the guys
anything about that. It’s of no venue for accusation.” October. The couple rather well in ‘Doubt’. who did it in that and they were
interest to you or to the viewer. Usefully, Philip was able to turn to already have two other “You have to clean up really great, and I didn’t know if I
I didn’t sit in a chair and say ‘hmmm, elements of his own past to prepare children, Cooper for some roles,” could do it that well.
I wonder if he’s guilty or not’.” for the role. The son of a former Alexander, five, he says. “When you realise you’re thinking
The point of ‘Doubt’, says Philip, Xerox executive and a lawyer, the and two-year- “I’m serious. It’s those thoughts, you’re not really
are the grey areas. New York-based actor was brought old Tallulah. part of the job. conscious of them but they’re the
Was Father Flynn inappropriate or up a Catholic, albeit in a very “I think you ‘Cleanliness’ is a thoughts you are having.
wasn’t he? Stone-faced parish different world to the one just keep big part of the “There’s huge doubt, insecurity,
school principal Sister Aloysius, audiences see in the film. going on job as a priest. worry and concern about a lot of
played by Meryl Streep, is convinced “I did communion but never went to with your They all had things. Am I doing the right thing
he is, along with suspicious nun Catholic school,” he says. life and that boyish for myself or others?”
Sister James (Amy Adams). “I never did confession. I went to you do look - all the Despite the strained subject matter,
“You wouldn’t assume someone church so I know what goes on but what you priests have initial doubts and the intense shoot,
was guilty without having any wasn’t the typical Catholic. I never do,” he that short Philip claims filming ‘Doubt’ was
evidence,” he says. went into a confession booth and says little haircut, fun. “I had a good rapport with all
“Whether he’s guilty or not is said ‘Oh I stole some candy’.” diplomatically the clean- of the cast,” he says.
ultimately one of many things. The Father Flynn is the latest in a when asked shaven “As dramatic as the film is, it was
hot topic is you can assume his string of memorable character parts about the look, with great fun. It was very serious, you
guilt without knowing anything.” for Philip who got his big break in awards hoopla. the clean know, the work was, but ultimately
The 41-year-old actor was attracted the 1992 Al Pacino movie ‘Scent Of “I just had a complexion. the minute we could have fun, we
to exploring not only the themes of A Woman’. third kid so I Until about did. We had a lot of laughs.
the movie, based on a play by John Since then, he’s appeared in the know I have 50 you can “But I’d never be able to row with
Patrick Shanley who also directed likes of ‘Boogie Nights’, ‘Almost work coming have that Meryl like we do in the movie,” he
the film, but the subject of Famous’ and ‘The Talented Mr up. I know I’m boyish adds, smiling.
reformation in the Catholic church. Ripley’ and his career has gone going to have OSCAR-WINNER: Hoffman clean-shaven “I would never want to get into a
In 1964 when the film is set, the from strength to strength - he took things I need to takes awards in his stride complexion. heated argument with her!”
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