Morgan Freeman names his biggest cinematic inspiration: “His whole life and career”
Morgan Freeman is one of the most iconic cinematic figures of all time, with an authoritative screen presence and calming voice that perfectly contrasts with the stakes of the high-stakes worlds his characters are often a part of. The actor brings a level of tenderness and wisdom to each of his performances, something that is captured in films like Se7en, The Shawshank Redemption and even The Lego Movie, sometimes playing weathered people who have become cynical due to the cruelty and injustice in the world.
Over the years, he has become one of the sought-after actors, with countless directors wanting to work with him in any capacity possible, whether it be a supporting role or an unsuspecting voice cameo. When describing the people who had most influenced his staggering career, Freeman highlighted the work of one actor in particular.
Whether it be his work with Clint Eastwood or Christopher Nolan, there is no denying that Freeman has an undeniable thirst for collaborating with the greats, building a folio that reads as a list of the most prolific filmmakers of all time. After beginning his career in small theatre productions and plays, he soon found himself on the silver screen, never looking back as he forged an irreplicable career that skyrocketed after performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy and Unforgiven. However, greatness is often inspired by others who have also achieved this, with Freeman discussing the impact of Sidney Poitier on his filmography.
Sidney Poitier was an actor, filmmaker and activist who broke through many barriers in Hollywood and became one of the first Black film stars. He was a true trailblazer in the film industry, becoming an inspiration to many through his inspiring and vibrant performances that defied the limiting standards in Hollywood and signified a new era.
He is most known for films like No Way Out, In The Heat of the Night, A Raisin in the Sun and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, with an authentic and emotionally grounded core to each of his characters. Poitier is now considered as one of the ultimate leading men during the Golden Age of Hollywood, being critically recognised for his work and being the first Black man to be awarded an Academy Award for ‘Best Actor’.
Because of this, it comes as no surprise that his work left a lasting effect on Freeman. When the actor was asked about his greatest source of inspiration and encouragement, Freeman replied, “Sidney Poitier, his whole life and career”. Poitier paved the way for future Black actors in the industry at a time when this was incredibly difficult, saying he felt “as if I were representing 15, 18 million people with every move I made”.
His roles often reflected this very struggle, embodying an inward anger as his characters struggled with the injustices of the world around him and quiet fight for equality. He remains a crucial and beautiful figure within cinema, representing a hope for the future and the dawn of a new creative horizon, something that Freeman has carried into his work as he advocates for bold stories and emerging talent.
