The actors who inspired Morgan Freeman the most: “They go right at the role, and that’s all they do”
There are some actors that we find hard to imagine a time in which they weren’t the shining beacons of accomplishment that they are now, with many of us assuming that they were never at the bottom of the Hollywood ladder and simply arrived at the top. And with actors like Morgan Freeman, we envision him launching onto the scene without needing encouragement to find success, with a steady and assured persona that seems immune to the pitfalls of the industry. Despite his unshakeable talent and creativity, Freeman describes the actors who inspire his craft the most.
Freeman has played a wide range of characters over the years, from a jaded detective in Se7en to an optimistic convict in The Shawshank Redemption and multiple roles within the Batman series. All of these roles are fairly modern, showing a knack for action thrillers and gritty dramas, even though the actor is most inspired by projects from the early era of Hollywood, such as Casablanca, High Noon and White Heat.
When describing the actors from this era that have most inspired him, Freeman said, “Gary Cooper, Bogart. And later in life, James Cagney. They go right at the role, and that’s all they do. No personality bullshit. I did most of my learning in my first play onstage from Stacy Keach, just watching him prepare.”
The first name on Freeman’s list, Gary Cooper, is most recognised for his work on films like High Noon, Design for Living, and Wings. His understated acting style created naturalistic and effortless performances. He managed to sustain a career throughout the silent filmmaking era until the golden age of Classical Hollywood, with projects spanning three decades and becoming one of the titular film stars of the time.
It’s no surprise that Freeman included Humphrey Bogart because he is perhaps one of the most well-known actors from the Classical Hollywood era. He became an icon through his devastating one-liners and the doomed romance of Casablanca. He was often associated with troubled characters who symbolised the post-war era of masculinity, representing the American male ideal through roles in The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and In A Lonely Place.
Going further down the list, James Cagney was an interesting figure with the same cinematic movement, often playing more weathered and aggressive characters in films such as White Heat, Public Enemy and Angels with Dirty Faces, which saw a resurgence in popularity after an infamous scene from the film was used in Home Alone. He became notorious for his roles in gangster films, skyrocketing to fame after the infamous grapefruit scene in Public Enemy, in which he smashes a fruit into Mae Clarke’s face.
While these roles seem far removed from Freeman’s filmography, his signature stoicism feels reminiscent of the Classical Hollywood era, with the leading men being defined by their silently brooding nature and old-school star quality. This is often an aspect of Freeman’s work that is most highlighted, and perhaps by bringing back the magic of the past, we can revitalise the current filmmaking landscape with some much-needed star appeal and the best of old Hollywood ideals.
