For the Record With Karu F. Daniels: Anthony Mackie
I don’t know how to phrase this, but since your performance was so convincing, do you get hit on a lot?
Well, it’s funny, I mean, I got hit on a lot before the movie. Like, I don’t know, just like … but it’s interesting when people see the movie. The overwhelming feedback that I get is, you know, people will just be like, “I can’t believe that you’re not gay.”
And how do you receive that?
I take that as a compliment, because if they watch the movie, they come away thinking, “That guy has to be gay.” Then when they meet me, and they’re like, “You’re the straightest man I’ve ever met in my life.” It’s interesting. I mean, I’ve had, after the film, grown men come up and introduce me to their daughter. And what’s funny, I’ve been hit on by more women after the film than men, which is really interesting. My stock went through the roof after ‘Brother to Brother,’ unlike any other movie.
Well, let’s talk about another controversial project. Full frontal nudity in ‘She Hate Me.’ What did it take for you to take it all off?
Nothing. I’m proud of myself. I ain’t scared. You know what I mean? I feel like, from head to toe, I might not be the most beautiful brother out there, but I have nothing to be ashamed of. And I don’t believe in grotesque sexuality and grotesque nudity, just naked for the sake of being naked. But the thing about it is Spike was really trying to get at a point in that movie, and really trying to get at a point with me being nude. Basically I was a slave on an auction block. You know what I mean? You had this man that stood up in front of this woman, and [been] made to strip nude, and they’re not judging him on his character or his morals, they’re judging him on his physique. And you know back in the day, they used to stand the slaves on a box and spread their butt cheeks and look at their gums, and … they wanted the best buck in the booth. So when me and Spike sat down and came up with that idea, I had no problem with it.
What type of material would you like to tackle that you haven’t yet?
I would love to be able to do something classic. I would love to be able to do a Shakespeare in the Park. I would love to be able to do a Shakespeare film. My dream is to do King Lear as a film, but do an all black cast. You know what I mean? Why is it, you know, DeNiro, and Pacino and Kenneth Branagh can do movies of Shakespeare? What would happen if you do King Lear, and it’s centered around family? Get James Earl Jones to play King Lear. He can do it. I’ve seen tapes of him do it. Get a dynamic actor, we got a bunch of them. Morgan Freeman could play King Lear. You understand what I’m sayin’? And I bet brothers would jump at the opportunity. We got, Harry [Lennox], we got some phenomenal actors that are classically trained actors. Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, phenomenally trained actors. And like, I don’t need to be the lead, I just want to be a part of it. I just want to stand on set and watch them work. That’s my goal, to get to the point where I can produce projects like that.
So are you a part of this, like, new black Brat Pack?
Consisting of who?
Anybody young and on the cusp of being great in film.
I think there is a new group of young black actors that’s coming about. Namely, well, Derek Luke ain’t new anymore, but Derek Luke, Michael Healy, Dorian Missik, who was in ‘Two Weeks Notice,’ myself. There’s a bunch of brothers that’s coming along now that [are] making the audition process a challenge. People were taking jobs for granted, but now they realize, “Yo, I gotta step up to the plate.” Jamie Foxx showed everybody, “You are not untouchable.” Jamie Foxx came in and was like, “Look, if y’all bull****ting, if y’all not taking this seriously, I’ll show you what’s good.” And now he’s stepped into a generation full of actors and took all their jobs. … There’s no reason why Jamie Foxx [should] be where he is as an actor. But a lot of people take themselves too seriously, and you can’t in this business. It’s like the invisible man. Kill them with kindness. The next thing you know, they’re talking about him for Oscars. And that’s why, when I saw [him do ‘Ray’] I said “I gotta do the Sam Cooke movie.” I got to.
Are you in talks with any of his people, like his estate or anybody, to make it happen?
No, I mean right now I’m just trying to put myself in a position where I can find somebody that I trust, a writer, to just start the project. I mean, Jamie Foxx is in a great position because he’s a well-known actor. Nobody knows me.
That’s not true, Anthony.
All right, not enough people know me to green-light a movie.
You’ve done a very good body of work within the last few years. Remarkable.
But we know with brothers, your body of work don’t matter. If I was a young white kid, I’d be makin’ 10 mil a movie.
Nov. 11, 2004