Were you in a better condition? Or, how did you go into that, knowing what you had just gone through on Bourne? MATT DAMON: Oh, no. I was in better shape for this movie. There was a lot. I mean, I was in the gym every day. And François came with me to the gym a few times. This is his life. I don’t want to embarrass him. If Jason Borne looks a little flabby, that’s on me. (Laughs) This is the fictionalization of somebody’s actual life. I didn’t want to let him down. It was not going to be for any lack of effort; which really was what that team was famous for, actually. They were known for going the extra mile and for knowing themselves well enough to say, “Okay, we might not be the most talented team.” And the line is even in the movie. The coach says, “We might not be the most talented team but we’re going to be the fittest.” François talked me through the training regimen and it was just unbelievable what those guys did, all of them, every single guy. And it’s that great thing about a great team. It’s like when every single person commits to something and sublimates their own personality for the greater good of the whole team. And that’s basically,
again, the metaphor for that whole country. Q. Have you played rugby since you wrapped? MATT DAMON: Hell, no. (Laughs) Q. Was this before or after you made The Informant? MATT DAMON: After, after, yes. So, I had a good time and then a tough time reshaping the weight. Q. Matt and Morgan, would you explain to us why this is an important film? And for Morgan, Mandela’s one of the most revered people in the world. How did you go about developing and preparing to play him? And what was the most important thing that you wanted to get across in portraying Nelson Mandela? MATT DAMON: Well, for the first part, I’d say the film is telling a story that is a wonderful thing to remind everybody of in South Africa and all over the world. If we listen to the better angels of our nature, there are creative and good solutions to serious problems and it’s just an incredibility uplifting
movie. From the moment I read it I was excited about just being a part of the ensemble that told the story. I think it’s a good thing to put out there, particularly now. There’s not a lot of good news. So this is a nice thing to put out for the holidays. MORGAN FREEMAN: How did I go about preparing to play…? Well when he said that he would prefer that I be the one to play him in 90-whateverthat-was, I had to start then preparing myself to do it. So, I met him not long after that. And I said to him, “If I’m going to play you. I’m going to have to have access to you. I’m going to have to get close enough to hold your hand.” And, over the years, while we were trying to develop A Long Walk to Freedom, that is what happened. Whenever we were in proximity, like a city away, for instance, I would know about it. And I would go to him. And have lunch, have dinner, or sit with him while he’s waiting to go on stage for whatever. And during that time I would sit and hold Madiba’s hand. Now, that’s not for camaraderie. I find that if I hold your hand I get your energy. It transfers. And I have a sense of how you feel. That’s important to me trying to become
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