*This Friday, she’s playing a stone cold lawyer!
Jodie Foster is Nancy Hollander in “The Mauritanian,“ based on the NY Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim). The true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge or trial by the U.S. government for over ten years.
Alone and afraid, Rahim finds allies in real life defense attorney Hollander (Foster) and her associates who fight for justice. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), reveals shocking truths and ultimately proves the human spirit cannot be locked up.
EUR correspondent Fahnia Thomas spoke with the Academy Award winner about accolades, advocacy and attorneys.
FT: When was the last time you had to advocate for someone or someone had to advocate for you?
JF: [There’s been so] many times. It’s one of the reasons I cherish my years in the movie business because I had dads. There weren’t a lot of women in the business, when I was growing up but there were a lot of dads and men who cared and looked out for me. I didn’t have a dad. I felt like I was a part of a family and protected.
FT: Do accolades and awards matter?
JF: It’s human nature to want to be seen and acknowledged – especially for the hard work you do. As actors, we’re like, ‘I hope you like it!’ But you also learn [those feelings or actions] can be destructive when they’re your end goal…you have to put that aside. The character speaks first and sometimes you have to make decisions that may or may not be palatable to the audience. You have to be true to character. Even in the case of Nancy…she’s not particularly warm and fuzzy in the beginning of the film. She’s been hurt and she carries that with her. You feel the toll her life of defending guilty people has taken on her.
“The Mauritanian” also stars Zachary Levi, Shailene Woodley and Saamer Usmani and drops February 12.
For more details follow @themauritanian | #TheMauritanian
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