Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays Nash in Sony’s remake of “Annie,” which hits theaters on December 19.
Nash is Will Stacks‘ (Jamie Foxx) driver, but he also forms a special bond with Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis) – not only protecting her – but he also tries to help her find her family. Read our exclusive interview with him below:
Q: What was your favorite scene in the film?
A: I like the scene where we we’re with Quvenzhané going up the escalator trying to help her look for her parents because she’s an extraordinary talent, one of the reason I took the movie was to act with her and children because they always bring a different quality out in your performance because they’re innocent. So I particularly enjoyed that, just being with her because she’s so real. And of course the finale scene where we are all dancing and singing. I grew up like you, watching those musicals whether it’s Wizard of Oz, Oliver Twist, or Annie and that’s one of the reasons I got into the movie because I was so inspired by those fantastical worlds so to be able to be part of one and have my future kids watch their father be a bit of a clown was kind of an endearing cause.
Q: Can you talk your experience working with Quvenzhané?
A: Yeah, I mean Quvenzhané is just a triple threat. I mean, I first came across her talent in the Oscar nominated performance of – what’s the movie that she did?- Beasts of the Southern Wild. It was unbelievable, I was blown away. And then working with her in this is such a complete 360 jump because she’s not only acting, she’s dancing and singing, and she does it all so well. It was just a joy because I always say that children, the way that they perform there is just an innocence to them. They’re not jaded with process and protocol and technicality, it just comes straight from the heart and moves straight into the camera, and that’s what you want to be acting opposite. Besides that she’s a delight. We just had fun. She’s very real. There’s a lot of big woman in that little girl.
Q: What was it like working with Will Gluck?
A: It was great. He was very fast witted. He has a vision very, pretty much, you know, down. He knows what he wants for the movie, he knows why you’re there, and I like that. He pretty much, he’s very clear about what he wants to create and he did such a, you know, confident and inspirational job. I just think he’s fun as well, he’s got such a sharp wit, you really have to be on your toes, and he doesn’t miss a beat. He’s always finding things even when we’re not on camera, he’s observing, he’s sort of planning moments. He can cut them on camera or insert them into the character. So I enjoyed working with him. It was a difference experience because comedy is a new venture for me and I think this is sort of a great way to like step into it.
Q: Can you describe what it was like working with Jamie Foxx and the dynamic between your characters?
A: As you know Jamie plays Daddy Warbucks who becomes basically Annie’s father and I play Nash who is Daddy Warbucks’s right hand man basically, he’s his driver, his security guard, he’s his go to guy. He’s the guy that really has Daddy Warbucks’s back. He’s very much old school guy and the kind of guy that Daddy Warbucks can lean on for personal advise or just to keep his feet on the ground, that’s Nash. The dynamic between them, they’re just very good old friends who come up together, very trusting. Daddy Warbucks trusts Nash. He obviously trusts him with his life to make him his personal body guard. So they’re a lot of trust between them and a lot of unspoken past and history and they just know how to have fun with humor, essentially they’re brothers. And it was just fun to shoot with Jamiebecause he’s so spontaneous. He just whips jokes out every few seconds and he makes it look so effortless. What you see on the camera is only one take, but the other ones that didn’t make it are just as hilarious. He’s just a fun – in that escalade riding around New York, listening to him whip out his jokes, it was a real treat. We had a lot of fun. And of course, when you’re in New York and you’re shooting a movie in New York the public are as much in the movie as you are, so they were chiming in as well. So it was good fun.
Q: Can you tell about your upcoming role in “Game of Thrones.”
A: I’m sworn to secrecy. But I can tell my character’s name, that’s Malko and he’s not in the books, you know, and he’s going to be in the next installment. And it was just great working with the guys and some of the actors I have worked with before, Iain Glenn, we’ve worked together. And it was just a lot of fun.
Q: Have you ever had a funny driver or taxi driver story?
A: I think we got one today. Well I just think that he’s quite eager to go home. He’s on his own agenda, has his own music that he plays in the car, has his whole breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the car, and is quite happy to share it with us. I mean going off in his car is very much like being a part of his family and household, once you step into that car. It’s quite interesting. But I think in terms of driving experience, I think the only dismaying one is when they get it totally wrong, they take you to places where you’re not supposed to be. I had one that was calling me “Eddie” the whole time. And when I got to the destination that we were supposed to be I just said to him, “By the way, I’m not Eddie Murphy.” But you know, you expect it all and don’t take anything personal.
Q: What was your favorite children’s movie or book growing up?
A: I liked Treasure Island, that was one of the first books I read, I loved that. And also I was a big fan of Enid Blyton because obviously I grew up in England. Enid Blyton wrote a series of books called The Famous Five, they were like a good book for teenagers, they were like always bunking off school to solve crimes. And when you’re a kid that’s exciting. So Enid Blyton was my go to guy back then, andTreasure Island, Oliver Twist, things like that. I loved to hear the stories. That’s probably why I ended up as an actor.
Q: Can you talk about your experience working on a family film?
A: From the outset it was like family. It was great. You could have the elite family of Hollywood, you had, Will Smith, Jay-Z, Jamie Foxx, myself, but all of us together coming together to create a classic. And I just think the mood on the set was just really positive, we knew we were doing something special. And knowing that it’s coming out at a festive time, the mood is festive. It was just a very enjoyable process. It wasn’t like work, it was fun. Everybody was professional but I think we all just had the same mindset of let’s create something fresh and positive and inspirational for the festive season, something new.
-Elise Cruz
