Anthony Anderson

Spotlight By: Damaris Olivo
DamarisOlivo@TheCinemaSource.com

Having acted in an incredibly wide range of films including Kangaroo Jack, Hustle & Flow, and The Departed, Anthony Anderson can be viewed as that rare breed of actor who can play both comedy and drama believably in both film and television. As he's soon to begin shooting for his new Fox television seriesK-Ville, and as he's starring in this summer's most highly anticipated blockbuster, Transformers, we can expect to see loads more of Anderson in the very near future.

In Transformers, Anderson plays a very funny computer hacker with a fondness for computer games who's on the side of the good guys. When asked why he chose to be a part of the film, he tells us that he's been an avid Transformers fan since childhood. 'I grew up playing with Optimus Prime and Megatron, and all these guys,' he says. 'Twenty-five years later to play with these same toys that I played with with my son, and not only to play with them with my son, but to take my son to the movie and have him watch me in it' That's why I had to be a part of that movie.'

A Compton native from humble beginnings, Anderson has consistently proved his amazing talent and is becoming a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. So what does it feel like to have had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest talent in the business' 'It's been kind of a whirlwind, but I'm one of the fortunate ones to have been blessed in this business, and to continually work with some of the best people in this industry, in front of and behind the camera,' confesses the star. 'It's been dizzying to go from something like Hustle & Flow, to The Shield, to The Departed, to Transformers, to now K-Ville, you know' So sometimes I have to pinch myself, and just sit back and take my own time to smell the roses and to stand out in the rain and get wet, because that's what it's about.'

In Transformers, the star works alongside talented Hollywood players such as Jon Voight, John Turturro, Shia LaBeouf, and Tyrese Gibson, who grew up in the same neighborhood as Anderson. 'Tyrese lived in the projects right up the block, so we would always joke and talk about that,' says the actor. 'We did reflect on where we came from and where we are now, and just what we're doing to give back to the community, and to bring the next generation of Tyrese Gibsons, Anthony Andersons, and Venus and Serena Williams; to bring them hope and to let them know that if you have a dream, you can achieve it if you believe in it and you stand fast and hold on to it,' he says. 'We're living testaments to that. We talked about how both our charities can come together and give back to those communities that we both are from and let them know that anything is possible.'

Being such a socially conscious actor, Anderson, who stars in K-Ville, a television show soon to air on Fox that tells the stories of police officers on patrol in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, revealed his shock at the lack of action taken by the American government after the disaster. 'Seeing the Lower 9th Ward completely decimated and destroyed, and nineteen months later it's still just a barren wasteland, and not only that community, but the surrounding parishes and communities,' says Anderson, 'is indicative of, I believe, what our government will do and will not do, and their lack of war on poverty.

'It's a shame to sit with people who lived through this hurricane and to see the lack of help that they're receiving to this day,' he says. 'That's why I applaud Fox for having our show there, for bringing jobs back to the community, and for lending a helping hand in rebuilding that community. I don't think we can rest on our laurels and think our government will do what we want it to do; we have to do it ourselves.'

So can the comedian/serious dramatic actor/social activist give us any insider details about what we can expect fromK-Ville' 'I don't know where it's going; they just finally assembled the writing staff. But we start July 17 in New Orleans and I'm looking forward to it. I don't know what's going to happen. All I know is that at the end of the pilot episode you're sitting there watching it and you want more.' He quickly adds, 'I hope that's what you want!'

So is he at all anxious to know if the show will be welcomed by audiences and critics, alike' There's no nervousness on my part, because that's out of my control,' he reveals. 'The only thing that I can control in the equation is me and what I bring to it, and all I can do is do the best that I possibly can as an actor.'

So can he say the same thing about the reception that the new film will get from those hardcore Transformers fans, who like him, grew up watching the popular cartoon' 'I played with this,' says the actor, 'so even if I wasn't a part of it I'd be on board like, they'd better not mess it up! I know how that is. Everybody has their opinion, and so you have to respect that.' He continues, 'They're going to like it or they're going to dislike it. All I know is that we have a great film that is going to go through the roof and knock people's socks off come July 4th and possibly convert the naysayers, if there are any out there, which I'm sure there are. But trust me, when they see this, it's going to be unlike anything they've ever seen before!'

We tried to prod him for some kind of information regarding the plot of the film, but a signing a little legal document called a confidentiality agreement is enough to keep this star tight-lipped. 'The threat of a lawsuit and Steven Spielberg getting my next child and all my money kept me from telling people. '