Mark Wahlberg

Interview By: Lena Aburdene
LenaAburdene@TheCinemaSource.com

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An underwear model/pop star turned legit actor? When Mark Wahlberg
first appeared on the scene, singing for pop group “Marky Mark and the
Funky Bunch” and posing for a series of steamy underwear ads, no one
would have ever guessed that he would turn into a movie star with
longevity. Right now, Mark Wahlberg has many prestigious notches on his
belt, with films on his roster including, The Perfect Storm, The Planet of
the Apes, Boogie Nights and one of his favorites, The Italian Job.

Wahlberg’s appeal is the fact that he is a man’s man. He appeals to men
because he isn’t your typical heartthrob actor. He’s tough talking and
slick and brimming with testosterone. Women love him because he maintains a virile and hardened façade, yet, he can flash his
infectious smile and exude a gallant sense of bravery at any moment.

Wahlberg’s done other adrenaline pumping films in the past so what was it
about a movie like The Italian Job that drew Wahlberg in? Says Wahlberg: “I loved the
role. I loved the other characters. That it was a character driven piece
and that Gary (the director, Gary Gray) wasn’t going to turn it into a
special effects bonanza. I decided to do something fun as opposed to
playing these tragic guys and then he told me who he wanted to cast and
I was like forget it, this is the thing to do.”

Aside from loving the script, Wahlberg also found new challenges in his
role as Charlie Croker. “The challenge for me in this movie was to try
to play likable. I’ve played likable characters before but I’ve never
intentionally said, ‘okay I’ll try to smile a little more in this
scene.’ It was the first time I really had to think about it.”

Wahlberg is confident in the quality of

the film as well. In an
entertainment industry with action pictures laden with
impressive special effects and ostentatious set designs, The Italian Job
was more than just a visually pleasing picture, as Wahlberg notes, “I
don’t want to see another senseless action movie and I don’t want to be
in one. I only want to be in movies that I would want to watch.”
Wahlberg trails off for a moment. “I feel good. I think we got a really
good movie. I think the audiences that have seen it love this movie and I
feel very confident that the movie will perform. I’m just happy how it’s
been perceived.”

Wahlberg holds the film in such high regard and believes it is a top
caliber heist movie. According to Wahlberg the success of a heist movie depends heavily upon its characters. “In my eyes every movie has to have a great
villain. I don’t think a movie works without a villain and Edward
Norton did a great job in this movie. He’s a sweet guy but he’s got
edge.”

Working with a great cast consisting of actors such as Donald
Sutherland, Mos Def, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and Seth Green was a
huge privilege for Wahlberg. He speaks of the cast fondly, saying that
they all “genuinely got along” and liked each other. He also discusses
how enjoyable it was to work with the cast.

The movie was fun to watch
but it seems like the cast had more fun making it. “We had a blast. It
was like, that’s the scary thing too. You’re not supposed to have that
much fun. It was like we weren’t even working. This was by far the
easiest.”(film he has ever worked on)

When asked about Mos Def, Wahlberg immediately lights up and begins
chattering animatedly: “Mos is phenomenal. Someone asked me if I thought
Mos would be a successful actor. Mos is one

of the most talented
actors I’ve ever met in my life. He was an actor before he was a
musician. Mos is a superstar and I’m hoping that the music world changes,
and what’s popular changes to the kind of music Mos is making. Something
with content. Something other than women and jewelry or violence.” Then Wahlberg slyly jokes, “I try not to listen to rap anymore. If I put on an
angry 2 pac record on my way to church, forget it!”

Wahlberg also got to work with the exquisite Charlize Theron who
apparently held her own on the predominantly male set. “She’s like one
of the guys. She’s tough man and she’s cool.” Charlize also proved that
she could hang with the guys by doing her own stunts, as Wahlberg
cracks, “Charlize wants to be Rambo or something. She’s a wild woman.”

One of the enticing aspects of working on a high profile film is the
prospect of meeting one of your idols. Wahlberg was in awe of Donald
Sutherland and graciously praises him; “Donald Sutherland.. I mean I grew
up admiring him and the fact that he wanted to do this movie is amazing
to me. He’s such a great actor and you would think he’s this really
serious guy.I love meeting people you admired because they’re never
what you’d expect. Donald was just Don. I mean, he was so giving as an
actor too. He’s really a team player and I think the guy is a genius and
a legend.” Other idols of Wahlberg include, “Jimmy Cagney, Steve
McQueen, John Garfield and Robert Ryan.”

Wahlberg seems comfortable and happy at the point he’s reached,
personally and professionally. He’s played all sorts of roles from the
villainous boyfriend of Nicole Walker in Fear to the strapping hero in
Planet of the Apes and somewhere in between he’s played those darker
characters, like Bobby Shatford in

The Perfect Storm, and of course the
infamous breakthrough role of Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights

So what’s next for Wahlberg? “I’d like to play a boxer…like a Raging Bull type movie..any sports movie.” He’s got a new project coming out called The Jacket a cross between Jacob’s Ladder and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest .
No matter what Wahlberg tackles, he will be sure to succeed.