"Talento Rebelde" (Rebel Talent)
by Maria Estevez
Actor, director, and screenwriter, Edward Norton shares the leading role in 'The Score' with Brando and DeNiro
[Thanks to Margaret for translating the article and scanning the picture!]
One spring afternoon, almost seven years ago, Edward Norton crossed the doorway to Paramount Pictures in order to present himself to casting director, Deborah Aquila, a woman who was attempting to find a young man capable of portraying dual personalities in the movie Primal Fear. Many actors, including Matt Damon, were unable to pull off the two personalities. "It's not that I enjoyed being crazy, nor do I have a particular attraction for that type of character, but it was fantastic to challenge myself into creating two different characters deceiving everyone and having the audience think that you are the other one."
In the margin of the fiction, Edward possesses that dual character that characterizes many of the roles that he has portrayed; as he reveals himself to be concise and introverted with the press, above all, when they do not undertake professional subjects. But at the same time, while he is reluctant to speak about his private life, he is friendly, a reveler, and possesses a brilliant sense of humor. "How fame affects you, depends on you. For me, I don't like the madness that it leads to and I do not get along very well with it. I have seen other actors that are easily disconnected from reality by being on this merry-go-round, losing their head...and I wouldn't like to lose control of what happens in my life."
In these last weeks, I have been a witness in the life of Edward Norton. I have visited the set of the movie Frida--script that was written for his friend, actress Salma Hayek, where Norton remained as a silent witness to all that happened here. I have seen his filmography and, above all, I was able to chat with him during the presentation of his new film The Score.
"Only for the chance to work with Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando, I would have done this film if it meant having to read the yellow pages." It has been a week on the set of Frida, Edward has blond hair, dyed for the role of Rockefeller, but today it appears to be closely cropped, the same way it was when we interviewed him for Fight Club. "It is a coincidence, not to rebel against the press in that manner."
When Norton speaks, his eyes glance rapidly in my direction, he slips away into his words and lowers his head, but his conversation is fluid. He knows what he says and isn't a robot coached by a good publicist, but as a man with self-control. This self-discipline perhaps lead to the two Oscar nominations that he obtained for his work in Primal Fear and in American History X. "I would not know what to tell you when people call you and tell you 'It would really please us to have you at the Oscars,' it is only a perception of your work. Perhaps an intangible added value exists, but it is an honor that I accept. However, I don't believe that it has changed me."
It's hasn't even been 10 movies for Edward Norton and despite this fact, he is considered one of the best actors of his generation. There is talk in Hollywood about 'Edwardism' as a style of acting. "I find it absurd , it is surrealistic like the Oscars competition. There are false notions created by the press. Perhaps for me, my best job is not the most prize-winning."
To study Norton's personality is difficult homework. From a conventional family, the actor who obtained a history degree from Yale University got himself ready for a life with constant changes. His rebelliousness resulted in a shy nature not formulas. One day he was able to star in and direct a romantic comedy Keeping the Faith and also decided to make a brutal, anti-commercial film like Fight Club. His love relationships remain distinct in the same manner, Courtney Love, the versatile widow of Kurt Cobain, who was the object of his affections for a year; and now, following a lasting fight of seduction, he succumbed to the sexy Latina muse, Salma Hayek. The pair maintain a relationship that has already lasted two years, and together they are involved in the Frida Kahlo film project.
"Salma is without a doubt the best Frida possible because she grew up in Mexico, she knows many people who knew Frida, and because, literally, she grew up near the places where Frida lived." Even though his face lights up when he speaks of the beautful Mexican, he doesn't reveal more than what is on a professional level. "I had Salma in my head the entire time while I wrote the screenplay because she was going to interpret the character."
With regards to his friends cast in The Score, he comments that working with Marlon Brando has been an unforgettable experience, "he is a legend, a very funny man who likes to play chess between scenes, and he possesses an incredible capacity for jokes." But Edward, whom almost everyone calls Ed, prefers not to have to choose between Brando and DeNiro. "Marlon Brando is a man who marks an age, but what I like is DeNiro and I would like to emulate his capacity for diversifying his career. He has played so many genres that he makes the job of an actor worth seeing."
Ed's image appeals to as many men as women but that does not create headaches for him. On the contrary, he is content with his career because he does not depend on his looks. "To make movies is a lottery, a job that is satisfying and allows me to exploit adrenaline when I hear someone say that they didn't recognize me in a role, but I prefer that they tell me that I am a monkeyface."
Now he is looking for a new place to live, in New York, of course and who knows if it is with his girlfriend, Salma Hayek. Before concluding the interview, he confesses to me that he hates the telephone and that he has become addicted to e-mail, "it is returning us to two centuries ago, when letters were the only form of communication, and for me writing is something that I also enjoy."
Main Page || Biography || News || Films || Articles || Photo Gallery || Multimedia || Site Map || Website Updates
If you have new information on Edward Norton (and you can provide a verifiable and reputable source), please email me- Susan
Note: Articles and images have been posted without permission for noncommercial and nonprofit use
with no intention of copyright infringement. The purpose of this reprinting is to disseminate correct information about the
actors, films, and studios. I have included author names and links to sources whenever possible.
