‘Hellboy’ is labor of love for Perlman
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008
Actor Ron Perlman pulls out the big guns in the movie "Hellboy 2."
LOS ANGELES -- For actor Ron Perlman, "Hellboy 2's" success is tastier than a 12-pack of Mexican beer.
"I've had these very high highs and very low lows," he says just days after the new action film topped the weekend's box office rankings. "It's very rarified air. I'm just trying to drink it all in."
Not so long ago, the 58-year-old former star of TV's "Beauty and the Beast" wondered if he'd ever get another acting job. "I've gone some two or three years between phone calls," he says. "When the phone call came, it'd be for something as tasty as 'Name of the Rose' or 'Enemy at the Gates' for classy, intelligent filmmakers and then I'd start waiting again."
Perlman kept the faith, then wondered as the money ran out if he'd even have enough to pay the mortgage. "It's a combination of feeling anxious and panicking," he says. "I've had a lot of that but, at the end of the day, I'm having a good week right now."
He smiles.
Broadly.
When those box office results came in, Perlman was too busy to really savor them. He's currently filming "Sons of Anarchy," an FX series about motorcycle gangs (think: "Sopranos" on bikes) and, he says, "I had six scenes yesterday. I didn't have time to think about much."
Still, "Hellboy" has been a labor of love for the actor and his director, Guillermo del Toro. Based on a graphic novel, it had a rocky road to the big screen. Del Toro had to fight to cast Perlman in the leading role; so-so reaction to the first "Hellboy" planted doubt if there'd ever be a second.
The two, however, pressed on and now muse about a third -- one that wrap up the series.
For Perlman it's great vindication after beginning his career as a caveman in "Quest for Fire." Since then, directors have often seen in roles requiring heavy makeup and prosthetics.
"Beauty and the Beast" tested his patience. "That was a four-hour makeup job that lasted three years. Six months on a movie for 'Hellboy' is plenty."
With all but his eyes covered in red makeup and prosthetics, it seems unlikely Perlman could express much emotion. But, he says, it doesn't take another form of acting.
"For some reason, whatever I'm thinking reads. I noticed that in one of the early screen tests that we did. Somebody was asking him for change for a dollar. You could see me wondering how many quarters that was going to take, without acting or doing anything. That's very freeing. You play this guy the same way you'd play him if you weren't wearing anything."
Acting, he says, doesn't start with the external. "Everything kind of follows the heart and the brain. I never, ever think about the fact I'm wearing makeup."
Because he's involved with the series and del Toro is preparing two films of "The Hobbit," it's unlikely they'll get to "Hellboy 3" anytime soon. Nonetheless, they talk about working together. "When I first saw he was going to be in New Zealand (to make the 'Hobbit' films), I said, 'I'm going to miss you pal.' And he said, 'Oh, no you're not." So maybe there's a role for Perlman in that classic, too.
For a longtime fan of the movies -- "and a kid who used to pound the pavement in New York with a picture and resume in his hand" -- the current success is like "the world has given us this cosmic hug. It feels good."
He knows, though, it could end. If it did, "I'd love to teach at a place like New York University. I have to be around creative people and to be around 19- and 20-year-old points of view would make me very happy."
Watching them line up for his film, though, isn't bad, either. "The first 'Hellboy' represented seven years of struggling. You could fill volumes just telling how that film got made. And now," he says with another broad grin, "here we are."
"I've had these very high highs and very low lows," he says just days after the new action film topped the weekend's box office rankings. "It's very rarified air. I'm just trying to drink it all in."
Not so long ago, the 58-year-old former star of TV's "Beauty and the Beast" wondered if he'd ever get another acting job. "I've gone some two or three years between phone calls," he says. "When the phone call came, it'd be for something as tasty as 'Name of the Rose' or 'Enemy at the Gates' for classy, intelligent filmmakers and then I'd start waiting again."
Perlman kept the faith, then wondered as the money ran out if he'd even have enough to pay the mortgage. "It's a combination of feeling anxious and panicking," he says. "I've had a lot of that but, at the end of the day, I'm having a good week right now."
He smiles.
Broadly.
When those box office results came in, Perlman was too busy to really savor them. He's currently filming "Sons of Anarchy," an FX series about motorcycle gangs (think: "Sopranos" on bikes) and, he says, "I had six scenes yesterday. I didn't have time to think about much."
Still, "Hellboy" has been a labor of love for the actor and his director, Guillermo del Toro. Based on a graphic novel, it had a rocky road to the big screen. Del Toro had to fight to cast Perlman in the leading role; so-so reaction to the first "Hellboy" planted doubt if there'd ever be a second.
The two, however, pressed on and now muse about a third -- one that wrap up the series.
For Perlman it's great vindication after beginning his career as a caveman in "Quest for Fire." Since then, directors have often seen in roles requiring heavy makeup and prosthetics.
"Beauty and the Beast" tested his patience. "That was a four-hour makeup job that lasted three years. Six months on a movie for 'Hellboy' is plenty."
With all but his eyes covered in red makeup and prosthetics, it seems unlikely Perlman could express much emotion. But, he says, it doesn't take another form of acting.
"For some reason, whatever I'm thinking reads. I noticed that in one of the early screen tests that we did. Somebody was asking him for change for a dollar. You could see me wondering how many quarters that was going to take, without acting or doing anything. That's very freeing. You play this guy the same way you'd play him if you weren't wearing anything."
Acting, he says, doesn't start with the external. "Everything kind of follows the heart and the brain. I never, ever think about the fact I'm wearing makeup."
Because he's involved with the series and del Toro is preparing two films of "The Hobbit," it's unlikely they'll get to "Hellboy 3" anytime soon. Nonetheless, they talk about working together. "When I first saw he was going to be in New Zealand (to make the 'Hobbit' films), I said, 'I'm going to miss you pal.' And he said, 'Oh, no you're not." So maybe there's a role for Perlman in that classic, too.
For a longtime fan of the movies -- "and a kid who used to pound the pavement in New York with a picture and resume in his hand" -- the current success is like "the world has given us this cosmic hug. It feels good."
He knows, though, it could end. If it did, "I'd love to teach at a place like New York University. I have to be around creative people and to be around 19- and 20-year-old points of view would make me very happy."
Watching them line up for his film, though, isn't bad, either. "The first 'Hellboy' represented seven years of struggling. You could fill volumes just telling how that film got made. And now," he says with another broad grin, "here we are."
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gina wrote on Aug 11, 2008 12:46 PM:
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