Life for Australian actor SAM WORTHINGTON is about to get a little interesting. This former bricklayer first garnered industry attention by being a serious contender to become the new James Bond. Then he was hand picked by director James Cameron to star in his highly secretive 3D project called “Avatar.” Fate intervened again when Cameron himself advised that Worthington take the role of amnesiac cyborg Marcus Wright in “TERMINATOR SALVATION.” Now, after delivering the breakout performance of the summer, Worthington is this season’s Personality who could be Hollywood’s next big thing.
The current media attention circling around actor Sam Worthington is hardly studio written hyperbole, but an elusive phenomenon that occurs when certain elements are in place for an actor to “break out.” The handsome and brash 32 year-old Australian not only stars in one of the summer’s most anticipated films, he’s got no less than four motion pictures line up like a crowded runway at JFK. But make no mistake, Worthington is no overnight sensation. It is interesting how fate works as his entry into the world of acting was actually borne out of his showing support for a girlfriend trying to get into Sydney’s prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art. It was Worthington who would be accepted, hence why she became the ex-girlfriend.
In the decade since graduating from NIDA, Worthington carved out a niche for himself in the land down under with award-winning performances in several Australian films like “Bootmen” with Adam Garcia and “Dirty Deeds” with John Goodman, Toni Collette and Sam Neill. However, his role in Cate Shortland's "Somersault" would bring Worthington international attention, earning him a 2004 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor. That performance landed him on a short list of talent including British actor Henry Cavill and Daniel Craig, who were being considered to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in “Casino Royale.”
While Craig earned the role, ironically Worthington went on to work with the creator of "Terminator" himself, James Cameron, setting his current trajectory in motion. Set for release this December, Cameron’s “Avatar” will further ramp up the momentum launched by Worthington’s performance in “Terminator Salvation.”
It is funny to use the word “sensitive” in the context of the heavy metal brawn that is “Salvation.” Yet, the actor winningly balances out the spectacle with a memorable performance, one that finds him staring down co-star Christian Bale. If Bale has the challenge of playing a less than heroic vision of the iconic John Connor role, Worthington is equally challenged by giving an emotional pulse to a man who has been transformed into a machine designed to help eradicate a futuristic human resistance army.
In the face of taking on the challenges of a higher Hollywood profile, Worthington remains focused on the task of just doing good work. He cites his laborer’s work ethic in giving him the focus to complete back to back projects like the Miramax films "Last Night," a romantic drama with Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes; and John Madden’s post-World War II thriller "The Debt," starring Helen Mirren.
As for jumping back into the epic adventure pool, Worthington has no fear. He is currently filming his role as Perseus in the all-star remake of the adventure classic “Clash of the Titans,” set for release next summer.
EXAMINER.COM: After spending more than year on James Cameron’s “Avatar,” what kind of physical endurance did you have to engage during the filming of “Terminator Salvation?”
SAM WORTHINGTON: You get banged up, but we knew that going in. It’s “Terminator,” it’s not “Pride and Prejudice.” You know that you’re putting your body on the line. The good thing about that is you’re seeing actors going through the process so it doesn’t throw you out of the movie. It can keep you involved in the story without suddenly going, “Is that a stuntman?” You try to do as much as you can until the insurance companies come in or we kill ourselves. (Laughs.) We’re not silly. We’re not going to hurt ourselves on purpose, but you do get banged up. I am the weapon so I didn’t have to go through weapons training. The prosthetics took about four hours to six hours and then you’re painted blue for the CG they put in, so you’re walking around like a Cirque du Soleil Terminator for a while. That’s not the hard part. It’s the guys doing it and making it look brilliant, they’ve got the hard job. I just have to sit there and be quiet.
EXAMINER.COM: Talk about finding nuance in your role with all the hardware that surrounds “Terminator Salvation”
WORTHINGTON: I think the most challenging thing is you got a movie that is primarily an action movie. We’ve a lot of explosions and big special effects. The hardest thing I found was trying to bring an emotional core. That’s what I always find challenging, to try and keep an actual sense of character within all the bells and whistles. I trusted McG on the monitor to tell me I wasn’t pushing it to melodrama. I wanted it pretty subtle so that when you watched it on the second time, hopefully people go and see it a second time, and say, “Alright.” There are little giveaways. He doesn’t know he’s a machine so you can’t overtly do it. I trusted McG on everything. You have to balance it. You got all the moto-Terminators and the explosions and that’s what draws people in. What keeps them talking about it after they’ve left the cinema, hopefully, is the heart, for want of a better word. It’s the revelations of what these characters are going through, the way they affect each other. That can hopefully elevate it just above a (expletive) popcorn movie.
EXAMINER.COM: The purpose of Marcus Wright does separate him from the cyborgs that are part of the “Terminator” mythology.
WORTHINGTON: The journey is that here’s a guy who has done wrong in his life and wants to die. That’s his primary objective, put me death. I’ve done wrong. I’m a bad man. He wakes up in this other world, like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” or “Alice in Wonderland” and goes on this journey where other people transform him. Here’s a guy who wants to die. The penance is he’s a robot, he can’t die. He goes through this hell and out of that comes a hero. Out of that comes a sense of salvation, for want of a better word. That’s the journey of Marcus.
EXAMINER.COM: Much of the world is going to get to know you from your performance in “Terminator Salvation.” Talk a bit about your life in Australia and why did you go into acting?
WORTHINGTON: I was a bricklayer. I built houses. I was 19 and traveled around Australia. I had no intention of being an actor. Met a girl who wanted to go to the primary drama school in Australia, where Mel Gibson went. Cate Blanchett. Hugo Weaving. We auditioned. I auditioned to cheer her along, basically give her moral support, but I got in. She didn’t. She dumped me a week later and before you know it, you’re stuck in a place like that for three years of your life and you’re sponge. You come out of there and learn how to act.
EXAMINER.COM: Do you think living out the life of a craftsman helped you to become a better actor?
WORTHINGTON: I found that at drama school it helped. There’s a work ethic involved with any kind of manual labor. Going to drama school and learning and reading Anton Chekhov, learning the ins and outs of analyzing scripts and stuff like that. You’re not looking at it’s a wonderment. It’s the same in coming to America and doing these big blockbuster movies. I spent 10 years in Australia doing as many movies as I could, as much TV and theater because that to me is my apprenticeship so I can come and sit in a room with Jim Cameron or sit in a room with McG and have something to offer. I’m not wasting their time. That to me is what it’s about. If being a bricklayer gave me anything, it gave me a sense of work ethic that helps in the acting world.
EXAMINER.COM: How did you approach your being part of a massive production like this film? Do you make it a point to learn from each acting experience?
WORTHINGTON: I learn from every actor. You have to, it’s about give and take. If you’re working the caliber of Christian Bale, it’s only going to make you better. I remember the first day I’m looking at him going, “I’ve rented your videos. I’ve watched your career, man, and here I am about to do a scene with you.” I was nervous as hell, but you dive in with courage and know you’re on the right track. He pushes you and makes you better.
EXAMINER.COM: It is significant to note that you’ve actually completed five new films back to back. Where did “Avatar” fall in line with “Terminator” and what can you tell us about this really secretive project?
WORTHINGTON “Avatar” finished on a Friday. Started “Terminator” on a Monday. I play a paralyzed former Marine who travels to another planet. The conceit is he’s there to drive remote controlled bodies, which are made of the DNA of himself and that of an alien.
EXAMINER.COM: How advanced is "Avatar?" Have you been able to see any footage?
WORTHINGTON: Yeah, I’ve seen it. Jim sets out to push barriers. He’s pushing them. Jim said to me this isn’t the “be-all and the end-all.” Hopefully what this shows, opens the doors to what performance capture can offer. What 3-D technology actually can be good for. Hopefully it starts that kind of revolution of bringing people back to the cinema and gives them an experience. That’s what he set out to do. He took you to Titanic and this man is so detailed in everything he does, he’s now taking you to another planet. There’s no question.
EXAMINER.COM: How was your experience working with James Cameron?
WORTHINGTON: He sets the bar so high. If you don’t come up to that bar, you got every right to get your ass chewed off.
EXAMINER.COM: Did you discuss “Salvation” with him?
WORTHINGTON: I told him they wanted me to do it, explained to him what I wanted to do with the character. He thought it was a good idea and told me not to (expletive) it up. That’s about it and then he went back to “Avatar.” It’s weird. I find it fascinating to still be part of Jim’s world. He’s the one that got me over here. He’s the only guy with the cojones to give me a (expletive) chance.
EXAMINER.COM: You are in the midst of shooting another big studio project, which is a remake of Ray Harryhausen's “Clash of the Titans.”
WORTHINGTON: I watched the original and I think if there’s any reason to do a remake is if you can improve on it. All respect to Ray Harryhausen, the stop motion is great but I think with the technology we have nowadays, we can improve that. All respect to Harry Hamlin, I think I can man it up a bit more. (Laughter). Yeah, I’m running around in a dress, but it doesn’t need to be a bit fey, does it? (Laughs). You don’t sign up for these movies just for the explosions. There’s obviously got to be something meaty in there that you can get your teeth into.
EXAMINER.COM: You’re association with these studio tentpole films is going to have the rare experience of being immortalized by several lines of toys. Have you seen your “Salvation” action figure?
WORTHINGTON: Some dude at the airport came up to me with one. He said, “Can you sign this?” I checked it out and I thought it was pretty cool. It’s pretty funny, to be honest. My nephew’s amped! “Avatar” toys. “Terminator” toys. Cheap uncle doesn’t have to buy anything for a while! (Laughs).
EXAMINER.COM: Are you ready for what could be in store in terms of your visibility evolving into full blown celebrity?
WORTHINGTON: Australians tend to leave you alone. I’ve done 12 movies in Australia and bits of TV. Yeah, people recognize you, but they normally tell you, “That movie sucked.” I’m hoping that doesn’t transpire over here. (Laughs)
“Terminator Salvation” is currently playing in theaters nationwide. “Avatar” is set for release December 18, 2009. Click on Fandango for theater and ticket information, including IMAX presentations.
For more on "Salvation" and this summer's Personalities keep reading Examiner.com
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