Rami Malek Interview
26th October 2020
The Oscar-winning actor talks at length about his Bond villain character Safin
By MI6 Staff
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Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek was interviewed by GQ Heroes about his role in the upcoming 25th James Bond film 'No Time To Die' where he plays the ex-Spectre assassin Safin.
"When I think about Safin I think about someone who is meticulous but measured, and there is something about that that is really unnerving and unsettling. He's someone that at times I feel gives you the sensation that you're being watched and that again is quite unsettling. He asks you to question what you think is right, what you think is wrong and is your interpretation of those two things as accurate as it seems to be."
Malek talks at length about the creative process on the film, including how a pivotal scene was tackled collaboratively and his love of the make-up and set design.
Taking on this Bond villain was not an easy leap for Malek: "I think you start asking questions about what evil is. And with this character especially I find him fascinating because he can detach from empathy in order to meticulously carry out his will and I start to wrap myself up in who that person is psychologically. He's ruthless and that might be – I'm in danger of giving too much away here – a result of something that's happened to him. but even acknowledging that taps into the analytical side of him as well. I think the fact that he can still find a way to appreciate his own evil is something that is quite petrifying and psychologically something that was not easy for me to tap into."
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