Breakout star Lakeith Stanfield has no signs of stopping anytime soon.
It isn’t easy starring in more than one film a year. Whether it’s emotionally and physically draining schedule or the simple lack of casting opportunity, finding work as an actor can be a grueling and tough job. It takes years of practice, perseverance, patience and drive to find and continue to find acting work. Not even an Academy Award can save you, as F. Murray Abraham can tell you after having sunk into relative anonymity following his Best Actor Oscar back in 1984 for Milos Forman’s Amadeus. Acting is a fleeting vocation, one that is seldom a state of permanent employment. And yet, anomalies exist.
Anomalies like Lakeith Lee “Keith” Stanfield, who for the past year have made not one, not three, but seven films. It’s a feat in and of itself, but when you take in consideration that this year also included a spellbinding turn in the first season of Atlanta, one can only sing praises for breakout star Lakeith Stanfield. Now with his newest film Death Note poised to hit screens, it seems Stanfield has nowhere to go but up from here. The Knockturnal had the opportunity to sit down with the actor to discuss his time working on the manga-adapted film, carrying out justice and method acting his way into the role. Check out what Stanfield had to say below.
The Knockturnal: What was your first reaction to the script?
Keith Stanfield: My first reaction to the script was, I need to be a part of this conversation. I can’t imagine why anyone would allow someone to run rampantly just killing people indiscriminately, it makes no sense to me.
The Knockturnal: What about the story appealed to you?
Keith Stanfield: The fact that justice could be carried out. I’m a huge proponent of justice and if Light was allowed to run rampant, then the world would be in grave danger. Couldn’t allow it. Won’t allow it.
The Knockturnal: What kind of prep did you do for this role?
Keith Stanfield: Well I consumed lots of glucose, it allows me to focus. Also, I sit in a peculiar fashion. In fact, I’m a bit uncomfortable here.
The Knockturnal: Okay.
Keith Stanfield: Adjust just a bit. This increases my mental capabilities by 40%.
The Knockturnal: You have such a great cast and awesome director, talk about working with them and bringing this project together.
Keith Stanfield: Well I do not like any of them. I do not like Light, I don’t not like Mia, or whatever her name is, and I’m starting not to like James too much.
The Knockturnal: Oh, really.
Keith Stanfield: Not my kinds of people. Don’t exercise morality. Would you look at that?
The Knockturnal: Death Note is such a peculiar type of project. If there was a real “Death Note” book who would least like to have it?
Keith Stanfield: I assume it would be bad in the hands of someone like Hitler.
The Knockturnal: Hitler would be a bad person to have Death Note. Who would you want to have a Death Note book?
Keith Stanfield: Me. It can only be trusted in the hands of one person, and let me tell you, it’s me because I have a good sense of judgment, and I was raised by those who carry out justice ever since I was a wee one.
The Knockturnal: What was the most challenging scene for you to film of this project?
Keith Stanfield: I did not film this project. I was in it. But I didn’t film it. The hardest scene for me to be a part of was actually meeting Light because I developed so much disdain for him at this point, it was just a struggle to communicate with the feller.
The Knockturnal: The struggle is real sometimes.
Keith Stanfield: The struggle is…real.
Check out Death Note out when it hits Netflix Friday, August 25.