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'The Covenant' star Jake Gyllenhaal reveals inspiration behind military roles
‘At the beginning of my career, I played a Marine, a recruit, and I got to know a lot of people in the military and learned from them’
Jake Gyllenhaal, the star of the new war thriller “The Covenant,” has revealed why he is drawn to playing military characters on screen. In an interview with The Associated Press, the actor said that he is attracted to the “pride and love” exhibited by people who “defend our country.”
Gyllenhaal said that playing a Marine early in his career and getting to know people in the military changed his perspective on the world.
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“At the beginning of my career, I played a Marine, a recruit, and I got to know a lot of people in the military and learned from them,” Gyllenhaal told The Associated Press. “And I think it changed my perspective on the world sort of just being around and touching that world a bit.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At the Los Angeles premiere of “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” (<a href="https://twitter.com/thecovenantmov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecovenantmov</a>), actor Jake Gyllenhaal explains why he is so drawn to military roles. <a href="https://t.co/LO86vzvhYU">pic.twitter.com/LO86vzvhYU</a></p>— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) <a href="https://twitter.com/APEntertainment/status/1648316196993867786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gyllenhaal’s latest movie, directed by Guy Ritchie, tells the story of an Army Special Forces sergeant who returns to the war zone in Afghanistan to rescue a local interpreter and his family from the Taliban.
The film promises to be a gripping and emotionally powerful exploration of duty, sacrifice, and loyalty in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The actor, who has also played military characters in movies such as “Jarhead,” “Brothers” and “Source Code,” said that he is interested in exploring characters in “extreme circumstances” because he believes that it brings out the humanity in people. “And there are no better characters in extreme circumstances than a soldier, in particular, so that may be also why I’m drawn to it,” he added.
Gyllenhaal’s godmother and fellow Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis, who was also at the premiere, praised her godson’s talent and commitment to portraying military characters with authenticity and respect. “He’s very respectful of the people he portrays, especially when he’s playing someone in the military,” Curtis said.
Fans of Gyllenhaal’s work can look forward to another powerful and thought-provoking performance in “The Covenant,” which hits theatres this Friday. With its timely and emotionally resonant subject matter, the film is sure to be a standout in the actor’s already impressive filmography.
