South African actor Sharlto Copley, currently on British big screens in SA director Neill Blomkamp's sci fi blockbuster Elysium, became an accidental star when he was cast as Wikus van der Merwe in Blomkamp's cult film District 9, a role he still names as his favourite among the several characters he has played since.
Copley revealed this in answer to fans' questions about his career, Elysium and being a South African role model, in an online live interview on Reddit last week.
He describes himself as that guy from District 9 but his character Wikus van de Merwe, the Afrikaner bureaucrat turned alien, is a household name for many, after the sci-fi hit was nominated for several Oscars in 2009. Directed by fellow South African Neill Blomkamp, who is renowned for his documentary style filming which blends naturalism and CGI effects, the pair met as teenagers at Redhill High School in Johannesburg, and have continued to work together.
The star revealed that he had actually intended to produce the film District 9, but after showing Peter Jackson his impression of a stereotypical Afrikaans bureaucrat, he landed the lead role. The actor who started off behind the camera, as South Africa's youngest television producer age 25, described it as a very surreal moment when he was offered the part, as he knew his life would change forever.
Starring as Wikus van de Merwe in District 9
Copley then went on to play H.M. Howling Mad' Murdock in The A-Team in 2010 alongside Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper. He said it was an absolute pleasure to star in the film as he was a big fan of the TV series growing up in the 1980s.
Fans who are desperate to revisit Blomkamp's imaginary world and discover the fate of Wikus demanded if there would be a District 10. When questioned on the sequel Copley responded, I'd love to go back. Neill would too. There's no scoop there's an amazing story outline from Terri and Neill and I think it's just a matter of when it happens and not if.
Unfortunately however, he disappointed fans by confirming that there will be no sequel to The A-Team.
While District 9 sent a message about racial segregation and xenophobia, Copley and Blomkamp's most recent project Elysium deals with the growing divide between rich and poor, set in the year 2154. Having played the unlikely hero in District 9, Copley takes on the role of the villain Kruger, in the new sci-fi flick.
Starring Hollywood veterans Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, the film tells the story of a world where two classes of people exist; the wealthy who live on the space station Elysium and the poor who are trapped on poverty-ridden Earth. Shot between glorious Vancouver and the world's second largest rubbish dump, on the Bordo Poniente landfill site in Mexico City, this accentuates the metaphor of class warfare.
Copley said he preferred the character of Wikus to Kruger, simply because it pushed him mentally and physically, as he draws inspiration from the likes of Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, and Robin Williams to name a few.
When asked whether it was more fun playing the villain, the South African answered that it definitely wasn't, as Kruger's character was so far removed from his base personality. He added that, Coming from a violent country, I don't really care much for violence. While he noted that it was interesting as an acting challenge, he doesn't plan on playing any more villains any time soon.
Following his transition from an improvised dialogue movie to a scripted film, one fan asked how he likes to prepare for a role. Copley said it depends on the character but for Elysium s bad guy Kruger he made a playlist of aggressive style music to get him in the mind frame of the antagonist. These included heavy metal tracks and rap song Drop the World' by Lil Wayne and Eminem, which he would listen to on the way to set and during breaks at the trailer.
TheSouthAfrican.com editor Heather Walker meets Sharlto Copley in London last year.
When quizzed on his acting career highlights, Copley said they included being able to sing an Afrikaans nursery rhyme in Elysium and kissing Angelina Jolie in the upcoming Disney movie Maleficent, based on the story of the witch who cursed Sleeping Beauty.
Another fan commented on the actor's obscure first name and asked whether Sharlto was a common South African name. He replied, No. [It] doesn't appear to be a common name anywhere. If you track it down please let me know my mom heard it on a British radio play when she was pregnant with me.
When asked whether he felt he was an ambassador for South Africa he replied, I am really a satirical entertainer at heart and I am more interested in understanding human nature than I am in getting involved or supporting political issues.
However, the star recognised the responsibility he has towards the country and said he is prepared for that pressure because he feels there is a serious lack of current leaders in South Africa and the world. He also commented that Nelson Mandela's current medical condition serves as a stark reminder of the quality of leadership he wishes more people would aspire to.
Copley's fans will be glad to know that he intends to make several African-centric films in his lifetime but for now they can indulge in the release of Elysium and there is always the District 9 sequel to look forward to in the near future.
Elyisum was released in the UK on 16 August 2013.
Have you watched Elysium? What did you think of it? Tell us below.
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South African actor Sharlto Copley, currently on British big screens in SA director Neill Blomkamp's sci fi blockbuster Elysium, became an accidental star when he was cast as Wikus van der Merwe in Blomkamp's cult film District 9, a role he still names as his favourite among the several characters he has played since.
