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Interview: Actor Alex Pettyfer Discusses 'Endless Love'

Dale Chong |
February 10, 2014 | 11:16 a.m. PST

Executive Producer

Alex Pettyfer (Twitpic)
Alex Pettyfer (Twitpic)
This Valentine's Day Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde take on the dramatic love story of a boy and a girl in "Endless Love."

The film will tug at your heart as the story focuses on the different worlds the two characters live in, creating an intense love affair going against parents trying to pull them apart.

Neon Tommy had the pleasure to sitting down with Pettyfer at a round table interview to discuss more on "Endless Love" and his acting career.

READ MORE: 7 Best Valentine's Day Movies To Watch With Your 'Valentine'

When you started preparing for the role, did you watch the original "Endless Love" and take anything from it?

Pettyfer: I watched the original and read the book.  And the original movie is very different to ours - I think because of the time period that Brooke Shields made that movie, it was very controversial, especially this subject matter on like, you know, the sex and the lust that David actually has for her in that movie; whereas this is more about two people in love that are finding themselves, and that journey that they both go on - one about David, who is trying to make a new life for himself, and Jade, who is -  I guess has led a very sheltered life due to her losing a member of her family, and kind of wanting that escapism.  And by those two meeting - yeah, endless love happens.

Tell us a little bit about your character, and what drew you to the script?

Pettyfer: My character - I think that it was - I love films like Love Story, which is with Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal.  But the subject matter that they deal with is one, on a personal level; but two, they deal with the life that they’re having to lead, with like mortgages, and adult stuff; whereas this movie was very character driven.  And I love just seeing a guy who was just purely in love with a woman and wanted to do anything he could do to just be with her, and - yeah, I guess it was that.  And Shana, the director, I thought she was incredible, so I wanted to work with her.

How did you prepare for a romantic film with your costar Gabriella Wilde?

Pettyfer: We did a month of rehearsal before the movie, where Shana Feste, the director, kind of built this environment where we could, you know, really trust each other, you know.  It’s very hit and miss with doing a movie like this, because - you know, actually sometimes - and I know that people don’t want to hear this and I’m not sometimes allowed to say this kind of stuff.  But you know, sometimes when an actor hates another actor, there can be chemistry, you know.  You never know how it’s gonna turn out.  Luckily, I - you know, me and Gabriella get on very, very well, and she was so easy to work with.  And hopefully, our chemistry comes across on screen.

READ MORE: A Valentine's Day Special

What's your favorite part of preparing for a character?

Pettyfer: There wasn’t a lot of research that had to go into this.  I did The Butler, which was a movie that I did before.  And I love reading.  And like, I left school at 15, and I just - I guess - I know this is so weird to say.  I can semi say that I feel like I’m an intelligent person, but I’m not an academic person.  And to read and to learn about life, and things, and subjects that I don’t know, and especially being English and learning about American culture, you know, what happened in your history, is great for me, and I really enjoy just soaking up knowledge.

What was your favorite past acting job, besides "Endless Love"?

Pettyfer: Magic Mike, because it’s the most embarrassing movie I’ve ever done.  But working with Steven Soderbergh was just a dream come true.  Like, Steven is one of my favorite directors of all time, and just to be, able to be directed by him was - well, I’d take my clothes off again for the guy. And being thrusted by Matthew McConaughey is a little awkward.

Any plans for Valentine's Day?

Pettyfer: Yeah, my mom is going to be my Valentine's date this year. 

What is your definition of "endless love"?

Pettyfer: Oh, definition of endless love.  Yeah - wow.  That’s amazing.  My definition of Endless Love is a connection between two people that grows.  And I can’t explain it - it’s - I guess it’s chemical.  And people are talking.

"Endless Love" opens in theaters this Friday, February 14th. 

Reach Executive Producer Dale Chong here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

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