David Oyelowo

But the thing that was really surprising is she said, I learn my lines and I try to forget them.

So that I am completely fresh and present in the scene.

And I thought, how do you trick yourself into like, and I was in a scene with her and I saw this thing that is happening between you and I right now.

Yeah.

whereby you don't know what I'm going to say next.

And it is affecting your brain chemistry in a way whereby it's precipitating.

Correct.

Correct.

And she has maintained the discipline of being able to hold it close enough, but hold it lightly enough that she's constantly alive.

And I just thought, whoa, that is so brave and why she's so brilliant.

Well, you know what?

This was during a film called The Butler.

And we were doing this scene and it was a scene and it was a tough scene because Sidney Poitier is literally my hero.

Yeah.

And it was a scene where my character was being very, shall we say, uncouth about Sidney Poitier.

And as a result, she quite rightly decides to give me what for.

Now, of course, in the film, she's supposed to slap her son.

in the world of cameras, action, all of that, don't actually slap me.

Now, with each take, she got more and more into it.

And what was happening is, you know, so initially, you know, I couldn't feel any wind as she went by.