Stephan James
Stephan James
Stephan Jamesis a Canadian actor...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth16 December 1993
CityToronto, Canada
CountryCanada
hero responsibility sacrifice
Sacrifice. I'd never been in a position where I was number one on the call sheet, and everything was in my lap. I worked 16 hour days, and I was just not the lead of any film, it was a film about Jesse Owens, one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century. It was a whole new type of responsibility. It was a big weight, and I wanted to do him justice, especially in reviving him after 80 years.
race looks world
What I've learned about that word is context, where the world is coming from - in the era the film is set, it obviously is used derogatorily. In 'Selma,' it was the same sort of thing. Of course now, in music, it's used in many more ways, including ways that takes the sting out of it. It all depends on where and when it is used, and how you look at it. But again in 'Race,' it is intensely disrespectful.
hero men america
Jesse Owen was bigger than a black hero, he was an American hero. For me, I looked at it from that perspective. Through my research, I obviously learned a lot, much of which made me sad, upset, disappointed and even angry, regarding what Jesse had to go through. Not only was he a black man in America during an age of high racial tension and segregation, but he was also living in the middle of the Great Depression - it was very difficult times for him and his family.
responsibility thinking accomplishment
You have such a big responsibility. This person is still alive. You would think that they think highly of themselves and their accomplishments and what they've done. You can only hope to bring justice to that.
goal people humanity
That was my goal in portraying Jesse Owens: bringing that level of humanity so people could understand who he was as a person.
sports volleyball
Growing up, I was always into sports - basketball and volleyball - but I wasn't really a runner.
assistant field georgia men shooting time track train
While shooting 'Selma,' I would train on my off time with the assistant men's track and field coach at Georgia Tech.