UPDATE 8/21: Scans and full stills are in (
via)
See the rest at the bottom of the post.
Image: Vanity Fair Italy
Vanity Fair Italy
just published its interview with Henry, that was conducted when he was in Rome for
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. promo junket in May. It's filled with great insight into his personal life, from surprising the one he loves to the lengths he'd go to protect Kal from harm. We used Google to help us translate the interview, so a few things may sound a bit off but you'll get the context of his answers (and then will
fall harder for him). Read on!
Henry Cavill has two passions: military life and Egyptology. And a mantra: "Be ready for anything." In his latest film, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. by Guy Ritchie, he fittingly plays a special agent. After all, no one becomes Superman by chance.
"I would like to live in the past, to the times of the ancient Egyptians, or the Greeks, or of ancient Rome, the era of the great empires. And the reason is that I am a romantic. But then, I try to be rational and I think the reality of life at the time: Most people died young. Pharaoh Ramses II lived up to 91 years, but cases like his were really rare. The truth is that it was a great experience. It was a time full of violence, disease, brutality." So says Henry Cavill. And if it seems this is an odd way to start our chat, there are a few factors to consider. Cavill is passionate about Egyptology. In addition, our meeting took place in Rome, on the terrace of the Grand Hotel Plaza, with a 360 degree view of the city, including the ruins. The same hotel where some scenes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. were shot, with the film set to be released on September 2.
Set in the sixties, the period when the TV series that inspired the movie aired, the film tells the story of the unlikely alliance between U.S. intelligence and the Soviets during the Cold War. On the one hand Napoleon Solo, the American played by Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer on the other hand, in the role of the Russian Illya Kuryakin. Together the two spies must defeat a super criminal organization Spectre style, led by the Vinciguerras (Elizabeth Debicki and Luca Calvani). And in the company of Calvani, Cavill tells me, he has got to take an 'archaeological' ride of Rome. "As a hopeless romantic, I said: Think how wonderful to be here at a time when the walls were intact." He (Luca) replied: "Actually most of what you see was built later. The real Rome then is under our feet."
Are you a romantic only in relation to history? "Oh, no.. in every sense. Towards life, people, women." Let's talk about the latter? "When I love a woman I feel I never do enough to make her happy. What I want more than anything is to see something along the way that makes me think, "This is what would make her really happy." And I imagine the time when I come to her with the gift and the thought fills me with joy. As well as organizing surprises, "special occasions." Does he have plans to get married, to have children? "I hope that happens. Children are not difficult, but it is finding the right person to have them and raise them. Even more so with the work I do." There was a period in his life when he thought of becoming a soldier by profession.What fascinated him about a military career? "I think I'm a soldier inside. Meanwhile, I am very "physical" like my brothers.Two of them are in the military (In all five, in order of age from the oldest: Piers, Nik, himself, Simon and Charlie. The two oldest are, respectively, in the army and Royal Navy, editor's note), as was my father. I can easily imagine myself in that role." A family matter, then? "Not just that. Some of my closest friends have been or are still in the Special Forces. I like that sense of camaraderie that unites them: the relationship they have with their partners, the sadness in their eyes when they speak of those who were killed and at the same time, the comfort they feel knowing that their "brothers" were killed by soldiers. It is for the same reason I love the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans were eras of warriors. Those empires were not created without armies." The violence implicit in all of this does not give you any trouble? "We are all violent. It is through this feature that the human species has evolved. You have children?.." A dog and a cat. "If your animals were in danger would you not defend them? Not attack those who are trying to hurt them? Fortunately, I have never found myself in the position of having to take action to protect someone whom I love, but I guarantee that anyone touching my dog would end up in trouble."
The Akita that he called Kal-El, the Kryptonian name for Superman, and that his fans have dubbed Super Puppy. You have been shot by paparazzi together a thousand times. "An adorable dog. I miss him, I wish that he were here with me." Going back to the family, I saw that recently he created a company with his younger brother Charlie. "Yes, we founded a film production company. Promethean." In May, when we met, Cavill was still working on what should have been his first film produced (and played), Stratton, focused on the history of an agent of the Special Forces. But last June, a few days before shooting began, he abandoned those plans due to creative differences on the script. "My brother is in the Navy and, as I said before, I have many friends in the military: a story is really important to me and I want to be sure that it is treated in the right way," he had repeated a couple of times. Apparently, he meant it. We owe it to consider a first step towards a future away from the spotlight? "Not really. I like to be an actor, to be the center of the story. But at the same time it's nice to give my contribution to the creative process, and be a producer allows me to do it. It means that if one day I read a book that I like I can decide: "Let's make a movie." And, with my team, I have the opportunity to find the right director, put together the necessary financing. Obviously, if the project is good your gain even more. Much better than just being the guy who tells the story and that makes everyone else around him rich. Not to mention that the more money you make, the more movies you like you can afford to carry." At the top is it the control or the money? "In first place is creativity, which gives rise to greater control. Which is important because I have my integrity and my performance as an actor are of great importance for me. I would find what I did on the set in the finished film, I do not want someone to cut and sew scenes transforming my work into something completely different. As for money, it's wonderful. Despite people pretending it's not true." preferences on how to use it? "I like to spend it. Buy nice things for my family, the people I love, my dog. I like to buy me a good holiday. And support charity."
If I'm not mistaken he will be Superman until 2019. This means that he will continue training to maintain the same physical shape without a moment of respite in the coming years. "It does not bother me at all. How could I complain of "having to" continue to be Superman? I like physical activity and, when not working, I guarantee that I also have time to relax, without having to think about what I eat. In my family we are all "square". My mother is an incredibly strong woman: how else could she raise five sons? Both she and my father have grown up teaching us a sense of duty. It, however, is not the secret right there? Discipline, discipline, discipline. So the times when you can do whatever you want you enjoy them more." I have read that you have often had to shoot scenes at the limits of physical pain.What was the hardest experience? "In general, what hurts the most is the cold. You're shooting a scene and, in fiction, is the height of summer. In fact it is winter, you are in Canada, it's raining, you have almost no clothes and, of course, you can't show that you are freezing on the outside. And you know that the next day will be the same. And again and again for who knows how many days." Intuition tells me how much he suffered, but he has the expression of one who had fun. "Of course. It is so." He gives me one of the most satisfied smiles, wide and white that I've ever seen.
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Translation contributor: Rebecca (thank you!).
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