How do you play Jesus? The figure looms so large over culture, meaning so much to so many. Everyone comes in with their own baggage, their own particular version of who/what he was. In popular culture, there are an infinite number of interpretations – the dramatic version, the comedic version, even the musical version. In Risen, the great character actor Cliff Curtis (Three Kings) brings a quiet vulnerability to the ‘King of Kings’. There’s a sense of inevitability to the film – we know how this story ends, we know (per lore) that Jesus rises from the dead and we know forty days hence he ascends into heaven. Curtis’s Jesus knows this too and there’s a sadness behind every exchange and every glance – a knowledge that these moments are all temporary and that he’ll have to leave his followers and friends on their own for good.

In the following interview with Cliff Curtis, the actor discusses the month long vow of silence he took to get into character, his earliest career ambition to become a priest and what’s next for him on Season 2 of Fear the Walking Dead. For the full interview, watch below.


Cliff Curtis:

  • Cliff Curtis on his favorite biblical epics
  • On whether he looks to previous performances of Jesus
  • On what preparation goes into playing such a cultural icon
  • On his month long vow of silence
  • On his earliest career ambition to become a priest
  • On his most memorable moment from filming
  • On performing without having much dialogue
  • On Fear the Walking Dead Season 2
risen-movie-image-joseph-fiennes
Image via Sony Pictures

risen-movie-image
Image via Sony Pictures

risen-poster