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Bridging Fact and Fantasy
by Kimberly Scott
Dolly
March, 1991
Robert Sean Leonard is hailed as the most promising new actor of the decade. But as Kimberly Scott discovered, life for Robert isn't always stranger than fiction. Sometimes the two become one.
The young Shakespearean actor moves across center stage. In the audience, a group of friends sit mesmerized by his performance.
Robert Sean Leonard could be replaying his character from the classic movie Dead Poets Society. But this scene has transgressed the screen and is now real life.
"I'm doing Romeo and Juliet at the moment (he plays Romeo, who else?) and on the opening night I walked off the stage and saw four of the guys from Poets just standing there," says Robert down the line from his New York apartment.
"We've all remained good friends. Actually…" says Robert as an afterthought, "Ethan (Hawke) is on his way over here right now. We see each other all the time."
Robert says that the support from his friends is what inspires his stage and film performances. If his performance in the new Mr. and Mrs. Bridge is any testament to that support, the strength of such friendship definitely goes a long way.
Mr. and Mrs. Bridge follows the life of an upper-middle class Kansas family through the 1930s and 40s. Walter Bridge (Paul Newman), the rigid, traditional Kansas lawyer, plays husband to vulnerable wife India (Joanne Woodward, and father to a high-spirited Ruth, a more conventional Carolyn and a very withdrawn Douglas (Robert) in a story which traces the problems faced by India as she cries out for love and affection from her husband AND her only son.
"It's all about not communicating," says Robert. "When you think about it, non-communication is a very difficult emotion to portray. It's terribly frustrating. I mean, your job as an actor is to communicate, so when you get up there and try NOT to communicate you feel like you're not doing your job. It was really hard work, but it was very rewarding."
Robert's character ages from 16 to 22 throughout the film--he develops from a young scout with braces (a fake metal retainer was placed on his teeth for the part), to a withdrawn and frustrated 18 year old, and finally, a 22-year-old soldier (he even had to grow a moustache for that last part of the movie!)
In what is perhaps the most moving scene of the movie, a young Douglas is faced with the dilemma of turning to kiss his mother in public (at a scout presentation ceremony). "This is a guy who hasn't kissed his mom in 10 years," he says. And Robert's performance in these few seconds of film is nothing short of unbelievable.
So it was a challenging role, but what was it like working with one of the biggest screen legends of all time, Paul Newman? "He has a reputation for being a man of few words, but when he does speak he means it and what he says comes straight from the heart. Working with him was an incredible experience. He's very cool. He makes things happen."
Robert is fresh from completing his third major movie, opposite Cybill Shepherd, in Married to It. According to Robert, this film is about making relationships work. "I play a guy from Iowa and I'm married to Mary Stewart Masterson. We move to NY and meet two other couples (Cybill plays wife to Ron Silver). We all sort of get caught up together despite coming from radically different backgrounds. It's about fighting to keep a relationship going, and fighting for commitment."
As well as films, Robert juggles a successful career on stage which means late nights, long rehearsals and very little time to relax. "I try to balance film and theater. When you're on stage you only earn about $120 a week. So you have to save while you're doing a movie to get you through the theater times. But I love them both."
I started wondering why Robert, obviously one of the most in-demand young actors around, chooses to stay put in NY while most other young up-and-coming starts (like Johnny Depp, Christian Slater and Charlie Sheen) all live it up in LA. "I love the East Coast and New York because my family and friends live here (in New Jersey). I love the way the seasons change here. It's such a beautiful place to live."
"The people who live in LA haven't made it big because of where they're seen. You only have to look around and see who's acting to know it takes talent. If people develop their talent and love what they do they'll find their own way. I was reading a beautiful phrase the other day which said, 'Art will only go as deep as your love.' It's so true."
Hmmmm… as poetic as ever! Robert is definitely a born romantic.
So when is this real life artist coming to visit us in Australia? "Soon I hope," he says. We hope so too!
