Ben Foster embraces empathy and focus in his films; just don’t call him ‘intense’
LA TimesA chat with Ben Foster is not a quick, breezy BS session: From the moment he arrives in the French restaurant Lucien, he’s laser-focused, asking his own questions, then offering considered, thoughtful answers. Foster started out on the Disney TV series “Flash Forward” as a teen and today plays complicated men that bend without breaking under stress in movies like “Hell or High Water” and, most recently, “Leave No Trace,” written and directed by Debra Granik. Debra Granik once said something to the effect of, “I just want to know how people get up in the morning.” People like Tom and Will, sure, but all people. “Intense” also often translates to “he’s totally method and never breaks character no matter what.” I’m not asking people to call me Will on set but, on the other hand, everything we did in the film is done practically. They were like, “You don’t need to put that label in your head.” Do you find there’s a through line to the roles you choose?
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