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 He's
actress Julia Roberts' big brother Eric. And over the years he's amassed
a rather impressive list of credits. That's primarily because Eric Roberts
is an astonishing actor. He received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his
amazing performance in 'Runaway Train,' as well as Golden Globe nominations for 'King of the Gypsies' and 'Star 80.' Roberts recently received critical acclaim for his starring role in the motion picture
'It's My Party' and in the Emmy nominated television film remake of Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood.' Roberts can be seen in the independent feature film 'La Cucaracha,' for which his performance has won wide acclaim from critics. Written by Jim McManus and directed by Jack Perez, 'La Cucaracha' received the ''Best Film'' award at the 1998 Austin Film Festival.
More recently Roberts starred in the HBO Pictures' original film 'Lansky.' In the film, based on the true story of mobster Meyer Lansky (Richard Dreyfuss), Roberts plays the role of notorious gangster ''Bugsy'' Siegel. Additionally, Roberts starred in the TNT original film 'Purgatory,' which garnered ratings that have made the film the most-watched original movie on basic cable. The film follows a band of outlaws who descend upon a defenseless Western outpost and come to question their path when they discover that the town's ghostly inhabitants are not who they appear to be. Roberts appeared in the Emmy nominated mini-series 'The Odyssey' for director Andrei Konchalovsky ('Runaway Train' and starred in ABC's critically acclaimed dramatic television series 'C-16.' Born in Biloxi, Mississippi and raised in Atlanta, Roberts received his early stage training from his father, who ran a touring theatre company. At 17 years old, Roberts went to London to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and later at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Having appeared in nearly 100 plays, Roberts distinguished his theatre career with a Theatre World Award for his role in 'Burn This.'
Currently, Roberts is slated to appear in the TNT Original Film, entitled, 'Race Against Time' opposite Cary Elwes and Sarah
Wynter. 'Race Against Time' is a gripping action thriller set in the not-too-distant future. In an attempt to save his dying son, Jim Gabriel (Roberts) makes a deadly pact with the powerful organ-harvesting organization Lifecorps: They provide him with the money to pay his son's skyrocketing medial bills, and at the end of one year they come and collect his body. Tragically, before the ink is even dry on the contract, Gabriel discovers Lifecorps has deceived him by concealing news of his son's death. Unable to break his contract, Gabriel is on the run from Lifecorps, its merciless leader Dr. Anton Stofeles (Sarandon) and his henchman Burke (Elwes), a vicious tracker. Gabriel's luck changes when he saves the life of a beautiful but tough bounty hunter named Alex (Wynter). Gabriel finds another ally in Helen Steele (Venora), a rising star in the corporation who doesn't agree with the doctor's win-at-any-cost philosophy.
We here at UPBEAT Entertainment News Online had the opportunity
recently, to chat for a few brief moments with Mr. Roberts. Here are the
excerpts...
UPBEAT What was your first reaction when you read the script for this movie?
Eric Roberts
“My first reaction was that this was going to be a movie where I could have a lot of fun with my role. In the very first scene, I jump out of a high rise building to save a guy's life. From a physical standpoint, this would be next to impossible in real life, but the way it was done in the film is so heroic that I could not turn down the role. Furthermore, the first scene does not even
begin to reveal the topic of the film, which also made the script appealing.”
UPBEAT Do you like your character, Gabriel?
Eric Roberts “I believe you have to like something about any character you play. Even if you are playing a role where the person is despicable, you have to find something that gives you an affinity for them. In this movie, my character, Gabriel, is so kind-hearted and is driven by unconditional love that it was easy to find what was appealing about him. He is a ‘regular Joe,' with a sense of humor, who really enjoys life.”
UPBEAT Tell us what makes this science-fiction film different from others.
Eric Roberts “This movie deals with a social issue that I believe will become more relevant in our society- the selling of body parts. In the future, the selling of body parts might become a way of life. In the movie, a person can sell his or her body for the price it is worth, take a year to spend or give the money away and then get freeze-dried until it is time for their parts to be used. I found it
so interesting! Twenty years ago, the idea of selling body parts would seem out of the question, too far- fetched. I believe that within our lifetime it will become something that is very normal. This is exactly what makes this film right on the cutting edge of science fiction. It deals with an issue that we have not quite begun to deal with but it is within our reach.”
 UPBEAT Do you
ever take an active role in the filmmaking process beyond your acting?
Eric Roberts “I am involved in the last steps when it comes to the filmmaking process. I feel that, as an actor, I am an expert in my own craft, which makes my opinion more helpful when the writer has finished the script and the director has finished plotting out the movie. At that point, I can bring my interpretation of the character into the process, and we make changes together or I am
allowed to improvise a little.”
UPBEAT Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Eric. Good luck with everything.
Eric Roberts "It was my pleasure. Thanks for having me."
UB
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