INTERVIEW: From Broadway to the silver screen with Michael Bernardi
One of the films receiving early Oscar buzz is Marshall, a drama starring Chadwick Boseman as the title character. In the film, Thurgood Marshall, in the days before becoming a Supreme Court justice, takes on a case in Connecticut involving a black chauffeur accused of sexually assaulting and attempting to murder a white woman. Marshall and his client deal with racism at almost every step of their legal journey.
It’s an early case that shows the skills and passion of Marshall, who was working for the NAACP at the time. The movie co-stars Josh Gad as Sam Friedman, a lawyer who is employed to help Marshall with the conservative legal system in suburban Connecticut. Playing Friedman’s brother and fellow lawyer is Michael Bernardi, an actor best known for his portrayal of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.
Bernardi’s casting in the role of Tevye was auspicious because his late father, Herschel Bernardi, actually played the same role. It’s almost as if the actor was destined to embody the iconic character.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Bernardi about his role in Marshall. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What attracted you to joining Marshall and portraying this character?
In light of our current tribalistic political environment, the opportunity to show how complex the dynamic between minority groups was before leading to the all-out fight for civil rights.
How was it working with director Reginald Hudlin?
Reggie is a master. He radiates positivity and brings a passionate creativity to set that empowers everyone to fully express themselves.
Is acting on stage similar to acting in films? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
Oy that’s a big one, so I’ll try to simplify. For myself, I think the goal is the same. Of course, each deals with different technical obstacles, but I ultimately try to convey a sense of truth that is accessible to an audience — be it to a back row or in a close-up. Marshall is unique since it takes place in a courtroom setting. The audience gets to see the actors’ relationship with the camera as well as their intimacy with the people watching the trial.
Were you always interested in acting because of your family’s background in the profession?
I suppose. Many of the artists in my family had shuffled off their mortal coil by the time I was an infant. Performing in plays has always provided me a way to connect with them and honor their memory.
What qualities do you look for in a character and project before signing on the dotted line?
As a journeyman actor, the concept of having a choice in your roles is damn rare. I always try to bring as much of myself to every opportunity in order to extract and imbue as much common humanity as I can. I suppose I’m attracted to characters that aren’t readily understood. Then I get to don my detective hat and try to figure out the mystery. That’s the fun part.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Marshall is currently playing in movie theaters. Click here for more information.
