Ben Foster Was Doping For Film Role

I’ve heard of method acting, but goddamn! Ben Foster recently took on the role of one of the most despicable figures in sports history, Lance Armstrong in the new film ‘The Program’. The film directed by acclaimed British director Stephen Frears depicts Armstrong (Foster) in the midst of his performance enhanced wins at the Tour de France. In order to truly get into character, Foster decided the only way to get the real Lance Armstrong experience was to dope himself. In a recent interview with The Guardian Foster said:

“Discussing it feels tricky because it isn’t something I’d recommend to fellow actors…These are very serious chemicals and they affect your body in real ways…For my own investigation it was important for me privately to understand it…And they work.”

I guess he figured if it won Armstrong the ‘Tour’ then surely it can win him an Oscar, right? The film has been making the festival circuit and has garnered mixed reviews, although Foster’s performance seems to be getting a good amount of praise. It’s not the first time he’s gone to extremes for a film role. He ate dirt for ‘Lone Survivor’, literally shit is own pants for ‘Rampart’ (although I’m thinking he was just really, really, drunk). Only time he’s seemed to draw a line was for ‘Alpha Dog’ where his character was meth addict. Even Foster admits that would have been taking it a little too far. If I could recommend something for the next director that works with Ben Foster. You should tell him the lead role is that of a South American crossdresser who plays the cello by day and is a prostitute by night. Then instead of releasing the film you release the behind the scenes footage, call it a documentary and just watch the awards flood your mantle. I’ve never really understood some forms of method acting, especially Foster’s(and I can’t forget you Daniel Day-Lewis). But whatever these method actors do it seems to work. I’m looking forward to Foster’s juiced performance. ‘The Program’ doesn’t have a U.S. date yet.

[Source: Movies.com]