Steve McQueen reveals how he persuaded Paul Weller to act in ‘Blitz’: “He was doubtful, but trusted me”
nme.comJam frontman Paul Weller “was doubtful” about starring in his new World War II drama Blitz, but ultimately “trusted” the director.The film receives its world premiere at the opening night of the London Film Festival on Wednesday (October 9), and will then go into a limited cinematic release in the UK and US on November 1.The Oscar-winning director (12 Years a Slave, Shame, Widows) has cast newcomer Elliot Heffernan as the film’s protagonist, a nine-year-old boy that is sent from London for his safety as German bombs rain down on the city, but the boy is determined to return home.Saoirse Ronan plays his mother, while the film also stars Kathy Burke, Stephen Graham and Harris Dickinson, as well as musicians Weller and Benjamin Clementine.In a new interview with Variety, McQueen has spoken about his choice to cast the Modfather in his first major film role. “With Paul, I just thought there was an authenticity to his face,” the director said.“He looks like a person from that time.
He also writes and performs his own songs, so I thought he must be able to act. He was doubtful, but trusted me and we got him an acting coach and he got confident every day.
He’s such a beautiful man.”McQueen has also written an original song for the film, alongside longtime collaborator Nicholas Britell.
Titled ‘Winter Coat’, it is sung in the film by Ronan, and McQueen has admitted he went in not knowing whether she could sing.
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