A Performance Fit for a King

Oct. 24, 2006 -- -- Forest Whitaker made his film debut in the 1982 cult classic "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," and nearly 25 years and dozens of films later critics and audiences hail his breakout performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland."

The film is the first nondocumentary feature for Scottish director Kevin Macdonald ("Touching the Void"), and it tells the story of Amin's transformation from a man of the people to a murderous dictator held responsible for the execution of 300,000 of his countrymen in the 1970s.

Whitaker recently discussed his role as the charming and mercurial Amin with ABC's Joel Siegel for a Manhattan audience after a screening arranged by the Learning Annex.

To find the inspiration for his violent and heartless character, Whitaker said, "Partly, you have to go inside yourself. You have to go inside the darker little corners … and fuel the fire inside. And part of it's your imagination. Now I am more forgiving. Early in my career, I used to think that 'this is really wrong … I see myself, I see myself.' But you are always going to see yourself; you are always there."

In the film, the audience views Amin through the eyes of Nicholas Garrigan (played by James McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor who is swept under the leader's influence. This part of the story is fictional, and the relationship between the Ugandan dictator and the Scottish doctor is reflected in the film's title. Whitaker believes Nicholas' character helps the audience appreciate Amin's swift turns from seductive to savage.

"We are watching this movie from Nicholas' eyes," Whitaker said. "It's a lot about the seduction of Nicholas, being brought into this world … this friendship. The same thing has to happen with the audience. They have to want to laugh. … They have to have the same thoughts or feelings Nicholas might have.

"I wasn't thinking 'I am going to play it charismatic.' I was just thinking I am going to play this feeling," he continued. "I think that these type of characters, these real-life characters, they have a certain charisma, and people warm up and feel like they are invited in even when you know they are doing something wrong."