WAMG Exclusive Interview With SAM RILEY : MALEFICENT

MALEFICENT explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “SLEEPING BEAUTY” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Recently, I sat down with actor Sam Riley, who plays Diaval, Maleficent’s raven sidekick in the film. Check it out below!

Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficentrealizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever. The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville. “Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Michael Vieira, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay.

How did you first become involved with MALEFICENT? Is it true that you were told that you weren’t “Disney” enough?

SAM RILEY : My agent did. Well, I don’t know if they heard that from them, but he said ‘The feeling is that you’re not quite Disney material’ which I completely understand. And then, I didn’t hear anything for a long time after doing the casting. And then, like three weeks later, my American agent rang up, which is always in the evening in Europe. I was very excited!

You live in Germany, right?

SAM RILEY : Yeah. In Berlin. I was in a pub and they said ‘Buy yourself another drink because…’

That’s a good place to be when you get a call like that!

SAM RILEY : Yeah! Although it can be expensive if you buy everyone one. [Laughs]

There is a lot of material from past tales on Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty, but this is a whole new look on the raven. How did you develop your character? Were you given a lot to go off of?

SAM RILEY : Well, yeah! I watched the original. I mean, I remember the raven, but watching it again – he’s, sort of, half asleep the whole time. It was difficult, because I like to do homework and anything I can because that’s part of the bit of doing this job. So, I watched a lot of videos on YouTube about ravens, and worked some on that, and then, when I came to London, the arranged for me to spend time with ravens.

How was that?

SAM RILEY : Intense, because I was completely ignorant of them. This one was [showing about three feet with his hands]…

Really?

SAM RILEY : For real! I though they were like crows! It was this big [again, displaying the size with his hands]. The guy let it out of the cage and it stretched its wings, which were probably not much longer than the width of the table [round 6′ or 7′ table]. I was like ‘Fuck man!’ They’re enormous. Then, it started bouncing around on the table. It could do tricks. They taught the bird tricks which it could do very well, but it had an attitude. [Laughs] Kind of vain. Dismissive. He could tell that he was more intimidating. It was really amazing. I studied him so I could use bits of his movements and things in my character when I’m the man.

Good thing you don’t have a phobia of birds!

SAM RILEY : Or their feathers! [Laughs] It was intimidating. They’re really big. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

Was he fast?

SAM RILEY : He didn’t really want to do anything unless you were feeding him. It’s kind of like a dog. He’ll only sit if you have a treat. I wouldn’t want him to chase me around the room or something. When they fly…

This film is a bit darker than I anticipated, but your character finds a balance between the good while working for evil. It would be easy to portray a more ‘enslaved’ type of relationship with Maleficent because you were indebted to her. How did you find the balance in your character?

SAM RILEY : It’s kind of the way she [Angelina Jolie]… When we first met she was talking about the fact that it has to start like that, and he has to be afraid of her. Then, if you think about it, we spend every single day with each other for sixteen years… watching her [Sleeping Beauty] grow up. I’m the only person who really talks to her. We thought that it would be more adjusting – developing them like they’re married or something. He realizes over time that she’s not as cold, or wicked as she likes to think of herself, and he gradually grows in confidence, and love, I think. I think he worships her.

When you have a fairytale, or a famous film such as SLEEPING BEAUTY with such a moments, cult-like following is there an added pressure to please the fans? 

SAM RILEY : Not for me, no. On Angelina, maybe, but a lot of it’s on her shoulders. I don’t think they could have cast anyone more perfect. I’m kind of used to that. It sounds really strange, but there’s this film that I did – I played a character that had a massive, nice little cult following – Ian Curtis from Joy Division [CONTROL]

You also were in Jack Kerouac’s ON THE ROAD, which has a huge following. 

SAM RILEY : I played another literary character too, so I’ve kind of been unfortunate. [Laughs] Fortunate and unfortunate in that department – to incur the wrath of the devotees. [Laughs] Fortunately, the ones that bother to say anything to me have been nice, but I don’t look online. [Laughs]

I bet! Some people are vicious when they can hide behind a computer!

SAM RILEY : Yeah. It’s pathetic. Daytime TV is also terrifying. I was watching it while waiting for my make-up this morning… I’m wearing make-up. [Laughs]

You can’t tell. [Laughs] 

SAM RILEY : Thank you! She’s an artist! [Laughs] Two things that are totally terrifying… the internet and daytime television.

What did you see?

SAM RILEY : ‘Kelly and’ something?

Oh, she used to host with Regis. ‘Live With Kelly And Michael’.

SAM RILEY : Oh yeah! I remember him! They had Charlize Theron on, and Josh Hartnett. Oh god. I’d be terrified! [Laughs]

Why? 

SAM RILEY : Well, because it’s live. I don’t know. I’ve never done live TV I guess… and a roomful of screaming housewives…

What direction to you see yourself going next? Is going back to music in your future?

SAM RILEY : I’m tempted by it, and there’s a guy in Berlin who works at a record company that every time we have slightly too much to drink with each other I get to thinking ‘I’m gonna do another album!’ [Laughs] There’s unfinished business. Otherwise, with films and things, I don’t really know. I really enjoyed the experience of doing something so different with this film. You never really know what’s going to happen after. I’m always just waiting for something interesting… And there’s always karaoke. Do you sing?

I do. I used to work at a bar where I would jump up and sing Salt-N-Pepa or Joan Jett every night. Oh yeah, I can rap. [Laughs] What is your go to karaoke song? 

SAM RILEY : [Laughs] ‘Hammer Time’ [You Can’t Touch This]

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MALEFICENT Is In Theaters Now