Friend Almost Lost Out On Nazi Role
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Actor RUPERT FRIEND initially turned down a role as a Nazi officer in new film THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS – because the character “scared” him.
The British star, 26, plays the vicious Nazi Lieutenant Kotler in the Holocaust movie, about the innocent friendship between young boys Bruno and Shmuel, who is a prisoner of a nearby concentration camp.
The film is based on the book of the same name by John Boyne.
But Friend admits he was shocked by the violent nature of his character – and almost missed out on the project as a result.
He says, “I mean, it’s not particularly flattering to be associated with a group of people who attempted to exterminate an entire race.
“I’m not a shouty person, and I’m not violent either. The character scared me. But then I realised that that was probably the point. It was about putting a human face on these atrocities.”
However, Friend struggled throughout filming and became withdrawn after shooting the more harrowing scenes.
He adds: “I just hid in the corner, like a dog, after those scenes.”
