What was the appeal ofPilgrimage, for you?
So, the challenge of speaking a foreign language, for my character, was really fascinating.
ARMITAGE: Its interesting, its a bit of both.
I didnt necessarily like him, but I found certain aspects of his personality likeable.
He kills the family name.
I related to that, in a way.
Image via RLJ Entertainment
He would have always been at war and he would have been trained for battle.
For him, his normality was violence and dominating his position in society through violence.
For him, a day at the office is to fight.
Image via RLJ Entertainment
ARMITAGE: Its interesting cause I just stumbled on a piece asking exactly the same question.
I think because we cant quite comprehend.
I think thats endlessly fascinating, and its a human construct.
Image via RLJ Entertainment
That was very much the case in this story, but we can also see that today.
I think thats one of the reasons we relate to it.
I would describe Raymond as an extremist, which is a hot word, but he is.
Image via RLJ Entertainment
Hes prepared to kill and slaughter and commit genocide to push forward his religious agenda.
ARMITAGE: I feel like youve absolutely hit the nail on the head of it.
Ive been trying to explain the kind of endowment we all give to this piece of stone.
Image via RLJ Entertainment
We give it that power and relevance.
In a way, thats the whole point of the movie.
Do you think this man would view himself as the hero of his own story?
ARMITAGE: Yeah, absolutely!
Hes going to lead an army into the next Crusade.
Thats part of what he talks about, with redemption and salvation coming through heroic acts in war.
Thats why I would call him an extremist or a fanaticist.
With both Tom and Jon, there really wasnt any conversation needed.
We all really understood the commitment from each other.
Its interesting because Tom was up and coming, at that point.
He still is up and coming, but it was before he got Spider-Man.
But, he was so committed to the truth of the role.
I found it fascinating to just look in Jons eyes and know what he was thinking.
It was almost like telepathy, which was slightly unnerving, and I used that for Raymond.
I just wanted to know, What are you not telling me?
What are you not saying?
All of the cast, and all of our amazing Irish cast, was great.
There was not a great deal of intellectual analysis.
It was a very instinctive thing.
Was this a daunting shooting schedule?
ARMITAGE: I think it was something like 23 days.
The costume designer did an amazing job, sewing things with her own hands.
I love the fact that the movie looks so much bigger than the money that was spent on it.
Thats a real testament to Brendan Muldowneys genius, some incredible camera work, and the Irish landscapes.
you’re able to never underestimate that.
I really needed to pass as a Frenchman.
It was a lot of work and a lot of listening and some work in post-production.
That, to me, was the biggest challenge.
ARMITAGE: I think its a combination of both.
Youre not drawn by a mega-star in a leading role.
Sometimes that can be really exciting.
Could you ever have imagined that youd find yourself doing voice work for something likeCastlevania?
ARMITAGE: You know what?
Ive always longed to do it, and I hope that I get to do more.
The interesting thing is that there was no animation when we were voicing it.
They come up with the script first, and then the animators work to my performance.
I really, really enjoyed the process of voicing it and seeing it.
I hope to do more.
It was so much fun.
You also have Season 2 ofBerlin Stationcoming up in October.
Thats our subject matter for Season 2, so its very on point.
Its thrilling and frustrating, at the same time, because were chasing the news.
If were too emulating of whats happening, we could suddenly become very irrelevant.
But, I like being on that razor blade.
Ive just had to yield to that.
Is that also a goal?
Sometimes I hate the job that I do.
I started the year onOceans Eight, which was such a surprise.
It was a New Years surprise to me.
I didnt know I was going to do the film, and I had 24 hours to prepare.
Pilgrimageis now in theaters and on VOD and on Digital HD.
