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Nicolas Cage interview
IT'S ALL GREEK TO NIC
It was possibly one of the most sought after roles in movie history - weeks spent on the stunningly beautiful Greek island of Cephallonia bringing Louis de Bernieres best-selling novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin to life.
But for actor Nicolas Cage, who heads the cast in the eagerly awaited film, the shoot wasn't without its darker moments.
The 37-year old star reveals he suffered terrible nightmares and believes he may have unwittingly picked up bad vibes from the island's bloody history.
"I'd heard Cephallonia is cursed with bad dreams and I had some fairly violent ones when I was out there," he says. "I dreamed about soldiers killing one another, so you can read into that what you will. I felt in touch with the ghosts that were there. I didn't think they would hurt me because I felt that they wanted me to tell their story."
Cage, who stars as the eponymous hero, also faced the daunting task of becoming an expert mandolin player - despite having no musical training.
"I had serious doubts that I could do it," he says with a smile. "I do come from a musical family so somewhere inside I felt I had some ability even though I hadn't practised. I just really dedicated myself to going home every night and practising the songs that I play for a couple of hours every night until it became almost automatic. If you gave me a mandolin now I might be able to play the songs but I wouldn't be able to play anything else."
It wasn't just mastering the mandolin that Cage found difficult, he also had to sing on screen for the first time and speak with an Italian accent.
"I'm not really a singer, but I try," he says with an apologetic grin, "I worked on the Italian accent with Joan Washington, who is a phenomenon at that.
"She really helped. But one of the reasons I became an actor was because I could learn different skills and explore different artistic expressions," he continues. "That was the joy of it for me."
The film tells the story of Captain Antonio Corelli, an Italian soldier who arrives on occupied Cephallonia during World War II and falls instantly in love with local girl Pelagia (Penelope Cruz). But their idyllic romance is quickly shattered once the war encroaches on the magical island.
Directed by award-winning John Madden (Shakespeare In Love) it has already proved to be a big talking point not least because of the alleged real life romance between Cruz and Cage.
Last year Cage separated from his wife actress Patricia Arquette, but has since remained tight-lipped about the break-up as well as rumours surrounding him and his beautiful Corelli co-star.
However, the actor, who has a 10-year-old son Weston, from his relationship with ex-girlfriend Kristina Fulton, admits he was keen to do Corelli because of its central love story.
"The thing that I went for in the part was the idea of the very romantic love story. I like love stories," he smiles. "I also wanted to experience a character that was in another time. I see myself mostly as a modern actor and I have sort of shied away from period films because I don't really know if I wouldn't be anachronistic in it.
"It was a combination of the music and the love story and being in this incredible time period of World War II."
Despite his lack of period roles, the Californian-born star and nephew of esteemed director Francis Ford Coppola is regarded as one of the most versatile actors around.
He is equally acclaimed for his portrayals in both comedy and drama and has barely put a foot wrong with a string of diverse movies, such as Con Air, Raising Arizona, Peggy Sue Got Married, The Rock and Face/Off. He scooped an Oscar for his harrowing portrayal of an alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas and earned Golden Globe nominations for Moonstruck and Honeymoon In Vegas.
But the self-effacing actor has always shied away from the limelight and says he still finds fame uncomfortable despite more than 20 years in the profession.
He even managed to avoid the spotlight during his time on the tiny island of Cephallonia.
"As soon as I landed, I was very, very busy," he says. "There were so many things to do and learn. Dialect, how to march, how to sing opera, how to conduct, how to play the mandolin. I would rehearse and then go home and lock myself away to practice. I think in some instances I might have thought I was anti-social because I was so busy trying to get this character together in two weeks."
But despite his busy schedule, Cage says he fell in love with the island and its people.
"I found the Greek people were full of life and love, and loved good food and were generous to us in every way," he smiles.
Furthermore his new found mandolin skills meant he was able to head back to Hollywood with a lasting souvenir.
"I've been busy making my new film, but playing the mandolin isn't something I intend to give up," he smiles.
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