Video:Colin O'Donoghue The Rite Interview

Transcript:Colin O'Donoghue The Rite Interview

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the World Premiere of New Line Cinema's The Rite.

Colin O'Donoghue - 'Michael Kovak' in The Rite

How intimidating was it working opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins in your first film?

Colin O'Donoghue: "For about a split second quite a lot, and then you actually get to meet Tony and you realize that he's one of the nicest men you'll ever meet in your life. He was very good at putting me at ease I think."

You actually went along on some exorcisms?

Colin O'Donoghue: "Yeah."

I don't know how you did that and you're still able to sleep at night.

Colin O'Donoghue: "Yeah, I mean it was touch and go. I remember I got the call from Matt Baglio who wrote the book. I was in Rome and he said to me, 'Hey Colin, do you want to go see some exorcisms?' And I was like, 'Yeah, okay.' I hung up and I sort of went, 'Hold on a second...' But when you actually go you realize it's not like we would imagine it's going to be. It's not quite as extreme. But to the people who do go, it's very real and very personal, and I guess in a lot of cases a very terrifying experience. You have to be true to that and honor it."

Were you terrified watching or were you doing it from an analytical point of view where you could distance yourself?

Colin O'Donoghue: "I was trying to be as analytical as possible but I mean I was a little bit freaked out because I didn't know what to expect. It's not something that you think you're ever going to get the opportunity to go witness. And yeah, it was kind of freaky. It was just an air, but I don't know if that was me because I knew that I was going to see some exorcisms."

Did the priest give you any heads up like, "This is what we're looking for. You can see something in the eyes" - how do they know?

Colin O'Donoghue: "Well they actually have a lot of... Everybody's been psychologically evaluated which I think is the most [important thing]. The most interesting thing about all the exorcists I've met - I've spoke to three or four - is that they don't in any way try to convince me that it's real. That's like, 'This is what we do. We deal with it every day. Take it or leave it. That's it.' That kind of makes it a little bit more real to you I think."

Did it change your opinion?

Colin O'Donoghue: "I don't know. I definitely think about it a lot more than I probably did ever before. So maybe a little bit. Maybe I'm erring more on the side of believing."

I've heard it described as not just a horror film but a story about faith. Do you believe that's what the film is actually about?

Colin O'Donoghue: "I think the story is more about faith than horror. It's about the psychological debate. It's more about how do we know people aren't manifesting through some kind of psychological illness or is it really a possession? And that's how it's trying to keep true to the book because that's completely what Matt Baglio tried to do in the book, and hopefully we achieved that."

How often did you talk to the Father who was actually involved in helping with Matt Baglio's book?

Colin O'Donoghue: "Quite a bit. I spoke to him before we filmed. He was on set for quite a bit. He's a fantastic man, Father Gary."

What was the best piece of advice that he gave you?

Colin O'Donoghue: "He said, 'Don't be scared of the devil because if you believe in the devil then God is real, and then you know that God is going to protect you.'"

What's next for you?

Colin O'Donoghue: "I've got something else in the works but I can't talk about it."

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