Actor plays real-life tennis coach Rick Macci in Will Smith-starring biopic.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like working with Will Smith?
JON BERNTHAL:Honestly, I can’t say enough good about Will.
Will Smith and Jon Bernthal in ‘King Richard’.Warner Bros. Pictures
The word I think about when I think about Will is just generosity.
Generosity as an actor, generosity as a human being, generosity as a leader.
There was a just a spirit of generosity on this set across the board.
Ray (King Richarddirector Reinaldo Marcus Green) and Will, they’re such positive and loving people.
I believe that only on sets that foster real freedom of creativity can beautiful filmmaking occur.
Will just radiates that.
I’m enormously proud to call him a friend.
You’ve got a very distinctive look in the film.
They weren’t laughing with me, they were laughingatme.
You recently played Tony Soprano’s father, Johnny, inThe Many Saints of Newark.
What was that like?
As an acting student in New York,The Sopranoswas everything to me.
I begged my agents to be a background actor.
I never got my chance.
He’s got a friend for life now.
You’re well-known for deeply researching your roles.
So did you work in a fish factory for your part inThe Unforgivable?
I spent a number of days [there].
My character drives a forklift, so I had to go get a forklift license.
Do you think we’ll ever see you playing the Punisher again?
Look, for me, with Frank, he’s part of me, he’s in my heart.
I’m pulling your leg.
You’re good, brother, you’re good.
There’s a certain sort of darkness that needs to come with a show like that.
I’d break down walls to be able to do it.
King Richardis screening in cinemas and available to watch on HBO Max.
Watch the trailer for the film above.
A version of this story appears inEntertainment Weekly’s January issue, on newsstands now andavailable to order here.
