Harry Lennix

Coming out this week in limited theaters is the inspiration gospel themed film, ‘A Beautiful Soul,’ starring Gospel singer Deitrick Haddon, Harry Lennix, Robert Ri’chard, Lesley Ann Brandt, and Barry Floyd.

Directed by Jeff Byrd, ‘A Beautiful Soul’, is the story of Andre Stephens (Haddon), an R&B superstar who has success, fame and fortune but has lost his way spiritually. The film follows Andre after his “perfect” life is shattered in a brutal attack that leaves he and his best friend, Chris Johnson (Ri’chard), clinging to life. The tragedy pushes Andre onto a spiritual journey that forces him to make a choice that could change his destiny forever.

For Lennix, who plays a record exec, the film is among the many projects the Chicago native has lined up. Besides this film, he’s featured in the upcoming Matthew A. Cherry‘s film, ‘The Last Fall‘, has a role in Danny Green‘s ‘Mr. Sophistication,’ and will play General Swanwick in the new Superman film, ‘Man of Steel.’

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Lennix talked about his role in ‘A Beautiful Soul,’ working with Deitrick Haddon, and his exciting over being cast in ‘Man of Steel.’

What was the attraction to doing “A Beautiful Soul”?

Harry Lennix: The initial inquiry came from my friend Holly Davis Carter, who’s a dear friend I’ve known for many years and know to be associated with quality projects. I know she puts her all into it. Then I read the script and thought it had tremendous appeal, a cautionary tale for our modern times, and also had resonances to movies from the past like “It’s A Wonderful Life”. So I was interested from the first time I heard about it.

What role do you play in the film?

HL: I play a character by the name of Jeff Freeze. I’m the manager for Deitrick Haddon’s character and just a kind of smooth Hollywood operator.

How similar is Jeff to “The Five Heartbeats” where there was a shady manager named Red?

HL: (laughs) Red is a far more malevolent figure than Jeff Freeze. Jeff is an operator but he’s not a pariah. If there’s any similarity at all it’s that Hawthorne James and I are both around the same age. I’m probably his age when he was playing that character, but they’re different in terms of temperament and instinct.

How’s working with Deitrick and had you heard his music before?

HL: I had not heard Deitrick’s music before working with him. As soon as I found out that I would be working with him I went to YouTube and found some tracks he’d done and was immediately impressed. At first I thought I was listening to Prince, he’s got a piercing voice like a clarion bell, he’s got a very clear voice mechanically speaking. To put that kind of voice onto inspirational music is a revelation. I think he’s a trendsetter. I don’t know a whole lot about modern Christian music, but having been a seminarian once I thought that he has tremendous potential to get this word out to a lot of people who are so in need to hear it. I have a great amount of respect for Deitrick, I’m very fond of Deitrick, and it was great working with him. He was a top-notch professional and all he wanted the entire time was to do the best job he could do.

You’ve done TV, you’ve done films. Obviously you learn something from each person you’re working with. What did you learn from director Jeff Byrd?

HL: Jeff is someone who I’d worked with before. I can’t remember how many years ago, but I didn’t have any surprises with his ability to get the job done in a timely and effective manner. I knew that he would bring a vision to the movie that was a professional-level eye, and he carried that out with poise and a tremendous amount of invention given the constrictions of the budget and so forth. He’s a nice guy as well so it was great to get to work with him again.

You seem to have a number of projects coming up soon. You’re working with Danny Green on “Mr. Sophistication”?

HL: Yes. That movie is complete, we’re now looking for distribution and hopefully we’ll find it before long.