Denver, Colo., Mar 18, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ", spoke with the Catholic News Agency last week when he was here to receive the Imago Dei Award, on behalf of the filmmakers and crew of "The Passion", from the Archdiocese of Denver. The interview follows.
Q. Jim, regarding your faith, how has the movie changed your experience of suffering and what suffering means for you now?
A. I understand sacrifice so much more now than I ever have. During much of the filming I didn't know if I could make it, if I could do it because of the hypothermia. Dealing with hypothermia for one day is okay, even though it's very hard. But try dealing with it for five straight weeks on a cross with an overhang of more than 1,000 feet, and at the same time your shoulder is separated and you're sick, you have pneumonia and you're throwing up. At the same time, you're getting struck by lightening. All of these things factor into when you scream out: "God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" I have said that many, many times. You don't even know if you care if you make this movie anymore. This is the human side of me, but I know He [Jesus] did care. And if I hadn't gone through the suffering I would not have delivered the performance that you saw on the screen. It forced me into the arms of God. …
Q. Your faith is something that takes a central place in your life. Have you ever found a contradiction or a conflict between living your faith and your profession as an actor?