Topher Grace discusses playing David Duke in Spike Lee’s latest film Blackkklansman about Ron Stallworth, the black cop who infiltrated the KKK. Topher talks about the agony of reading David Duke’s autobiography for the role, why Duke still denies that he was ever fooled by a black man, and how Duke was using phrases like “America First” and “Make America Great Again” long before Trump. Topher shares how director Spike Lee helped him play the king of all racists, what it was like to screen the film to a 10 minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and how he hopes releasing the movie on the one year anniversary of the violent protests in Charlottesville may help to spur a dialogue about race and hate in America. Plus Topher gets a Twitter shout out from the not so “grand wizard” himself.
Spike Lee’s Blackkklansman is now showing in theaters. Check your local listings for show times or visit www.focusfeatures.com/blackkklansman. Follow Topher on twitter at @TopherGrace. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Purple Mattress and the Move the Sticks Podcast.
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