An Interview with Hugh Dancy
Britsh Actor Portrays Man with Asperger's Syndrome in Adam
Aug 23, 2009
To prepare to play the titular role of a young man with Asperger’s syndrome in Adam, the British actor not only had to perfect a believable New York accent, he had to portray a relatively unknown mental condition. Dancy discovered in his research that it’s a newly diagnosed disease that leaves sufferers lonely and isolated because of the way their brains are wired. He devoted himself to showing it realistically and respectfully, and let the viewers come along on a fascinating journey.
AB - Asperger’s has been in the news recently since a Hollywood screenwriter said he had it. Some people believe some big thinkers have suffered from it, including Bill Gates, Tim Burton, Orson Welles, Mozart, and Andy Warhol.
HD - It’s a recent diagnosis, people are still learning about it. It takes study in the medical community and then there is a trickle down effect, it hits pop culture like in the movie. It’s at the tipping point.
AB - What is Asperger’s?
HD - It’s on the autism spectrum everybody agrees. To put it simply, it makes it hard for people to read gestures and meanings, tone of voice and other nuances. They can’t pick up on these things and the by-product is taking things literally. They often have areas of interest bordering on obsession, and of talking and sharing their obsession, to the point of people losing interest.
AB – I understand you did a lot of heavy research into Asperger’s.
HD - In getting ready for the role I realised that people are uniquely individual and that’s what they have in common - their personalities, humours, expressions in particular. They can even develop wheat and milk intolerances. We're only at the beginning of understanding Asperger’s. That whole area covers the ways were built, everyone, you, and me. And it can overlap into different diagnoses as well. There is so much overlap. We haven’t figured it out yet. It is fascinating.
AB – Having immersed yourself in it, was it hard to shake when the film was over?
HD - We finished shooting December 23 or 22 and I had to rush out and buy all the Christmas presents and go to family. I didn’t have time to think about it. It was weird, there was a hangover. It was a high wire act, but such a rich working experience.
Dancy co-stars with Rose Byrne in this touching film as shy young lovers who weather his storms together. In real life, Dancy’s engaged to actress Claire Danes whom he met on the set of Evening in 2007. They plan to marry in France in September.
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