Ioan Gruffudd Interview by Martyn Palmer It's fair to note that Ioan Gruffudd has seen, and indeed worked on, some spectacular sets during his career. Most notably, of course, Ioan was part of the cast of Titanic and was lucky enough to experience the huge reconstruction of the doomed ocean liner. But nothing - not even the Titanic set - prepared him for the eye popping spectacle of the awesome reconstruction of Hadrian's Wall, the ancient battlement that used to divide southern Britain from the rampaging hordes in the north, for King Arthur. “The first time I saw the set completed I couldn't believe it,” he recalls. “It seemed to stretch for miles. And by the time the put the CGI on the shots as well, it will be just brilliant. And you know, as an actor, it makes the job so much easier when you have that kind of wonderful backdrop to help feed your imagination.” This is King Arthur and his knights as we have never seen them before - an attempt by writers David Franzoni and John Lee Hancock to show us the truth behind the story that has entranced generations. Ioan, who plays Lancelot, explains: “Our story is based on some recent findings that Arthur and the knights came from Sarmatia, which is now part of Russia, and were part of an elite Roman fighting force,” explains Ioan. “It's a fascinating take on the whole thing. And it's a fabulous script.” Set in the dark ages, as the Romans prepare to pull out of Britain, where they have been the occupying force for hundreds of years. The Sarmations have been reluctantly pressed into service for the Empire and Arthur (Clive Own) and his band are a ruthless, efficient, feared fighting unit who want nothing more than to leave this hostile outpost called Britain and head home - when they are ordered on one last, extremely dangerous mission. And the Romans prepare to depart, the savage Saxons are waiting to fill the vacuum they leave behind and then enslave the Britons who are not slaughtered. “They have to rescue a Roman nobleman and his family,” explains Ioan. “And they really don't want to do it because they had been promised that their tour of duty, if you like, was over and they could go home. And  it means that they have to go behind enemy lines to get these people out. And then it's a question of whether Arthur and the knights will stay and help the Britons fight against the Saxons - and maybe sacrifice themselves - or leave them to their fate. It's great stuff.” If you ask producer Jerry Bruckheimer - and he should know - Ioan is on the verge of great things. “He's our next big movie star,” he says simply. And King Arthur could well be the film that will introduce him to a worldwide cinema audience. Next		Home Interviews Antoine Fuqua Interview King Arthur Interview Arv Grewal Interview Asia Argento Interview Behind the Scenes of "War of the Worlds" Bernie Goldmann Interview Clive Owen Interview Dakota Fanning Interview Dennis Hopper Interview George A Romero Interview Greg Nicotero Interview The Hulk Press Conference Ang Lee Press Conference Ioan Gruffudd Interview John Leguizamo Interview Kathleen Kennedy Interview Keira Knightley Interview