'It feels like we are jumping off a cliff!' Morgan Freeman weighs in on his hopes for the Trump presidency
He has played POTUS twice, happy to reveal he voted for Hillary Clinton and even been the voice of God, but this actor is hoping for the best when it comes to Donald Trump.
Morgan Freeman did not vote for Trump nor does he support his policies, but he is trying to be positive about what the former reality star turned leader of the free world will do.
In an exclusive excerpt provided to the DailyMail.com, the 79-year-old told AARP: The Magazine he is staying hopeful.
Staying upbeat: Morgan Freeman did not vote for Donald Trump nor does he support his policies, but he is trying to be positive about what the former reality star turned leader of the free world will do
The Oscar winner - who stars on AARP magazine's cover this month - said: 'As for politics today, I supported Hillary in the election, and now it feels like we are jumping off a cliff.
'We just have to find out how we land. I'm not scared, though.
Cover star: The actor spoke in this month's AARP: The Magazine
'I'm holding out hope that Donald Trump has to be a good president. He can't not be. What I see is a guy who will not lose.'
The interview was, however, conducted prior to the recent Executive Orders made by the President that included an immigration ban targeting refugees.
It is not clear if his view has since changed, but Morgan did speak of what it takes to be a great leader when reflecting on meeting and playing the iconic Nelson Mandela.
'Well, yes, he's a hero, but he's also just a guy. He has all this courage, and that's what it takes to be Mandela. You can do anything with enough kindness and compassion.'
Morgan has played a president twice - in Deep Impact and Olympus Has Fallen - and even lent his famous voice to an advertisement for Trump's adversary Clinton.
Deep Impact was released in 1998 long before the US had a black president and in a time when many thought that may not happen.
Morgan told the magazine: 'Some people thought Hollywood wasn't ready for a black president, but I didn't consider it.
Presidential drive: The actor said, 'I'm holding out hope that Donald Trump has to be a good president. He can't not be. What I see is a guy who will not lose'
'It feels like we are jumping off a cliff': Morgan said he is hoping Trump (pictured Monday) will find his feet
Changing times: The interview was, however, conducted prior to the recent Executive Orders made by the President (pictured Monday) that included an immigration ban targeting refugees
'I'm not a professional black actor; I'm a professional actor. I can remember only once in the movies playing black, and that was Driving Miss Daisy.'
Driving Miss Daisy earnt him an Oscar nomination but it was Million Dollar Baby that saw him finally take home a statute.
But after being nominated three times prior to that - and once since - Morgan said it was not as exciting to finally make the podium as you would think.
Important qualities: It is not clear if his view has changed in light of recent developments, but the star did speak of what it takes to be a great leader when reflecting on meeting and playing Nelson Mandela, saying 'You can do anything with enough kindness and compassion'
He told the magazine: 'The truth? It was anticlimactic. I was up for best actor three times. The Oscar for Million Dollar Baby was for best supporting. I keep the statue at home in a little room in Mississippi that has tchotchkes in it, and all of the high-end awards are there: the Screen Actors Guild, the People's Choice, Golden Globe. I've stopped waiting for the best actor Oscar, because you get to a point where it's better to be nominated over and over. It's more fun that way. You get to stay in that crowd.'
Morgan now tries to live a quieter life in Mississippi, away from Hollywood and New York.
'It's beautiful. It's quiet. It's green. I started going to Mississippi in the 1970s, after my folks moved back there. I couldn't do New York anymore – living in a cave, concrete everywhere. I get to have a normal life in Mississippi. Nobody bothers me. I stay home. I golf with friends.
Been there done that: Morgan has played a president twice - in Deep Impact (pictured) and Olympus Has Fallen - and even lent his famous voice to an advertisement for Trump's adversary Clinton
'I go have dinner. I survived inner-city South Side of Chicago, which was a hellhole, and worked hard over the years. I figure I owe it to myself to have some peace at this point in life.'
Being a film star came later in life for Morgan after starting of his career in the Air Force before becoming a dancer then an actor in a touring company that saw him become, in his own words, 'a lady-killer'.
But, when the world dried up, he then turned into a hot dog sales man.
'Was I a lady-killer in those days? Big time. Big time. Tall and good looking, what was my secret. We went to 14 cities. A lot of the places were colleges, so it was a feeding ground. But then the show ended, and there was no work. The magic wore off. I got a job and Nedick's, which was like McDonald's before McDonald's caught on.'
He was 50 when he landed his break out movie role in Driving Miss Daisy which landed him and Oscar nomination.
'I'm 50 years old, playing off-Broadway opposite the incredible Dana Ivey. Driving Miss Daisy changed everything. We heard Warner Bros. was making the movie, but they never hire New York actors.
'When the movie's director, Bruce Beresford came backstage, I said, ''So, do I get the job?'' he said, ''You're kinda young.'' He wanted Sidney Poitier. But when they went to Sidney, Sidney said, ''Go with the kid.'''
Morgan has been awarded AARP's Movies for Grownups Achievement Award.
Long time coming: He was 50 when he landed his break out movie role in Driving Miss Daisy which landed him and Oscar nomination
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