Vote for Sean Penn? Not anytime soon

updated 3:41 p.m. ET Sept. 21, 2006

TORONTO - The politically passionate Sean Penn has no interest in running for office, yet he’s a potent demagogue on the big screen.

In a new adaptation of Robert Penn Warren’s novel “All the King’s Men,” Penn stars as Willie Stark, a firebrand inspired by Depression era populist Huey Long, the slain Louisiana governor and U.S. senator.

With a wild bush of hair, an at times indecipherable Southern drawl and the flailing arms and bellow of a fire-and-brimstone preacher, Penn imbues Stark with fearsome energy that’s surprising in an actor better known as a follower of the Robert De Niro school of quiet menace.

“At first, the most intimidating part of it was probably the size of the character, not just physically, but in other ways. Vocally,” Penn said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Toronto International Film Festival, where “All the King’s Men” premiered in advance of its theatrical debut Friday.

Penn, 46, studied footage of Long. He traveled Louisiana to take in the bridges, roads and other public works Long built. He talked with people, who still recall Long as a Robin Hood taking back from the rich and redistributing to the poor. He observed evangelical clergy in Long’s old haunts to duplicate their cadence.

And he sampled the cuisine.

“Eating a lot of Louisiana food, bit by bit, getting some of the physical size to it,” Penn said. “Somewhere about the day before we started shooting, I felt ready to go. It’s pretty much like that for me. Terrified until then.”

While Penn has bitterly criticized President Bush, toured Iraq to observe the war there and helped rescue workers with door-to-door searches for survivors after Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans, he said he would not become one of those actors who goes into politics himself.

“You know what the honest truth is? I don’t want to,” Penn said. “It’s hard enough to go out there and party at a film festival and shake so many hands and smile, you know? I mean, forget it.”

‘He's the best’
“All the King’s Men” — which co-stars Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, Patricia Clarkson and Mark Ruffalo — follows the rise of an idealist from local rabble-rouser against the political establishment to governor who’s hero to the downtrodden to Machiavellian power broker who uses dubious methods in his quest for the common good.

When “All the King’s Men” writer-director Steve Zaillian finished the script, Penn was the first person he thought about for the role.

“Because he’s the best, I think. As simple as that,” Zaillian said. “I think he’s the best actor out there.”

“Sean’s talent, his gravitas, his joie de vivre. It’s all of that. That’s what that part requires,” said co-star Clarkson, a Louisiana native who plays Stark’s press secretary and mistress. “It requires someone large and delicate all at once, and Sean has all of it.”

Broderick Crawford won the best-actor Academy Award as Stark in the 1949 adaptation of “All the King’s Men.” (The film also won the best-picture Oscar.) Penn probably will not mind that the early buzz this time is that his “All the King’s Men” performance may be too over-the-top to grab awards attention.

Penn won the best-actor Oscar for Clint Eastwood’s 2003 drama “Mystic River,” and no longer has to endure questions about being one of the great actors of his generation who has yet to win a trophy.

Often openly disdainful of awards, Penn skipped the Oscar ceremony the three previous times he was nominated, for “Dead Man Walking,” “Sweet and Lowdown” and “I Am Sam.”

Penn made nice with the Oscars three years ago, coming to preliminary awards events and showing up on the big night itself, when he went home with his statuette.

Why did he go that night?

“Two words, baby. Clint Eastwood,” Penn said. “Whatever makes Clint happy, I do.”

MORE FROM MORE NEWS AND OTHER FEATURES

Will Ferrell is Hollywood's most overpaid star

Will Ferrell is Hollywood's most overpaid star ‘New Moon’ takes in $142.8 million at box office Cage uncuffs inner cop for ‘Bad Lieutenant’ Viacom wins rights to Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ 15 documentary features make Oscar’s short list Hollywood rethinks use of pricey A-list actors ‘Mormon Proposition’ looks at Prop. 8 debate Bacall, Corman receive early Oscars ‘Gidget’ director Paul Wendkos dies at age 84 End is near as Hollywood does the apocalypse   Add More news and other features headlines to your news reader: