John Lithgow spoke candidly about his role as Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series during a screening of his latest film, Jimpa, at the Rotterdam Film Festival on Sunday. Lithgow commented on the backlash surrounding J.K. Rowling’s controversial statements on transgender issues, stating he takes the subject “extremely seriously” but emphasized the importance of the story’s core themes of kindness and the struggle between good and evil.
Lithgow clarified his distance from Rowling herself, noting,
“I’ve never met her, she’s not really involved in this production at all. But the people who are, are remarkable.”
Despite the public criticism, he highlighted that Rowling’s original work does not include transphobic messaging, describing Dumbledore as “a beautiful role.”
Facing Opposition and Defending His Commitment
The actor revealed the emotional challenge in deciding to accept the role amid pressure to withdraw. Lithgow admitted,
“It was a hard decision. It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.”
Joking about his age, he added humorously,
“I’m the oldest person in this entire room, just turned 80. And yet I signed a contract – I will be playing Dumbledore for the next eight years! I absolutely have to keep at it. I felt: ‘Wow! That means I will live to be 88.’ I have that in writing.”
During the Rotterdam event, however, disagreement from the audience surfaced when one member protested Lithgow’s casting, leading to a heated discussion that overshadowed the premiere of Jimpa. Responding calmly, Lithgow said,
“I’m perfectly ready for collisions of opinion. I understand it.”
Insights into ‘Jimpa’ and His Collaboration with Olivia Colman
In the film Jimpa, Lithgow shares the screen with Olivia Colman in a story about a father who came out later in life and now resides in Amsterdam. Lithgow praised Colman’s acting, saying,
“Olivia has such access to her own emotional life, it’s so genuine. It’s so real to her. She keeps you on the same emotional wavelength. What an amazing actor.”
Directed by Sophie Hyde, Jimpa unfolds the emotional journey of Hannah (Colman) reconnecting with her father (Lithgow). Lithgow praised the inclusive atmosphere on set, commenting,
“They’re the most welcoming people in the world… The whole experience was like one big party. I was one percent of the straight crew and had a magnificent time.”
Director Sophie Hyde’s Personal Story Behind the Film
Sophie Hyde, known for Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, shared that the film was inspired by her own life experience. She revealed,
“My dad was a very eccentric gay man who came out just after I was born. When I was a teenager, he told me he was HIV positive. It was a time of crisis and I thought he was going to die too, but then the drugs came in and people started to survive, and my dad survived. When I had my child, he was there too.”
Hyde’s father passed away when her child, Aud Mason-Hyde, making their acting debut in the film, was only 12 years old. Hyde continued,
“Later they came out as trans and non-binary, and they were very public about it. And I wished for them both to be in the same room. That impulse was the beginning of that film.”
John Lithgow Reflects on Influences and the Acting Process
Lithgow described growing up in a theater family in Ohio, surrounded by actors who became his heroes. He recalled,
“Many of them were my absolute heroes. My father was a hero of mine, but these actors in a small town in Ohio, acting in Shakespeare plays in the summer time, they were such passionate people. Many of them gay, by the way. I was just a little boy, idolizing these gay men. It informed me playing Jim.”
He also appreciated the director’s detailed approach, acknowledging,
“Sophie shared so much of her own history; she was giving me letters he’d written, quotes. She’s a sneaky director. She’s constantly slipping you little bits and pieces.”
The rehearsal period was unique, without reading lines or rehearsing scenes initially, aimed at building a genuine connection among the cast. Lithgow said,
“She was turning us into a real family.”
Cast Experiences Highlight Warmth and Emotional Depth
Actor Hans Kesting described the rehearsal atmosphere warmly, saying,
“Oh fuck yeah. It was one big love affair. John was so enthusiastic and there was so much love from the very beginning.”
Kesting detailed one exercise involving tracing his body and scars on brown paper, explaining,
“Later, that connection is there. This was about getting to know each other, and listening to each other’s stories – also about childhood.”
He concluded,
“Because of the way Sophie told her story, the relationship between the characters. These are such terrible times so you long for heart, laugh, love, togetherness. It’s all in this movie.”
Zoë Love Smith, also part of the cast, expressed her enthusiasm:
“My big international role and to play with John and Olivia? There was this immediate warmth. I wanted this role not just because it was big, but because it felt so good. I didn’t have rehearsals like that ever in my life.”
Romana Vrede, who joined the team on stage, described the film as
“powerful and personal, also because of its real-life roots,”
adding,
“It just flows and that’s what life is. I loved that it captured life.”
Lithgow on Storytelling, Performance, and the Impact of ‘Jimpa’
Reflecting on acting in general, Lithgow noted,
“Styles change, but the basics of storytelling are very much the same. Any actor’s Holy Grail is the suspension of disbelief, making the audience believe that it’s not fiction but it’s real. Forgetting that these are actors. You never achieve it because adults at least know they are watch actors pretend.”
He shared memories of entertaining children, explaining,
“I used to have a second career entertaining children, and I used to absolutely love it. With them, they haven’t gotten there yet. They think they are seeing the real thing! I would sing my song with a silly hat on, pretend I forgot to take it off, and they would yell: ‘Take your hat off!’ So wonderful. That’s what you seek with audiences too, even for a fleeting moment. And that never changes.”
Regarding his recent work, Lithgow said,
“I’ve had a long career and there has only been five or six [films] that were everything I’d hoped for. In this hothouse moment, when there’s such cruelty and misuse of power over people, it’s wonderful to make a film about empathy and kindness. Jimpa [the character] can be unwillingly cruel, but he’s always trying.”
One powerful moment he recalled involved a scene lying next to Olivia Colman:
“The most interesting acting I’ve done was lying in a coma next to Olivia Colman. You can see a tear running down my cheek, which revealed that he heard and understood what she was saying. It was so crucial to creating the reality of the scene.”
He added solemnly,
“I guess I was just terribly moved by the thought of my own death.”
Significance and Future Implications
John Lithgow’s acceptance of the role of Dumbledore signals a commitment to bringing depth and nuance to a beloved character, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the franchise. His acknowledgment of both the challenges and rewards found in portraying complex emotions suggests that his interpretation will carry weight. As the Harry Potter series continues, Lithgow’s performance is likely to be a focal point for audiences and critics alike, especially given his willingness to confront difficult public opinion while remaining dedicated to the story’s themes of kindness and acceptance.
