Cliff Curtis of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Was ‘Blessed’ to Portray Christ

Last updated on: June 9, 2017 at 3:33 pm by DeWayne Hamby

Cliff Curtis of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Was ‘Blessed’ to Portray Christ 2017-06-09T15:33:14-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Cliff Curtis plays Yeshua in Risen. Image courtesy of Sony/Affirm Films.

Cliff Curtis plays Yeshua in Risen. Image courtesy of Sony/Affirm Films.

In the Sony/Affirm Films release Risen, starring Joseph Fiennes as a Roman soldier on the hunt for the body of Christ, actor Cliff Curtis (Fear the Walking Dead, Training Day, The Last Airbender) plays the source of the investigation, Yeshua. Currently starring in the television series Fear the Walking Dead and recently announced as the lead in the Avatar sequels, Curtis reflected on the “blessing” of participating in the film with Reel Faith’s DeWayne Hamby.

You are the second “Jesus” actor I’ve interviewed, the first being Jim Caviezel. Your Jesus was very different, not somber, but warm and inviting, and smiling. Was this your own interpretation?

Yes, that was pretty much my interpretation. I took a practical approach in that He had been through a huge experience of suffering on the physical body and the fear that we all live through day by day, the garden, the betrayal. I figured to be released from the pain and the suffering, to be free of that would be a really beautiful feeling. He would feel elated and in love with life. I think my interpretation is that this is the hope that He wants to bring to the world. It’s a happy feeling, it’s a warm feeling, that there isn’t anything to be afraid of, that there is life beyond our fear. There was something very beautiful and human about that. I also wanted to do something that I could understand because I can’t pretend to know what it is to be a divine being, because I’m certainly not. I’m a normal guy. But I wanted to relate to that time, something that I feel confident I could portray.

The way you portrayed him definitely was someone that people would be drawn to. He was a friendly person who had charisma rather than stoic. Your version definitely showcased His personality.

I wanted to relate to Him as a human being in that His feet touched the earth and He ate here and lived among common man and women. He lived among ordinary people and He had affections for the working class, the fisherman, the builder, the tax collector. Those were the people He embraced. He wasn’t wining and dining with kings. He wasn’t looking for the wealthy and the powerful and a life of luxury. I come from the working class and I wanted to portray that.

Cliff Curtis plays Yeshua in Risen. Image courtesy of Sony/Affirm Films.

I heard from Joseph Fiennes and producer Paul Aiello about the way you got into character and the vow of silence you took while filming.

I didn’t know to approach the role. I sort of figured that I needed to approach it with humility and respect. I didn’t want to bring my ego to the role. So I thought it would be appropriate to do some type of ‘cleansing,’ a vow of silence. I’m a pretty normal guy. I talk about nonsense most of the time and pretty normal affairs. I didn’t think that was appropriate for the role. I needed to be respectful of what the role was. For me, it was a cleansing process to be in a state that was more spiritual, more finely attuned than I normally am. I hope that would be conveyed, that I wouldn’t be pretending in front of the camera, that I would really have a different state of being.

When you approach someone like Jesus, was there any fear or hesitation about portraying such a central figure?

To be honest, the fear came after the casting. When the role came along, I was so excited, because I grew up Christian and I always thought one day I would play Jesus and wasn’t sure if it would ever happen. I was so excited and I didn’t really have a moment to be fearful. I was just so happy. But when I completed the film, I thought I hoped I didn’t mess up. I thought about Jim Caviezel and the other actors who have had different interpretations that are very beautiful, amazing. It’s a supporting role in the movie in terms of time on screen. I guess I wanted to make the most of enjoying it. It was something special and I was very, very blessed, just reflecting on Christ. It was an amazing time for me spiritually to have that time allocated. I wish I could do another one. I was so abundantly blessed.

Fear the Walking Dead

Risen

Sony Pictures

Previous Post

April 25, 2017

Interview: Chonda Pierce On New Doc, Inauguration, and Being ‘Enough’

Next Post

June 8, 2017 TRAILER: New preview of 'All Saints' releases, ahead of Aug. 25 release

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Pentateuch" mean in Greek?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Book of peace Five scrolls Stories of heroes First law