Hellboy

With a signature blend of action, humour and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world’s toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in Hellboy 2:  The Golden Army.  Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination from Oscar-nominated director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy).

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt.  A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures.  Now, it’s up to the planet’s toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders.  He may be red.  He may be horned.  He may be misunderstood.  But when you need the job done right, it’s time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman).

Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development - pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann—the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal.  And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who’s accepted by neither, must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.

Main Man Ron Perlman explains what life is like being Hellboy…  

How was it coming back for the second time as the rough and tough superhero with a heart, Hellboy?It was a total groove, man. The fact that the first experiment worked on a comic book character that was even a secret to comic book aficionados and with a cast that didn’t include anybody but fringe, independent, low-budget actors was pretty cool and then, to be asked back for a curtain call? It feels triumphant.

Why does the kitten-loving superhero with anger management issues hold such appeal for you?There are tons of characters I want to play, but none more so than Hellboy. You can’t tire me out when it comes to his evil deliciousness.  Plus I get to work with Guillermo del Toro who is one of the most brilliant men in film today.

What do you think it is that separates Hellboy from all of the other comic book based movies?I think partially it’s Hellboy’s lack of earnestness. He’s a complete underachiever who takes very little seriously. Even when he’s in the middle of a life-threatening situation, he’s still not serious. He’s trash talking and wisecracking because he just doesn’t care that much. He doesn’t care about the stuff people tell him he needs to.

And that’s the reason for his enormous appeal?Exactly. He doesn’t do anything by the book; he’s a real rebel. Also, let’s not forget he is a total slob. Hellboy is the most self-indulgent, undisciplined adolescently minded hedonist of any of the superheroes that are out there. He is a superhero who is not in control of the forces that surround him and I think that makes it more interesting to watch than somebody who is always in control.

In Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Hellboy grows up in many ways during this film. What did you think of the character’s dramatic arc?This was a little bit daunting. In the first one, he was mostly all swagger and attitude and one-upmanship. In this film, he’s emotionally compromised because he is looking at a world without Liz Sherman in it. He comes to realize that the world isn’t all that good to him, under the best of circumstances. Without her, there’s not a whole lot of reason to be sticking around. We’re seeing a much more emotionally compromised and vulnerable side of this guy whereas we might have suspected he didn’t have that side. She introduces a few things to him, which come as a total surprise for which he is completely unready.

You’ve worked with Guillermo del Toro in four films now. What is the reason the two of you work so well together?It’s always great. I’m sure there are people who might think they are bigger fans of Guillermo than me, but I don’t think so. I’m a huge fan of his. He appreciates the approach I take to stuff too so there is mutual affection for one another’s process. In Hellboy II, this was the most specifically he ever directed me because he had some very idiosyncratic, kinky way that he wanted this material regarded. I hadn’t thought of it that way and nor would I have thought of it like that in a million years.  But Guillermo does and therein lies his brilliance. We both have such an enthusiasm for Hellboy and when we work together, we’re like two ingredients that work well in a salad.

You’ve said in the past that you relate to Hellboy in many ways. What similarities do you share with him?I’m a slob. I’m pretty self indulgent, a hedonist and I’m pretty undisciplined. I like to mix it up with the guys and I like a little trash talk now and again. I’m pretty cynical too. I’ve got that New York thing happening because that’s where I grew up. Maybe that’s where the similarities end, but that’s plenty (laughs). That’s a good foundation to build off.

Have you ever felt like an outsider like Hellboy?Oh, very much so. I had my problems as a kid. I was about 300 pounds by the time I was 12 years old and that’s around the time when you start getting interested in asking girls out. I felt like I was not worthy and had pretty low self-esteem so I understand the outcast impulse. I understand the not good enough feeling that makes you think you’re in this all by yourself. It’s a lot of years later and I don’t feel those things at all anymore, but to play Hellboy I remember those feelings and I draw upon them.

How physically exhausting is it to play Hellboy?This was physically very hard for me. It was six months, six day weeks, averaging 17 to 19 hour days. It was a challenge, which went to all of our cores, but for some reason at this point in time when it’s all done and we’re riding in limousines to premieres, all of it has melted away. I only remember the good stuff now.

How long does it take for you to be transformed into Hellboy?Not that long and in no way shape or form is it burdensome. I regard it as being adorned and for me; it’s an honorable transformation out of which comes the better self. By the time I finish up lacing up that last shoe and I’m walking onto the set, there’s a power that comes with having all that paraphernalia in place. You feel invulnerable.

You sound like you genuinely enjoy the process. What’s your secret?Well, the reason it works for me is there is nothing I enjoy doing more than sitting around doing nothing and that’s what you have to do when your make-up is being applied. When I’m doing nothing, that’s when I’m happiest. That’s why Hellboy and I are so intertwined – lazy, underachievers (laughs). Nobody bothers me when they’re putting the make-up on me and I like that.

Who was your hero when you were growing up?I’m not a comic book guy. I never read comic books when I was growing up, but I was a movie buff. My heroes were Marlon Brando, Cary Grant and Burt Lancaster. Those are my three big heroes. Among the women, there was really only one – Audrey Hepburn. I think she was the most beautiful woman who ever graced the screen, not just physically but in every way. In terms of sport, I loved Mickey Mantle and Muhammad Ali.  I love Frank Sinatra too.

If there is a Hellboy III, what do you hope happens?I hope I’m able to walk (laughs). Guillermo is supposed to be going off now until the year 2013 to do The Hobbit and if you do the math and you know how old I am, it’s a real concern as to whether I’m going to have to do the whole thing from a chair or even an iron lung. We’ll see. But as long as Guillermo is making Hellboy movies, I’ll be there.

Hellboy II:The Golden Army is showing at the Odeon Cinema, Riverside, from Tuesday 5th August. To book tickets go to www.odeon.co.uk or call 0871 22 44 007.  

What's it like returning to play Liz in Hellboy II: The Golden Army? Did you have any reservations about reprising the role?No. Not one. How could you ever have reservations working with Guillermo? This is what an actor dreams of, anyone working in film. He is the best there is.Anything he does he’s good at. I sound like a sycophant, but it's true.

The first Hellboy film was a huge success. Why do you think Hellboy holds such wide appeal?I think it’s a shock to girls that Hellboy is so funny. I’m sure with the first one, some were dragged by their boyfriends thinking 'Oh God, this is some weird horror movie I don’t want to go see'. But he’s funny and he’s sexy. He’s just like a regular guy.

So he's more relatable than the perfect superheroes we're used to seeing?Yes. I think he’s so completely relatable.  He’s in these absurd situations and his girlfriend bursts into flames and there’s a guy who looks like a fish who is walking around.  There are very strong themes in Guillermo’s movies which are so serious. It’s not like anything the title would suggest. There’s Hell and Boy, one’s a scary place and the other, boy, is an adorable image. Even the title is funny.

Hellboy is probably not every girl's ideal mate. Do you agree?He’s a really flawed regular dude (laughs). He’s a guy, but he’s big, red, he has horns, a tail and he’s also just a big sloppy grown up kid.

Why do you think Liz falls so hard for him?Liz and Hellboy have known each other since she was an adolescent and they’ve had a bond ever since. There’s just an instant love between the two of them. He’s funny, he’s charming and he goes all out. When he wants to do something, he gets the job done. He’s loyal and a good guy. He’s also a softie and he loves his kittens. There’s a lot to love about him.

The Liz we see in the sequel has grown up and changes a great deal. Were you happy to see a different Liz in Hellboy II?I was really happy for it. Liz is so different in this one than in the first. In the first, she was like playing a teenager. She was sad and was really uncomfortable in her life.   She was trying to move forward.

She didn't have an easy childhood, that’s for sure.Yeah. She’d had a lot of trauma in her life. The power of her being able to create fire hurt and killed people she loved including her family. She was really traumatized and didn’t ever want to use that power again. By the end of it, she had clearly fallen for Hellboy and used her power to save some people so she was kind of redeemed. In the second one when we see her, she’s clearly matured and she’s not hiding behind her hair or her big clothes. She’s just a really functional capable woman who is fighting with her live-in boyfriend. She’s fighting with him because she has no room to put all of her black pants apparently, you know? (laughs) He has 900 cats and she’s nagging him, he’s wrong and she’s right.

What do you relate to most about Liz?I think she’s very loyal to the ones she loves and her group of friends. She’s kind of a misfit and a little anti-social. She’s also a bit brooding at times.

Is it true Guillermo doesn't use as much CGI as what other directors would for a film like this? For example, he builds fantastic sets where in other films the director might rely on animators to fill the background later?Yes, that's so true. His sets are always incredible. On both Hellboys I was blown away when I walked on set. The costumes are so detailed and impressive as well. It is so great to be an actor on his movies because the surroundings really help you believe you are in this fantastic world. You're basically living inside the brain of this brilliant director.