Aaron Eckhart as US presidentBenjamin Asher in Olympus Has Fallen

Aaron Eckhart — who shot into the limelight as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight — plays the president of the United States of America in Friday release Olympus Has Fallen, an edge-of-the-seat thriller about the White House under attack. A t2 email chat…

You have played a number of negative roles. Did you ever think that your most earnest role would be that of a politician, playing the US president in Olympus Has Fallen?

Yes, I did. There are many things I have in common with the president I played. He is a man and I am a man. He has a family and so do I. He has a youngish family and I do as well. Being an actor is not far from being in political office. You have to watch what you say and what you do. I’m actually way too fluid to be a politician. If I were a politician, I would be one at the local level but certainly not at a national level.

Apart from the chance to play the most powerful man in the world, what is it about Olympus Has Fallen that made you want to be a part of the film?

Well, it was more about Antoine (Fuqua), the director. Antoine called me up, we went to his office and he explained what he wanted to do. Of course, I’m a huge Antoine fan, I love his movies [Training Day, Shooter, Tears of the Sun...], and I have huge confidence in Antoine. Whatever he does, he’s going to set out and make a kick-ass movie, no matter what.

What did Antoine Fuqua bring to this film?

Antoine is a very calm person. He has total trust in his actors. If he’s hired you, then he trusts you. He always makes you feel like he is glad to have you here, glad to have you on set. He gives his actors a lot of freedom. When we are free to do what we like, it’s a much better experience.

What kind of preparation — physical and psychological –– did you undergo to play president Benjamin Asher?

I have been trained in boxing ever since Erin Brockovich (2000; the Steven Soderbergh film that won Julia Roberts an Oscar). Now I do mixed martial arts. I think it’s important for every actor to know how to ride a horse, shoot a gun, drive a car and ride a motorcycle because you never know when you will be asked to do these activities in a film. I consider myself to be a “human behaviourologist” because I find humans fascinating and I am constantly observing people. This skill really helps me to convince an audience.

You apparently spent three weeks of shoot with your hands tied to a rail! That must have been tough…

To be immobilised and yet stay so connected was a challenge. We get hit and kicked around pretty good. It was important to me to maintain the integrity and strength of the office while waiting for Gerry’s character (Gerard Butler plays secret service agent Mike Banning) to save the day.

Besides that, what was the toughest bit to film?

It was the human aspects of the president — to stay in charge, to remain confident and how to psychologically defend myself against these people… how would I go at them to break them down psychologically… that’s interesting stuff. I couldn’t do it physically, I had to trust that Gerard Butler was out there, but what could I do in the meantime? What could Melissa’s (Leo) character (who plays secretary of defence Ruth McMillan) do in the meantime? That was an interesting challenge.

How was it sharing screen space with such a huge ensemble cast — Gerard Butler to Ashley Judd, Melissa Leo to Morgan Freeman?

It was fun to be in the Oval Office and it was actually kind of special to be there with Morgan and Melissa, and so on. Gerard was fully committed to this movie... as the producer as well as the star. He was 100 per cent there every day and was great to work opposite.

Finally, after so many years in the business, what still motivates you to wake up and go to work every morning?

When you put your dreams next to your accomplishments and you realise they don’t measure up, you are even more hungry for the dreams… and I think I fall under that category.

AT A GLANCE

Was Darren Aronofsky’s choice for James Gordon for the doomed “Batman: Year One” project. Was subsequently signed on by Christopher Nolan for the role of Harvey “Two-Face” Dent in The Dark Knight.

Is the first live-action actor to play both Harvey Dent and his alter ego

Two-Face. Previously, the role had been played by Billy Dee Williams (as Dent) and Tommy Lee Jones (as Two-Face).

Took three years off after high school to surf in Hawaii and ski in France.

Gained over 30 pounds for his role as Barry in Your Friends & Neighbors.