From directing TV to narrating politics, Morgan Freeman does it all
Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman made a name for himself in a number of hit movies, including “The Shawshank Redemption, “Million Dollar Baby” and “Batman Begins.” But he’s back behind the camera for his latest project – season three of the CBS political drama “Madam Secretary.”
Freeman, who is also one of the show’s executive producers, directed the third season premiere, which starts with a possible exciting career change for Secretary Elizabeth McCord, played by actress Tea Leoni.
Back in the director’s chair, Freeman gave 80 percent of the credit to the actors, saying that casting was the most important key to good directing.
“I like working with the actors, they like working with me….” Freeman said on “CBS This Morning” Wednesday. “Your crew, your actors – they all know what they’re doing.”
Freeman made his debut as director in 1993 with the film “Bopha!” He said he had come prepared, thanks to director Clint Eastwood.
“I had just worked with Clint Eastwood, so I had really good instructions on how best to do it,” Freeman said.
From his diverse on-screen roles to directing, Freeman has done it all. In addition to working on “Madam Secretary,” Freeman is also in the middle of hosting the seventh season of “Through the Wormhole” and about to start filming the second season of “The Story of God.” His new movie “Going in Style” is set to be released next April, and he just completed filming the action comedy ‘Villa Capri.”
“CBS This Morning” co-host Charlie Rose asked Freeman if he had ever wanted something he did not have. After answering that he did not, he asked Rose why he asked.
“Because I know that -- I just know that you’re a man who goes after his pursuits, whether it’s flying or whether it’s directing or whether it is, in a sense, giving expression to your curiosity, you do it,” Rose told him.
“You know me well,” Freeman replied, laughing.
Like his career, Freeman has arguably one of the most distinctive voices in Hollywood. He temporarily directed drivers on the navigation app Waze and also lent his voice to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Freeman -- who endorsed the Democratic nominee and is a longtime friend of the Clintons – narrated her biographical video that played at the Democratic National Convention.
Freeman said that he had taken a voice and diction class in school but “flunked the acting” with a “D.”
When asked about the presidential election, Freeman said he was a bit worried.
“Well I’m like everybody else. My fingers are crossed. I mean, everything is crossed – eyes,” Freeman joked. “Am I worried? A little bit, just a little bit. I think we’re at a serious crossroads in terms of who we are.”
The new season of “Madam Secretary” will premiere Sunday, Oct. 2. As in the second season premiere, Freeman will also make a small appearance on the screen.