Connect with us

Featured Article

Exclusive Interview: Moonlight’s youngest star, Alex R. Hibbert

Alex R Hibbert interview: Moonlight’s youngest actor speaks to The Hollywood News about his big break into Hollywood with the multiple Oscar-nominee.

Alex R Hibbert interview conducted by Paul Heath.

I love this time of year. Every weekend seems to glisten with the prospect of superb new movies releasing in cinemas, and if you think 2017 is already spent following the releases of La La Land, Manchester By The Sea etc, then you’re wrong. In just a couple of weeks, Barry Jenkins’ multi award-winning Moonlight finally rises into local theatres, and it is simply fantastic in every way you can imagine.

Alex R Hibbert interview

The film chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Central to the film are three key performances; three actors who assume the character of Chiron.

This past week, we caught up with 12-year-old Alex R. Hibbert, the actor who plays the youngest version of Chiron in the film. We chatted about drama school, getting the role in the Oscar-nominated film, and travelling around the world to talk about it.

Read our full Alex R Hibbert interview below.

Alex R Hibbert interview

Alex R. Hibbert in ‘Moonlight’

The Hollywood News: Alex, an absolute pleasure to meet you. How did you first get involved in Moonlight?

Alex R. Hibbert: Well, I’m in drama school. I’m in a drama programme and all of the drama boys went for this audition for [this film called] Moonlight. I didn’t know that it was going to be that big as we got the audition through school. I got two call-backs and that’s when I realised that it was going to be big. I got the part.

Who were the auditions with?

It was with Barry (Jenkins, the film’s writer/director) and this other guy who read the script with me. I remember that Barry kept telling me – ‘I wanna see you do this emotion’ – ‘I wanna see you excited’. The character doesn’t get excited, but he just wanted to see me that way. That’s when I noticed that it was kind of weird and when I though, ‘I think I got it.’

How long have you been acting for?

This was my first time.

It’s a big, big project for your first job.

Yes.

Alex R Hibbert interview

When you started filming did you have any idea as to how big this would all end up being?

I didn’t. Once we went to the Gotham awards, the first awards ceremony where we won four awards – that was crazy.

You’re from Miami, right?

I was born in New York but now I live in Miami.

I interviewed Trevante Rhodes and Ashton Sanders a little while ago, who obviously play the same character as you when he’s slightly older. Is it true that you didn’t meet them at all when you were filming?

No, I didn’t meet them until we started going on tour and when the awards stuff started to happen.

That’s weird because your performances are all so good, and so close in terms of how you all act?

All of us on Moonlight were, and are like a big family and even though we didn;t meet while filming, we just love each other. Me and Ashton are like, practically brothers, and Trevante is like my homie.

Alex R. Hibbert and Jaden Piner in ‘Moonlight’ // Alex R Hibbert interview

So how does all of this fit in with school? You say you’re in drama school, but is there another school that you have to go to, or…

No, it’s all in one. It’s very weird because you have to transition from a ‘winner’ to – ‘oh, you’re going back to your boring life again!’ It depresses me because I have always wanted to act. But, school comes first.

How does everyone else at school feel about your big break?

They feel sad – they’re not jealous or anything – they’re just sad because me and Kevin, the little Kevin – aka Jaden (Piner), were leaving (to do the film).

You spend a lot of time with Mahershala Ali in the film. How did you get on with him? You’ve very close in the film.

Yes, we’re close in the film and in real life. He’s like a father to me. He was amazing in the film. He gave me tips and tricks on how to express my face without even talking.

Was there anyone else who gave you hints and tips? I mean, Brad Pitt is one of the producers…

First, the Brad Pitt thing. My Mom was all like ‘wow, Brad Pitt is producing this?’ I didn;t know what she said at first because she has a little accent.

Did you meet him?

No, I didn’t meet him. Not yet. I saw him on the news. He was going for a private screening to see Moonlight.

How long did you film for on Moonlight?

Three weeks. Every scene that we did was cool.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in ‘Moonlight’ // Alex R Hibbert interview

What was your favourite part?

The swimming scene. There was a storm coming in and we only had five minutes to shoot, so they were all like ‘are you sure you wanna do this – we can do this scene another time,’ but I was like ‘It’s good Barry, I’ll do it now’. He was like, ‘are you sure?’ I was like, ‘yeah, I’m okay’.

You nailed it first time?

Not the first time, but it took us two takes and then I had to learn how to swim in like five minutes, so we did two takes.

So you learned to swim in five minutes?

Yeah.

I read that Mahershala taught you how to swim.

Yeah.

Have you carried that on since?

Yes. I went to pool parties and I can even go in the deep part – and survive!

When did you first see the finished film?

I saw it in the summer, last summer, before it was like fully finished. The sound was weird, but it was almost finished.

What was it like to see yourself on the big-screen?

I hate it. Every time I watch myself on film or even when I do plays for my drama program and they record it, I feel like I could do better, you know? I hate it becasue I always think that I can change something in my performance – even though everyone tells me ‘you did great’. I don’t think I did great.

I think you did great. I think everyone looks at their work and feels that they could always do a bit better. It’s healthy. I first heard about this film in Toronto, at the Toronto Film Festival. You’ve travelled around a bit with the film. What’s that like?

It’s amazing travelling around with my Mom. Nice hotels, nice cars and a lot of good stuff.

Have you been to London before, or is this your first time?

First time, yeah – and you know what? The London Eye is closed, so I’m pretty sad.

It’s closed?

Yes.

Oh – and all of the lights are off in Piccadilly Circus – which is like the first time in fifty years or so. Have you had time to look around?

Not realy, but I saw the buildings. They all look beautiful.

Alex R Hibbert interview

You were at the awards last night (the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards). What was that like?

It was great Good job to Naomie (Harris) and Mahershala for winning. They deserve it so much, and good job to everybody else that won.

I saw you in the newspaper today, pictured with Naomie. What was she like to work with on the film?

She’s very nice. She’s a beautiful young lady. I love her, she’s like a second Mom to me. SHe’s caring and she always asks for my Mom’s smell? She has these different combinations of perfume – she mixes them, and Naomie is like ‘where do you get it, I want your secret.’ Every time she comes to me and says, ‘do you know the secret yet?’ It’s funny because my Mom never tells her the secret.

What’s next then? What do you want to do in the future?

I’m going to stick with film. I want to work to build a science lab and put the best scientists in it to work on cancer, and stuff like that.

Moonlight is released in UK cinemas on 17th February, 2017 with previews taking place across the country on 10th February. 

Latest Posts

More in Featured Article