Connie Nielsen on returning to “Gladiator” after 24 years: “I was nervous”
Connie Nielsen joined “CBS Mornings” to discuss stepping back into the world of “Gladiator” to reprise the beloved role of the character Lucilla, 24 years after the original film.
“I was nervous,” she said. “People really, really, really feel protective, I think, about the first one. A lot of people have been saying to me on the streets, ‘Don’t do number two, because number one is so perfect.'”
Nielsen explained that her decision to return hinged on the quality of the “Gladiator II” script.
Ridley Scott for his collaborative approach.
“Ridley is expecting you—he’s counting on you, he’s casting you because he wants you to be part of telling the story,” she said. “He makes you feel like there’s a lot of space for you creatively.”
She also reflected on the on-screen tension during her character Lucilla’s first meeting with her long-lost son Lucius, played by Paul Mescal.
“We didn’t really talk until we’d filmed that scene,” Nielsen said. “I’m coming from the perspective of a mother who made the ultimate sacrifice to save her son’s life … For him, the narrative is, ‘How could you abandon me?'”
“Gladiator II” is distributed by Paramount Pictures, which is part of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global. “Gladiator II” hits theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.
More
Source: cbsnews.com