“Look - I'm an African-American. I'm black. But I'm just looking at the character and trying to find his soul, his energy. If you can wipe away the blanket of skin and flesh that people tend to see, and look inside for the essence of the soul, then that's the work I'm doing. That's the work I always do.”

American actor, filmmaker, and activist

Forest Whitaker is an American actor, filmmaker, and activist. He is known for a career on screen and behind the camera, and for receiving major honors including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, and the Honorary Palme d'Or. Whitaker has worked across acting and filmmaking while also being active in public causes. His name is associated with performances that brought him wide recognition, as well as with awards from both American and international institutions.