Just a Minute With: Morgan Freeman

By Emily Chasan

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Known for his authoritative voice, and roles in films like "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Million Dollar Baby," Morgan Freeman might not be the first person to jump to mind as a celebrity activist.

But the Academy Award winner founded a non-profit for people affected by natural disasters, and serves on the board of Earth Biofuels Inc, a Texas-based renewable energy and biodiesel company.

Freeman spoke to Reuters about his activism and his return to the Broadway stage next month in "The Country Girl."

Q: You've been really outspoken on social policy issues and interested in helping those affected by natural disasters, and promoting renewable energy. What drives you to speak out about these issues?

A: "I don't know how outspoken I've been, I've tried to be active. Talk is cheap, but we might as well be outspoken because we might as well start talking about the necessities of our survival and the energy crisis which is becoming cheaper and cheaper to address."

Q: Why?

A: "I travel a lot and there are places in the world, including the good old U.S. of A where we're poisoning the air, just with our progress. The price of progress is right now poisoning ourselves.

"Here's the thing, progress will happen with the human condition. We will keep innovating, keep growing, keep learning, but if we don't stop with the rush to profits and start thinking about the rush to salvation we'll be in deep doo-doo."

Q: With Barack Obama running for president, a lot of people have been talking about the changing nature of the race conversation in this country. What do you think about that?

A: "I just think we've got to stop, we have to start looking at ourselves just the way Barack is, for lack of a better word, preaching. We have to stop thinking of ourselves as reds and blues, blacks and whites, Latinos and Asians. If we're not Americans what the hell are we? You know we need to hurry up and get that part of our discourse settled so that we can move on. There are so many other things that we need to tackle, like the environment."

Q: "Has your interest in social issues affected the types of roles you choose?

A: "No, I just read the script and if I like it I'm going to do it if it's an interesting character."

Q: "You see all these young stars getting into trouble in the news. How has Hollywood changed from when you were breaking into the business? "

A: "Hollywood's changed a lot but young people have always gotten into trouble. That isn't anything new, it's just that now we've got all of these news shows that need something to talk about."

Q: What is the most valuable thing you've learned in your career?

A: "I always take my cues from the older actors, those guys who I idolized as a kid and as a young actor. Those actors always had something to say, and one of them said, and I won't try to tell you who it was, "Don't take life too seriously, or you'll never get out alive."

Q: Next month, you are returning to Broadway in a revival of Clifford Odets's play "The Country Girl." Are you excited about returning to the stage?

A: "Of course I'm excited about it. It's a new job, new actors to play with, back on stage after 18 years."

Q: Did you miss the stage?

A: "No. I worked 20 years on stage trying to get into movies, and I've been in movies just about 20 years now, so, you know I can go back.

"Here's the question, do you still have the instrument? Stage requires a different development of instrumentation, but I'm not concerned about it. I'm pretty sure I have it."