Los Angeles welcomed actor Dolph Lundgren to an exclusive screening of “Rocky IV” at theater 12 on the Warner Bros. lot. Lundgren’s Q&A that followed the film was moderated by NYFA Admissions Director Chris Devane.
Perhaps best known from his iconic role as Ivan Drago in “Rocky IV,” Lundgren said, “Drago is the Frankenstein myth created by the system. Dr. Frankenstein is the bad guy and the monster is just the creation. That’s why I think this character resonates.”
Of course, Lundgren has acted in other major Hollywood films, including the James Bond film “A View to Kill” as well “Masters of the Universe,” in which he played He-Man. More recently, he’s been venturing into television. He hosted his own series “Race to the Scene.” He’s played himself in the Nickelodeon animated series “Sanjay and Craig,” and government strongman, Konstantin Kovar, in the CW’s “Arrow.”
“My greatest challenge is you want to make it fresh for yourself all the time,” responded Lundgren to a student. “You have to find something fresh in the material for you to be excited about the role. I always have a secret about the character. I don’t tell anyone, not even the director. It takes something to make you excited to come to set every day.”
Lundgren also credited his dialect coach, who not only helped him perfect his Russian accent, but also was a Meisner trained actor. He helped Lundgren play the second level since Drago was so stoic they would have him behave embarrassed at certain lines, and these behaviors were not in the script.
Lundgren will be appearing in the upcoming films, “Nordic Light,” “Black Water,” and “Dead Trigger.” He has also recently joined Warner Bros. much anticipated “Aquaman” film opposite Jason Momoa, which will be shooting at Village Roadshow Studios — where NYFA Australia Gold Coast students also have the opportunity to film.
