British actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music and revolutionary spirit of the late Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti shaped the way he portrayed Spider-Man.
Garfield shared this in a roadside interview that has since gone viral, saying he creates a playlist for each character he takes on and turned to Fela Kuti’s music once he got the part of Peter Parker.
The actor explained that Fela’s music helped him link the superhero’s physicality with a feeling of activism and justice.
“I create a playlist for every character I play, which is a lovely, fun thing to do. So, I started listening to Fela Kuti when I first got Spider-Man,” he said during a roadside interview.
“There was something in the sound and the rhythm that was really useful to me for that character.
“There was something about suddenly being in touch with the body but also justice-seeking, because he was obviously a revolutionary figure.
“And the way I moved in that film, in the suit, has some inspiration from Fela and his music.”
The 43-year-old award-winning actor explained that he was especially drawn to the energy and power found in Fela’s music, and he tried to bring some of those qualities into his portrayal of Spider-Man.
“I was like, ‘I don’t know what it is about this guy’s power, but I want to somehow reflect it in this guy’s power,’” he added.
Garfield gained prominence after launching his career on the West End stage and in British television. His performance in the 2007 television film ‘Boy A,’ where he portrayed a juvenile convict, brought him critical attention.
He went on to appear in David Fincher’s ‘The Social Network’ in 2010 and took a starring role that same year in Mark Romanek’s dystopian romantic drama ‘Never Let Me Go.’
His profile grew considerably when he was cast as Peter Parker in Marc Webb’s Spider-Man films, released in 2012 and 2014. He returned to the role in 2021 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’
Garfield’s career has brought him several major honors, among them a Tony Award, two Critics’ Choice Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a British Academy Television Award.
He has also earned nominations for two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
