By Tonisha Johnson

As with most actors who are looking to grasp longevity by its ears, actor Oscar Isaac didn’t have to struggle, theatrically, long for his big break. Playing Joseph in The Nativity Story can be taken into several ways mostly in a highly-controversial light and can possibly excel or deflate an aspiring actor’s career; Isaac attacks the role like any other he states. And he takes the role seriously.

Roles in films like ‘All About the Benjamin’s’ are worlds apart from the historic rule of Herod and the creation of Jesus. Brief newcomer Oscar Isaac humanizes a mythical character.

How was it going ‘back in time’ on this film? What was your mindset like?

Oscar Isaac: As an actor you kind of dream of going to something very forward from yourself and to begin… even as a person just the history and the culture itself is very intriguing.

How did you prepare to take on the requests of the role?

Oscar Isaac: We had a month of basically bible boot camp. We went to Italy where we shot some of the film and I worked with first century tools; learning how to do masonry work, carpentry work. The staff I used in the film I made myself. I’m very proud of. And I made some of the walls in my house and the women would learn how to milk goats and learn how to make cheese and spin wool. We really tried to get into the feel of what these people stand for and also culturally figuring out what being a young Jewish man in the first century. What that meant.

What did it mean?

Oscar Isaac: That the land and God were integral for them as people. Their relationship with their customs is what helped them to survive through half a century; their intense belief in God.

From a personal standpoint, what do you think of this type of film?

Oscar Isaac: I think what is really powerful about the film is that it reminds us that the whole idea is humility and love. It’s not the powerful, the proud and the rich that got exalt, and it’s the humble and the meek and those that act out of love. And I think that that’s something to remember.

This film is incredible in the sense that the horrific subjects that it touches. It also reaches into the rawness of government tactics. How can you best describe for yourself the impact that storyline had on you?

Oscar Isaac: They were so oppressed by the Roman government it was a life of survival.

You’re dealing with a certain subject that kind of has a mythic quality and a very human quality as well. You could either go mythic or go human. Did Catherine tell you what she wanted from you on that matter?

Oscar Isaac: It’s about 2 paragraphs in the bible really. But what Mike tried to do is really stretch it out and what these people have gone through. Although he stayed referential to the Gospel of Matthew and Luke; I think that Catherine and I really tried to make them relatable and show that it cost them something and not kind of gloss over the fact that they were Jewish.

Did you take any responsibility for research into the actor?

Oscar Isaac: Absolutely. The one word that describes Joseph in the Bible is righteous. As an actor that’s not really playable. It’s not just standing up a little straighter. I had to figure out what that meant. When I figured out what it meant which is really not self-righteousness or moral superiority. It’s just love. 

Most of us grow up with our parent’s beliefs but after sometime we develop our own interests. We challenge those beliefs or we accept it. What did you personally think of this storyline? Is it believable to you?

Oscar Isaac: When I first aimed to do it I didn’t feel any responsibility religiously because I was going to attack that character like any other character because that’s how you really service the person and the story. How do you make them redemption? How do you make them relatable? How do you make them not just a walking icon? And then yeah, I think the power of humility is something I never realized that this whole story was all about. The savior, God decides to come to earth to the most poor and oppressed people; it makes 2 individuals ostracized by their own community to this little hick town of Bethlehem in a cave. That was a revolutionary idea.

Do believe that?

Oscar Isaac: I definitely do believe in humility and love. Yes.

Do you believe historically that that actually happened? In the film and the bible?

Oscar Isaac: I think it’s a journey for me; I got to say. I believe that the message is crucial.

What was amazing about Joseph?

Oscar Isaac: I think what was amazing about him was he had some really complex issues to deal with. Just the idea that he had to share the woman he loved with God. How does one wrap their mind around that? That was really exciting and challenging. How can something be that Holy.