RAY Winstone has revealed he is playing a character with Alzheimer's Disease in the latest film being shot in the Isle of Man.
The actor is currently in the Island filming for Ashes - a film co-financed by the band Coldplay.
He told isleofman.com reporter Tessa Hawley that it was a challenging role and one that he had to get right.
Ray explained: "The trouble with Alzheimer's is that there is no blueprint – people suffer with it in different ways.
"In a way you've got carte blanch in the way you go about it, but at the same time that doesn't help you because if you knew everyone suffered the same way you could play it that way.
"I'm trying to be a little bit brave with it and trying to be true to it. I want it to be right – even if it's horrific, it doesn't matter – it's got to be right to let people know what is going on with Alzheimer's."
The actor whose film credits include Cold Mountain, The Departed and Indiana Jones, said he had done his research into the disease before he started filming.
He said: "I've watched a lot of DVDs and there are some wonderful stories out there like Malcolm and Barbara which is a great documentary and kind of history of a man's life who was suffering with it – not only the man, but the carer and the family.
"Also talking to Mat (Mat Whitecross the film's director) whose father suffered from Alzheimer's and meeting some Alzheimer's sufferers – which I was a bit worried about because I don't like being a bit of a voyeur when someone is going through an illness, but it was really helpful actually.
"The people you meet are totally different than how you expect to find them. What I found out was that there are a lot more people suffering with it than I expected."
Actor Jim Sturgess, who has appeared in The Other Boleyn Girl, Across the Universe and 21, plays Ray's son in the film, which has been described as a contemporary film noir.
Jim explained: "I play a character called James who basically goes to find his father who is in hospital with Alzheimer's. He takes him away from the hospital that he’s being kept in and the story begins.
"It's a real road movie – these two characters re-connecting and getting to know each other. It's a two hander and you just really go along with these two characters and you really get involved with what they are going to discover about each other.
"It's very different, in a good way. The character (James) is incredibly flawed – he’s not a hero by any standards. It's always really exciting and really great when one of the main characters can be so flawed and un-heroic. He's really in a lot of trouble.
"I hope the audience go along with him. You side with him because he goes through so much and I think you want him to succeed - it's really exciting."
Jim is no stranger to filming in the Isle of Man and said he appreciates how accommodating local residents are.
He continued: "I think it's my fourth time here – I love coming back. It's really nice and everything's sort of here for you all in one place, quite compact but in a good way. People here are just so nice and accommodating to us."
Also see: Ashes film producer describes Isle of Man as incredible
Ray Winstone praises Island residents for accommodating filming
Ray Winstone to star in Isle of Man film
