'Belief less important than acts' actor says

Washington: 'Faith through works is the key'

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (RWN) - Danny Washington has the best winning streak in Hollywood. Eight big-budget movies, eight hits. Even his lower-budget movies (he calls them "my thoughtful roles") have been drawing throngs of fans eager to see his furrowed brow and hear that deep melodious voice.

Washington's newest blockbuster movie, The Childrens Crusade, is due out at the end of this week. Recently, RWN's entertainment reporter Kim McCain sat down with Washington. The conversation quickly turned from entertainment to faith.

Q: Tell me a little bit about the The Childrens Crusade.
A: It's based on a true story. In 1212, about 50,000 French and German orphans were led by a charismatic child through Europe to go and reclaim Jerusalem from "the infidels," the Muslim conquerors. Most of the children died along the way, but about 5,000 made it to Marseilles in France. The merchants there told the children that they agreed with their cause and would ship them to the Holy Land for free. In fact, the ships were sent to Algiers and Alexandria in Egypt and the children were sold in to slavery.

Q: So what role do you have?
A: I play Malak, a Muslim who has been infiltrated into France and who watches this and sees the fate of the children. I gather a group of other Muslims and we go and liberate the children.

Q: Is this a morality tale? A pureness tale? An adventure romp?
A: It's all of them, I think. I think it's about how pureness of heart transcends religion. Even the Christian children - they're led by a boy named Stephen who Jesus spoke to in a field - are marching off to war because Jesus has told Stephen that the reason the other crusades have failed is because the crusaders hearts are impure and only children are pure enough of heart to take back the Holy Land. But it's a tale of what faith in the wrong hands can do.

Q: You've had some experience with that, yes?
A: What's that old prayer they used to sing? 'I once was lost, but now I'm found.' I feel that way. When I was younger, I was wild. I trusted people I shouldn't have and I paid the price. The price wasn't physical - money gets you out of a lot of situations that your stupidity gets you in. The price was spiritual. I would wake up empty and not know what to do. I met a man - not a mullah, just a wise man - who told me that I didn't have to profess my faith or even be perfect to it to be a good Muslim. I needed to act my faith.

Q: Act your faith?
A: Yes. Absolutely. He meant that I needed to take the messages in the Qur'an and embed them into my spirit and share them with the world. He told me 'The world does not want to hear you profess your faith. You are better to demonstrate it by doing good things.'

Q: Such as?
A: It's faith through works. I donate money, of course, as all good Muslims do. But I try and help people on a personal level. I was having lunch in Cheyenne one day while filming The Childrens Crusade and at the table next to mine was a man who wanted to send his twin sons to college, but couldn't afford it. I turned around and we began to talk. He was a rancher and he didn't want his sons to follow in his footsteps; he felt it was a dying breed. So I told him that I would send his sons to college so they could do something, if they were willing to embed the Qur'an in themselves and do good. I think of it as seeding goodness in a world that needs it.

Q: You seem very concerned about doing the right thing. How do you reconcile that with making violent movies?
A: A means to an end. The hunger for action and adventure and little bit of violence will always be there - not like it was in the crass final days of the last regime, but it will always be there. If acting in those films lets me make another rancher's day, then it is worth it.



Comments | Tell A Friend | Run for President