US actor Emile Hirsch on the new version of Bonnie & Clyde

Emile Hirsch has carved out a career playing edgy characters in independent films.

He has also worked with Hollywood veteran Sean Penn - from his star-making turn in the Oscar-nominated Into The Wild (2007) to the Oscar-winning Milk (2008).

The 28-year-old US actor tried his hand at mainstream action flicks like Speed Racer (2008) and The Darkest Hour (2011).

But he seems to thrive in grittier productions - which is why Bonnie & Clyde is certainly up his alley.

The new two-part mini-series, premiering on Dec 9 at 9pm on History (StarHub Ch 401) and Lifetime (StarHub Ch 514), aims to reveal the real side of America's most notorious outlaws.

Hirsch is cast as Clyde Barrow while British actress Holliday Grainger is Bonnie Parker.

The dynamic duo's infamy is legendary, and their life of violent crime has been dramatised over the years in pop culture.

Most of them glorify the Depression-era couple as flamboyant, stylish and good-looking, often downplaying their evil side.

Hirsch said his version "is much darker and violent" compared to the popular Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway 1967 movie Bonnie And Clyde, which was "more jokey".

"Clyde had a dark past. He was raped in jail, and that changed him into a very angry and dark person."

Currently preparing to play late comic star John Belushi in a yet-to-be-titled biopic, Hirsch spoke to M last month from his home in Los Angeles about exploring the real Barrow.

Working With Holliday

"She was so devoted to playing Bonnie. She really liked the role and the script. We had great chemistry. She's also has a great sense of humour. We'd be making jokes and having a great time."

Walking The Dark Side

"I have played quite a few darker and grittier roles, but I don't think it's necessarily my preference to (go dark), although it's rewarding for an actor to play different types of rich, darker roles. Sometimes you can go so gritty as an actor, that you need to scale back and do something fun like Speed Racer (2008)."

Indie Darling

"I'm not avoiding mainstream movies at all. Sometimes you've got to take what you get, and work with any medium. If it's an independent film that wants to hire me and I can create a character in a movie for that, then that's good... But I'm quite open to mainstream films as well...Speed Racer 2, romantic comedies, whatever."

Becoming John Belushi

"He's such a great comedian. I've been watching a lot of his work. I can't wait to play him. Everybody knows what John was like, so they're all waiting with their knives and forks out to see how I do it...everyone's just rubbing their hands together, just waiting to pounce on me!"

joannes@sph.com.sg

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