In the past three decades, Jamie Foxx has successfully established himself as a versatile and talented actor, rapper, and comedian. He has appeared in more than 50 movies and TV shows, dropped 5 albums, and has done many live comedy shows. His dedication is unmatched and that’s exactly what he showcased while working in Ray (2004).
This biographical musical drama film focused on the life of musician Ray Charles, played by Foxx. Foxx’s performance was one of the main reasons behind the success of the film but it was not easy for him. The actor once revealed that filming the movie was quite challenging because he had to wear eye prosthetics for 12-14 hours a day but that experience gave Foxx a new perspective as he understood how Ray Charles felt.
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Working in 2004’s Ray was like imprisonment for Jamie Foxx
In a past interview with Tribute, actor Jamie Foxx opened up about the struggles of working in Ray (2004). The actor compared it to imprisonment,
“Imagine having your eyes glued shut for 14 hours a day. That’s your jail sentence. Not being able to see was tough because I put the prosthetics on my eyes so that I really couldn’t see a thing for 12 or 14 hours a day.”
Jamie Foxx’s dedication paid off as the film was a commercial success, grossing roughly $124 million on a budget of $40 million, and was nominated in six categories at the 77th Academy Awards. It also earned the actor his first Academy Award for Best Actor.
Jamie Foxx’s experience of playing Ray Charles changed him as a person
Further in the interview, Foxx explained that playing the role made him think about how people without the ability to hear or see feel,
“It makes you think: What would you rather give up your sight or your ability to hear? Most people say hearing because they want to see the colors or the mountains and they want to see the beauty of what the world has to offer. For Ray to have had that snatched from him, and for me to have had that snatched from me every single day while I was making this, was tough. So I understand a person who is sentenced to that, it must be a tough thing for a person.”
Ray was an important film for Foxx’s career. With this role, the actor proved that he has what it takes to play more serious roles. Since then, the actor has played many roles in various genres, making him one of the best actors of this generation.
