Translation of Japanese Press Conference
Translated by Yukiko Nakahata

A characteristic actor of "Patriot Games", Sean Bean plays Boromir, a human
being fellow of the hero Frodo. Boromir is the key character in the first
story of "The Lord of the Rings". First of all, I asked Sean what he thinks
about the character Boromir.

Sean Bean: I think Boromir is a very interesting character. He is a very
strong man, but as he was very anxious about the danger in his motherland,
he gets weak inside his mind. As the journey goes on, he was obssessed with
the idea, "if he had the ring," which would enable him to rule the world.
He has very complex feelings and it meant a lot for me to play him. I think
there should be something you can feel sympathetic to Boromir, for every
human being.

Interviewer: I wonder if there were any specific requests for acting from
the director Peter Jackson while shooting the film .

SB: The most splendid thing about him is that he made us confident. He made
us think in a way, "Peter chose us for these roles so we can do whatever we
like and we think." I think that is the most important thing to a
performer, rather than being told to do this and that precisely.

Interviewer: Jackson is a New Zealander and prodigy who filmed splat-stick
horror movies such as "Bad Taste" and "Brain Dead". But his appearance was
something different to Sean - he seemed an enjoyable man, like a Hobbit.

SB: I think I met him for the first time at Covent Garden in London, and he
was really funny, he was exactly like a Hobbit! Round shape, hairy, fat man
and his eyes were glittering. Then he asked me to read Boromir's lines, the
scene of Boromir about to steal the ring from Frodo. After that, there was
no contact at all for six months and I was wondering what would happen, and
then, finally, I got a phone call. I was very glad to know that I got the part.

Interviewer: When Sean received the first script and looked at the top
page, there was a word "Jamboree" (i.e., an international mass meeting of
Boy Scouts). He got confused and called his agent to ask if it was the real
script for LOTR.

SB: At first I really couldn't understand the meaning and wondered, Boy
Scouts?? (laughter) Actually, the producers and film company didn't want to
make the project public and did it in secret as much as they could. So they
put a word you wouldn't understand, instead of the real title.

Interviewer: Sean played an IRA terrorist in "Patriot Games" and the leader
of crime organization in "GoldenEye". He was also the criminal who gets
Michael Douglas into a corner in "Don't Say A Word". He plays many "bad
guy" roles and gives the impression of being tough looking. But Sean, in
front of me, seems
stoic and sensitive rather than a "tough guy". So I asked what he thinks
about himself for my last question. He looked down and seemed at loss and
said, "difficult question..." He was thinking for a while and then told me
the answer as if he was speaking to himself.

SB: I always think I want to do things absolutely when I do them, even if
it's difficult. I want to definitely succeed. I feel strong in this way. So
maybe I might have a very strong will.