Adam Driver Says He Relates to Enzo Ferrari’s ‘Relentlessness and Ambition’ in New Featurette
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“Ferrari” director Michael Mann sees similarities between Enzo Ferrari and Adam Driver, the actor playing him in their new film.
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Hitting theaters Christmas Day, “Ferrari” focuses on a pivotal time in the Ferrari founder’s life – his marriage to wife Laura (Penélope Cruz) is deteriorating and she is unaware of the other family he has with girlfriend Lina (Shailene Woodley). At the same time, his company is on the verge of bankruptcy. It’s all set against the backdrop of the 1957 Mille Miglia, a tragic event in racing history.
In this exclusive featurette, Driver says he can relate to Ferrari’s mindset: “Enzo’s relentlessness and ambition and myopic focus, I completely understand.”
Producer-director Mann goes on to draw comparisons between their determination, noting that Ferrari was rejected from a job at Fiat when he was 19. “There’s a similarity between Adam Driver and Enzo Ferreri in Adam’s origins,” says Mann. “Adam apples to Juilliard, is rejected, joins the Marine Corps at 19. After the Marine Corps he goes back to Juilliard, studies, is determined and discovers his passion for acting. And nothing will stand in his way.”
Driver goes on to add that Ferarri “wasn’t from an elite family that had a lot of opportunity, he had to make it. And same with me, I have nobody in the entertainment industry but it’s something that I loved and felt confident — well, no one can stop me from doing it.”
Mann goes on to say there is a “healthy ego-driven artistic ambition” that drives actors to be in the moment and channel their roles.
The featurette also goes on to talk about how Driver prepped for the role, including how racing Ferraris helped him understand the focus of these men. “You can’t be off focus for a second, or that means death,” says Driver.
Watch the featurette below. “Ferarri” will be released in the U.S. by Neon Dec. 25
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