Morgan Freeman has earned a distinguished reputation as an actor for 30 years, from Shakespeare to children's television to blockbuster action flicks. As CIA director Bill Cabot in The Sum of All Fears, the Tom Clancy adventure opening Friday, the 65-year-old adds another high-profile credit to his resume.

        Question: Was there anything about The Sum of All Fears that made you hesitate to take part?

Freeman

        Answer: Not at all. I was very thrilled to get this movie. It had a lot going for it, not the least of which was Ben Affleck . . . a wonderful cast and director. It was a real no brainer. Plus the producer. I've always heard just the greatest things about Mace Neufeld, and it was my chance to find out what the noise was about.

        Q: What difference does it make to have a producer you like?

        A: It makes a lot of difference. The producer sort of governs how the product runs, whether or not you've got a lot of glitches, mistakes, shortcomings, or if the thing runs smoothly and if you're treated well.

        Q: How did you find Ben Affleck as an actor?

        A: I found him terrific. I always found him great — well, I won't use the term “great,” that sort of gilds the lily — but a very fine actor. I've always enjoyed his work, and I held him in high esteem going in.

        Q: Have you ever refused a movie because you didn't want to work with someone in the cast?

        A: No. I look at the character, I look at the part, I look at the script. If they work for me, then I'm out to do it. There aren't any actors I can think of that I don't like who are working. Most of the actors I would say I don't care that much for have been aced out of the business anyway.

        Q: You've worked with a lot of interesting directors. Any favorites?

        A: Philip Robinson (director of Sum). Boy, he goes to the top of the list. He's up in there amongst my favorites.

        Q: Are there directors you don't want to work with again?

        A: I don't like overly manipulative directors, directors who are going to tell you how to play the part. It just rubs me completely — like combing your hair backwards. . . . I prefer directors who have more of a stand-off approach. They hire you to do the job, they leave you to do that job, and they do another job.

        Q: What director would you most like to work with again?

        A: Clint (Eastwood, director of Unforgiven). I admire him so much, and I have so much fun working with him. He's my kind of director, just about all the way, because he works real quick, he hires actors he likes and believes in, then stands back out of the way.

        Q: You've done some directing yourself. Did you enjoy it?

        A: I enjoyed it immensely. I had a great time directing, but my realization is I'm a bit too lazy for it. Acting, you do a picture, you're done within weeks, three months at the most. Directing, you're going to be there a year or more. It's just, I've never done anything that long.

        Q: You've done Westerns, thrillers, period dramas, comedies, you've played the president of the United States. What's missing? Musicals?

        A: Musicals I left on the stage. No musicals, no love-interest type things. That's just the way it's worked out. People say, why? I say, for one thing, they haven't come my way. The other thing is, I don't know, I make my choices based on script and characters that I like to do.

        Q: Is there any movie that makes you want to go back and burn the prints?

        A: I won't say. It exists. I won't name it.

What's the Buzz?
'Sum' adds up for Freeman
Labels aside, Sandoval adds spice to Hot Latin Nights
Next Wave / Who's up and coming: From China, with talent
KNIPPENBERG: Knip's Eye View
The Early Word
Get to it