Photo by Rob Batzdorff

In the film Conviction, Sam Rockwell takes on the rough-around-the-edges and yet vivacious Kenneth Waters who is wrongfully convicted of murder and spends 18 years behind bars while his sister, Betty Anne, fights for his freedom. Looking back on the experience, Rockwell–who has become struck by the atrocities possible within our justice system–calls the opportunity to play Kenny “the role of a lifetime.”

Rachel Cicurel: How do you think working on Conviction changed your perception of the justice system?

Sam Rockwell: I definitely was a little naïve. It’s a racket out there, you know. It’s tricky and people get nailed, and people like Nancy Taylor, you don’t realize—there’s a lot of people who, are not just selfish, because I can be selfish, we can all be selfish, or self-absorbed, but beyond that, it’s to actually harm people in order to get what you need to get ahead—a very mercenary attitude. I’ve played characters like that, but it’s sociopathic—it’s really like a serial killer mentality. The fact that Nancy Taylor took down two guys who were exonerees is just phenomenal to me.

When we filmed, we were in a real prison. And what I was struck with was the lack of privacy and how noisy it can be: when they’re trying to sleep or go to the bathroom. It’s totally humiliating. It is being treated like an animal; it’s horrible. It’s a fucking nightmare is what it is.

RC: How did you prepare for the role of a condemned murderer?

SR: I met an exoneree, and we talked a little bit. I’ve had some friends who were in prison; I talked to them a little bit. I talked to prison guards, correctional officers, read some interviews, talked to Betty Anne and her relatives, read books and saw documentaries. And I’d done some research for the green mile that was helpful.

RC: Was it difficult for Betty Anne to tell you about Kenny and his experiences in prison?

SR: No, she was very free about it. Sometimes she gets emotional talking about Kenny, but she loves to talk about it. She loved him, their childhood, and everything. It was all so much fun for her, I think, growing up with him and their other brothers and sisters. So I think she loves to tell those stories. I think some of the stories about prison are tough; she talks about him trying to kill himself, and that’s pretty hard. That’s pretty tough.

RC: Often times in film, the most intense relationships between characters are between lovers. How did you form such palpable sibling chemistry with a colleague?

SR: There was something rare about what Hilary and I did, I think because the circumstances of the story are so emotionally high pitched, you know? The stakes are so high, so we really had to go with a lot of abandon and throw ourselves in full-heartedly and trust each other. It was a different thing for me, and I think for her too; I think it was a different kind of trust in another actor that I’ve never kind of experienced, really, because the scenes are just like this, you and I talking, just me and her in the prison. There was a reshoot one day; some of the film was destroyed we had to reshoot some of the prison stuff, so it was very intense and fun. Hard work but fun. We lucked out. Hilary and I had naturally chemistry; we lucked out.

RC: Are you two good friends?

SR: You know, we’ve become friends. I really like Hilary; I think she’s a great gal. I just think she’s awesome. And I love her work ethic, that’s what I admire about her the most.

And she totally nailed [the accent], she did. Betty Anne doesn’t see it, but she did. It’s really something.

RC: Since you don’t have siblings, was it difficult trying to picture going to such extraordinary lengths for a brother?

SR: You know, I can’t picture myself because I don’t have a siblings but I do think about: Could I do this? Could I go into Afghanistan and get my loved one out of there or something, or people in prison in Siberia, or Guantanamo—I actually watched some documentaries on Guantanamo for this, and yeah, pretty horrible. I don’t know; I don’t think I could do what Betty Anne did. She’s pretty a strong person.

RC: I don’t think most people could do what Betty Anne did.

SR: No, she’s pretty selfless, but you know, she did it for someone she really felt connected to. They were almost like a married couple. That’s the way it was with them. I mean—it’s like a best friend. I have best friends like that, and they’re like brothers, you know, or sisters.

RC: What is the real Abra Rice like?

SR: She’s amazing—she’s like Lauren Bacall or Humphrey Bogart. She’s a wise-ass; she’s real like wisenheimer, just like Minnie. Minnie did a great job.

RC: Does Minnie have that spunky personality day-to-day?

SR: Well Minnie’s really sharp. We got some pretty sharp ladies in this movie—And Minnie’s definitely one of the sharpest. She’s funny; she’s very funny.

RC: What are you hoping the general public takes away from this film?

SR: Just hopefully they’re entertained, and that they enjoy the film, and maybe they’ll think about the stuff we’re talking about and try to look after somebody they love, you know, be selfless and take a lesson from Betty Anne. It’s pretty awesome a lesson for people.

RC: I don’t think people can believe it’s a true story, honestly.

SR: No, I know, I know. It is pretty hard to believe. And when you see it in the context of two hours, it’s like really, come on. But it really happened, and it happened over a long period of time, so even more amazing that she lasted so long. She didn’t give up.