Local boy plays Harrison Ford's aide in new film

May 30, 2001
Beaver Entertainment
by Carol Baldwin

The plot may be a nightmare, but the gig is a dream-come-true for Oakville actor Joshua Close.

The 19-year-old is currently filming his first ever feature film, in which he plays a junior officer and aide to the captain of a Russian submarine, played by Harrison Ford. Not only is the venerable Ford in this movie, titled K19-The Widowmaker, but Liam Neeson's name is also among the credits.

And Close's name is in that list as well.

The young actor has only been acting for the past two years, and he's already up there with the big guns. And he's quite aware of his good fortune. "I just feel blessed to be working with him (Ford) at such a starting point in my career. It's out of the ordinary," he says with humility.

Close describes his role in the film as small. Yet it is a principal role and, for a novice, is large enough, especially since he and the rest of the ensemble cast double as background personnel when they aren't up front and centre.

"We got to do some really cool stuff. We got to do some navy training. I felt they kind of went easy on us because we weren't there full-time. But it was an experience. And when we did get into it (filming), you really felt like you were in the moment - fighting fire and flood. It was great," he says with obvious enthusiasm. "We got to board some real submarines, which was an experience in itself. It was amazing."

K19-The Widowmaker is based on a true story in which the crew of a Russian submarine races against time to prevent a nuclear explosion. Not only is the life of the submarine and its crew an issue for the captain during this cold-war incident, but so is the possibility of triggering a nuclear war.

Although filming has taken place in Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg and Russia, Close only got to travel to the first two. So, even though he plays a Russian officer, he never did set foot on Russian soil. However, he does say that his character works closely with the sub's captain - serving him tea and changing his sheets as well as sharing his secrets.

"It's an extremely interesting part. It differs somewhat from the other characters because I am so close to the captain," says Close, adding that working with Ford is "unimaginable. He's very generous, from an acting perspective, extremely professional. And you're just inspired when he's on the set. And Liam Neeson, too. These guys deserve everything that they get. They're so talented, so good at what they do."

In fact, he adds, the two stars and director Kathryn Bigalow even "went out" with the cast on a few occasions, mingling and telling "good stories - life experiences and things like that."

As for Close - his life experiences were, until now, pretty normal for a teenager. The Iroquois Ridge High School graduate was more interested in sports than theatre until a couple of years ago when he decided to enroll in a film acting course at West End Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T.).

"It really sparked an interest. So, I decided to take it more seriously after high school," he says, explaining that jumping to theatre from sports isn't that big a leap - both involve performing in front of an audience. "I've always had an interest (in acting) and wondered where movie stars came from. I just wanted to see what it was like...I really started out nervous, because I'd never done it before. Yo (Mustafa, artistic director at W.E.S.T.) was completely generous with me and understood it was my first time acting."

Consequently, Close blossomed on the Oakville stage and was ultimately introduced to an agent. And, as with many young actors, his professional career began with television commercials and music videos. But then he landed a supporting role in an independent film, destined for the film festival circuit. His next job was his current one - on the set of K19.

Close is off to Halifax for the final filming on K19 before he moves on to New York's Circle in the Square, where he will hone his acting skills in its summer theatre program.

But when K19 opens in theatres across the country - estimated to be early next year - the young Oakville actor will be watching for his name among the credits.

"It going to be as surreal as this experience. To be working with these elite people - Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson and Kathryn Bigalow (Blue Steel, Point Break)...it just makes you want to be part of what they're part of," he says.

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