Django Unchained premieres in London after five Oscar nominations: Tarantino and the cast answered our questions

11^th January 2013

Alice Audley

Alice Audley

11 January 2013

Just a few hours after being nominated for five Academy Awards, Quentin Tarantino took to the white carpet with his stars for the UK premiere of Django Unchained. London’s Leicester Square was overflowing with screaming fans; all desperate to catch a glimpse of the cinematographic hero and the esteemed cast: Samuel L Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington and Jamie Foxx.

First up the carpet was the beautiful Kerry Washington who wore a white gown designed by Giles Deacon and embellished with a large horse.

What was it like working with Quentin?

Kerry Washington: It was amazing, amazing to be able to collaborate with such a talented artist.

What was the atmosphere like on set?

KW: It was very supportive and being on a location where these things actually happened, well it was like we were working on sacred ground.

What scene did you find the most difficult to film?

KW: All of them! (laughs) Waking up everyday and asking yourself what it’s like to be not fully human.

Next was Christoph Waltz, who was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor – a category which he won back in 2009 for his role in Inglorious Basterds, which was also directed by Tarantino.

What did you find the most difficult when filming Django?

Christoph Waltz: It was a tough shoot. I mean tonight (it’s freezing) is nothing, we filmed in locations that went down to -30. It was a long shoot too. (9 months)

What was working with Quentin again like?

CW: Impossible.

Impossible in a good way?

CW: Just impossible!

Samuel L Jackson was taken to the main stage with Alex Zane but a dapper looking Jamie Foxx was next to arrive. Wearing a bright purple suit and turquoise shirt he looked fantastic.

Who are you wearing?

Jamie Foxx: Ozwald Boateng, he’s a fantastic British designer.

It has been said that you found filming particularly emotional?

JF: Yes, I mean it was an emotional set but it was mainly when I was watching Kerry. She was inspirational and yeah I got very, very emotional.

Finally came the man who made this all possible; the cult figure Quentin Tarantino himself.

Congratulations on the award nominations, how do you feel?

Quentin Tarantino: Thank you. It’s great, I mean this was a rough movie to make and everything but it’s very rewarding now that we’re done.

In dealing with such a delicate subject matter, what did you find was your main priority when making this film?

QT: Well, to do a good job making a good movie and also I wanted to actually, more than anything, take a 21^st century audience and put them in America at the time of slavery and give them a sense of what it was like.

Alice Audley
Photos: Alice Audley

Read our review of Django Unchained here.