Superstar’s son lands his first leading role

Teen audiences love a tale of tragic romance. The new film Midnight Sun follows in the footsteps of classics like Titanic, The Notebook and A Walk to Remember. If you are one of the many who will be rushing to cinemas this week to check it out, be sure to have some tissues ready.

Based on the 2006 Japanese film of the same name, Midnight Sun follows the journey of teenage girl Katie Price (Bella Thorne). She suffers from a rare genetic condition which prevents her from going out into the sunlight. The film also features Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Hollywood action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his first leading role.

With the help of Sahamongkol Film, S Weekly scored an exclusive email interview with Patrick in which he told us about his new film and his famous father.

Tell us about your character in the film.

Patrick: I play Charlie, a classic high school athlete. On the outside, it looks like he has everything going for him. He’s on the school swimming team and is very popular. But he’s actually a little bit torn inside. He doesn’t really know what he wants to do with his life. When he meets Katie, he regains his confidence and believes in himself again.

Why did you decide to take the role?

Patrick: It was my first opportunity to play the lead character in a film. And I fell in love with the script too - it’s such an emotional, romantic story. Another reason was because it gave me the chance to work with Bella Thorne. We’ve been good friends for a long time, so that made it easier for me to take the role.

What was it like working with Bella?

Patrick: It was a lot of fun. She’s got so much energy and a great sense of humour. We had a great time. Before doing the film together, I didn’t realise just how serious and dedicated an actor she is. After seeing her work, I respect her even more.

How much did you prepare for the role?

Patrick: I lost around 9 kilogrammes. I stopped weightlifting and started swimming instead. I had a friend from the USC swimming team train me four days a week. I actually got pretty good at freestyle.

What was the hardest scene for you to do?

Patrick: There were a lot of scenes where I was acting by myself. That’s a lot more difficult than being in scenes with other actors. In one scene, I’m sitting on a chair reading a letter. I had to express my emotions through my face without talking at all. I tried to remember some sad events that had happened to me.

What kind of films do you enjoy watching most?

Patrick: I watch all different kinds of movies with my family and my girlfriend. But my favourites are romances. I love a good tearjerker. I’m a fan of The Notebook and The Fault in Our Stars. You can always catch me reaching for the tissues during films like these.

What advice has your dad given you?

Patrick: He says that I shouldn’t listen to naysayers. He believes that you can achieve anything if you’re determined enough. He came to the US from Austria with just $20 in his pocket and climbed the ladder to success. He helps me believe in myself. I want to become successful in my own right - not just as his son. I’ll try hard to make a name for myself.

Video from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCihK7exmjJvp5UbrsMS8dCQ