Andrew Garfield credits Fela Kuti as the inspiration behind his Spider-Man moves
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British actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music and revolutionary spirit of the late Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti influenced his portrayal of Spider-Man.
Garfield made the disclosure in a now-viral roadside interview, where he explained that he creates a playlist for every character he plays and turned to Fela Kuti's music after landing the role of Peter Parker. According to the actor, Fela's music helped him link the physicality of the superhero with a sense of activism and justice.
"I create a playlist for every character I play, which is a lovely, fun thing to do. So, I started listening to Fela Kuti when I first got Spider-Man," he said during the interview.
"There was something in the sound and the rhythm that was really useful to me for that character.
"There was something about suddenly being in touch with the body, but also justice-seeking, because he was obviously a revolutionary figure.
"And the way I moved in that film, in the suit, has some inspiration from Fela and his music."
The 43-year-old award-winning actor said he was especially drawn to the energy and power conveyed in Fela's music and sought to channel some of those qualities into his interpretation of Spider-Man.
"I was like, 'I don't know what it is about this guy's power, but I want to somehow reflect it in this guy's power,'" he added.
Garfield first rose to prominence after starting his career on the West End stage and in British television. He earned critical attention for his performance as a juvenile convict in the 2007 television film Boy A.
In 2010, he appeared in David Fincher's The Social Network and starred in Mark Romanek's dystopian romantic drama Never Let Me Go.
His profile rose significantly after he was cast as Peter Parker in Marc Webb's Spider-Man films, released in 2012 and 2014. He later reprised the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021.
Over the course of his career, Garfield has received several major honours, including a Tony Award, two Critics' Choice Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Television Award. He has also earned nominations for two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award.
