Kris Kristofferson Sees Himself in ‘Bloodworth’ Film Role

Although he's one of the most celebrated songwriters of all time, for the past four-plus decades Kris Kristofferson has carved out a second and equally noteworthy career as an actor, with roles in such films as 'A Star Is Born' (for which he earned a Golden Globe as Best Actor), 'Lone Star' and the 'Blade' series. The iconic entertainer can currently be seen in the moody, lyrical film, 'Bloodworth,' which also stars Reece Daniel Thompson ('Rocket Science'), Frances Conroy ('Six Feet Under'), Hilary Duff and Dwight Yoakam.

In this latest film, which screened at the Nashville Film Festival in April and is currently in theaters and also available on demand through cable providers, Kris portrays E.F. Bloodworth, a musician who abandons his wife and three sons for a 40-year career on the road, only to return decades later to face the aftermath of his decision to choose career over his family. He also connects with his young grandson (played by Reece Daniel Thompson), who has recently met the girl of his dreams and finds himself at a crossroads of his own.

During an exclusive sit-down interview with The Boot one day after the film's Nashville premiere, the man who wrote such legendary tunes as 'For the Good Times' and 'Me and Bobby McGee,' revealed that the role of E.F. was certainly one with which he could easily identify.

"I've felt like that a lot," said the actor, who was also presented with a career achievement award just prior to the film's screening. "The guy is doing what he was meant to do, what he was sent down on the planet to do. But often hurting the people around him because of it, and that's not far from my own life. [Music] saved my life. I always felt like Nashville did. If I hadn't found this place where it looked like I could make a living doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing and not doing things that I was being programmed to do, such as teaching or being in the Army, I think it did save my life. To be able to do something in your life that's satisfying is the best thing that you can do in the brief time that you have."

Kris also contributed an original song to the film, whose music was executive-produced by Oscar winner T Bone Burnett, called 'You Don't Tell Me What to Do.'

"That was one of the things that I could identify with," Kris acknowledges. "In my own experience, you don't tell me what to do. For better or worse, you're making your own decisions. In [Bloodworth's] case, he wasn't as lucky as I was. He didn't go as far or get as much money for it as I did. But I could really identify with a guy that was more concerned with his needs than the needs of the people around him, who probably suffered for his career -- his wife, his kids, the people he left behind eventually. He came back to them. Some weren't particularly glad to see him ... but I can really identify with the character."

As for his own character, Fleming Bloodworth, Reece reveals that his grandfather's return helps him see how he fits into the troubling puzzle that is E.F's severely splintered family.

"He's lost," says Reece. "Before that, he's just trying to get out of that town and out of that family and just get away from it all. I feel like maybe he feels acceptance with himself once he meets E.F."

While Fleming's impression of his grandfather is fraught with emotional baggage, Reece's experience of getting to know Kris was far easier. "He's just awesome. He's a total bad-ass. But also just like the nicest guy ever. The first scene that we did together is a scene where we're sitting together and he's plucking his guitar. We had just met that morning, so as the characters are getting to know each other, we were also getting to know each other and just bouncing off of each other. So, that was really cool. He's so open with everyone and wanting to collaborate with everyone."

Reece says he was familiar with Kris' musical career before knowing as much about his 40-year acting career. "I knew of him via Johnny Cash and the Highwaymen," Reece notes. "A director I worked with at the end of filming gave me a copy of 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' so that's where I first learned about his acting."

One year before that box-office hit, directed by Martin Scorsese, Kris appeared in 'Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,' (as Billy), a film that left an indelible impression on another of Kris' 'Bloodworth' co-stars, Dwight Yoakam.

"As the doomed outlaw, Billy," Dwight tells The Boot, "when viewed even today, Kris' performance brings one of the most mesmerizingly charismatic "aw-shucks-dammit-I'm-gonna-die-anyway" mischievous grin, rock 'n' roll swaggers to film acting that had ever seen before or has ever been seen since; if you don't believe me, take a couple hours and watch Kris shrug and recklessly hurdle himself toward the character's inevitable fate. I never for a split-second didn't think that Kris Kristofferson wasn't Billy the Kid ... and he ain't even left-handed."

'Bloodworth' is in theaters now. Click here for showtimes near you. The film is scheduled to be released on DVD on June 28.

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