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Every actor appreciates the occasional role that will, ahem, stretch him a bit, but Ioan Gruffudd really knows what that's like.

In 2005, he played the comic book hero Reed Richards—aka Mr. Fantastic, whose superpower is amazing elasticity—in Fantastic Four. He reprises the role in June in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

But while that role may have made the 33-year-old Welshman famous, his resume is dotted with numerous roles of a more historical nature—some real, some fictional. Gruffudd has played Lancelot (King Arthur), an officer on a doomed ship (Titanic), a famous writer (Wilde), and a British naval officer in the Napoleonic Wars (A&E's Hornblower miniseries). He's even been Jesus; Gruffudd provided the Lord's voice in the Welsh version of the animated film The Miracle Maker.

Ioan Gruffudd as William Wilberforce

For his latest historical part, Gruffudd takes on the character of one of the greatest Christian activists you may have never heard of—William Wilberforce, the 18th century British abolitionist … and the subject of Amazing Grace, which opens in theaters this Friday, exactly 200 years to the day since his bill was passed, abolishing the British slave trade.

The film depicts not only Wilberforce's passion for social justice, but the motivation behind it—his devout faith. Gruffudd plays the part with zeal and believability—and a personal enthusiasm for the character himself. We recently spoke with Gruffudd about the movie, and about the man he plays.

Great movie! And you were terrific as Wilberforce?

Ioan Gruffudd: Thank you very much indeed! I'm delighted with it, and the response has been fantastic.

The average Joe doesn't have a clue who Wilberforce is. Had you heard of him before you were involved with this project?

Gruffudd: I'll be perfectly honest with you, neither did I. So I consider myself as most average Joes in that regard. But when I read the script, I obviously liked it, and I did the research on Wilberforce and then I got the part. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to be in this movie because it will educate a whole generation of people now to this great man, but more importantly, to this incredible change, this great change for humanity.

If that average Joe asked you to describe Wilberforce in a few sentences, how would you respond?

Gruffudd: In just a few sentences? He was such a prolific man, in his writing and in what he achieved. I would say that he was the sole member of Parliament that stood up to fight the injustices of the way the slaves were being transported from Africa to the Caribbean to the plantations. And that he was the man who fought for The Slave Trade Act of 1807.

It's one thing to define Wilberforce by the things he did, but what about the man, his character?

Wilberforce was 'incredibly passionate'

Gruffudd: From the very word go, he was an incredibly compassionate man, and a very religious man. And because of his faith, I think that was what bolstered his journey throughout his trying to pass this bill, which took over 15 years of his life. He was very patient, and he persevered with the cause against all odds. He was incredibly stoic and brave, but I think compassionate is the main word. He stuck to his ethics and his morals and he was unwavering in that throughout his life—even when he was very ill, and even when he received death threats from people who were benefiting from the slave trade.

How did you get the role?

Gruffudd: I read the script, fell in love with it immediately, and went to pursue it then. They didn't come to me; I pursued this part. I got a meeting with Michael Apted, and then did a screen test—and then, the agonizing wait to find out if I was the choice to play the part.

What was your reaction when you got that call?

Gruffudd: I was delighted because, one I hadn't read such a good script in a long time—and I hadn't had that certain instinct toward a particular character in a long while … since the days of Horatio Hornblower. I just knew that I could represent this character and represent this man, and do a good job of it.

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Related Elsewhere:

Save the Wales	Printer view
Veteran producer Ken Wales, who recently finished Amazing Grace, the William Wilberforce bio-pic, now turns to John Newton's story—and a Chariots of Fire sequel.

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'A Man of Principle'	Printer view
That's how acclaimed director Michael Apted describes William Wilberforce, the subject of his latest film, Amazing Grace, which opens this week.