The story of Derek Luke's rise to fame reads like a Hollywood script. He spent five years working in a gift store at Sony Pictures, dreaming of being an actor. After a couple of guest slots on TV shows The King of Queens and Moesha, he scored a copy of an autobiographical script written by his friend, Antwone Fisher, bumped into Denzel Washington on the studio lot, and convinced him he was right for the eponymous role.
What intrigued you about Antwone's story?
It was a story of hope and that's what appealed to me. I needed hope myself at that time. I think all actors give up at some time and think they're never going to make it. It's a story about victory that will touch the lives of everyone who watches it. It's powerful.
The story of how you got the role of Antwone Fisher is also quite inspirational stuff...
Yes, I was working at the store on the Sony studios in Culver City. And I was literally holding a shirt when they came in and told me I'd got the part! It just shows dreams do come true.
You are friends with the real Antwone Fisher - so did you hang around him trying to pick up his traits?
I tried to copy some of his mannerisms at first but it didn't work. And then I just let the spirit of the character grow in me and it just took its rightful place. I started to speak the lines and it felt right.
How did Denzel Washington guide you through this movie?
He invoked confidence. When you have confidence, you can do anything. And that's what happened. I learned about being honest and keeping it true, keeping it true in my performance. Denzel's quality, I think, is his faith. You have all the action in your head and you have to believe in it and just do it. That's what he does and that's what he taught me to do.
"Antwone Fisher" opens in UK cinemas on Friday 16th May 2003.
