Forest Whitaker picked up a whopping cheque for his charity (Picture: PA Wire)
While Forest Whitaker won an Oscar for The Last King of Scotland, he has never actually visited the country.
But The Butler actor, 61, remedied that this week with a trip to Edinburgh, revealing he was planning to take in the city’s sites, including the castle.
The Platoon star was in town to accept a £500,000 cheque for his charity, the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), from the People’s Postcode Lottery at its 13th annual gala.
The WPDI aims to promote the values of peace, reconciliation, and social development within communities impacted by conflict and violence.
Forest described his trip to the PA News Agency as a ‘touch of magic’ and said he hoped to admire Edinborough’s ‘beautiful’ architecture.
He also reflected on his role in the 2006 film, The Last King of Scotland, in which he played Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, and the ‘massive’ impact it had on his career.
The People’s Postcode Lottery handed over £500,000 to his charity (Picture: PA)
He said: ‘I didn’t do anything with Idi Amin that was in Scotland.
‘It was just a shot, I think at the beginning, where James [McAvoy] jumps into the river.
‘So for me it’s exciting to be here, you know. It’s a touch of magic, I guess.’
Forest had never been to Scotland despite starring in The Last King of Scotland (Picture: PA)
He said he planned to tour the city’s ‘beautiful’ architecture (Picture: PA)
He said Idi Amin’s fascination with Scottish traditions, such as kilts and bagpipes, was a ‘big part of him.’
Forest continued: ‘When I received [the Oscar] I was overwhelmed and emotional.
‘That wasn’t my goal initially. My goal was to try and capture this man.’
The Good Morning, Vietnam actor spent weeks in Uganda researching the role, as well as learning Swahili.
Forest has starred in huge films and won an Oscar (Picture: WireImage)
Forest said the film was ‘massive’ for him, adding: ‘Being acknowledged by your peers, it’s quite an extraordinary thing.”
In Disney’s Star Wars franchise, The Crying Game star has appeared five times in films, TV shows and video games as the revolutionary Saw Gerrera.
He said: ‘I really do like playing Saw Gerrera. I like Saw Gerrera a lot.
‘He’s really trying to save the people.’
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While the Arrival star was tight-lipped on his future appearances as Saw Gerrera in the Star Wars universe, he said he would love to explore the character’s past.
Next year, Forest said he was planning on returning to a directorial role for a project called Better Angels, based on child soldiers.
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Forest planned on visiting Edinburgh castle.
