While being interviewed about his role in The Legend of Tarzan, Samuel L. Jackson talked about his past struggles with drug addiction.
The actor said that – until he got clean in 1991 – he had never been onstage without some sort of substance in his system. Despite his addiction, Jackson had a reputation for professionalism among his peers and in the theatre, where he made his living long before his film career took off.
He credits kicking his habits with allowing him to reach another level artistically. After becoming sober, he began to pay less attention to the audience and "focus on the relationships with the people I was onstage with".
Just three years later, Jackson's star rose significantly due to an Oscar-nominated turn in Pulp Fiction.
With regards to his latest film, Jackson is enthusiastic about being able to play a lesser-known historical figure like George Washington Williams.
“Hopefully with this movie, we can persuade people to look into George Washington Williams’ story and, through him, find out about that first holocaust in the Congo”, Jackson said. “Williams is in the movie trying to convince Tarzan – who hasn’t been in Africa for 20 years – to go home and investigate King Leopold".
Revisit Jackson's famous 'Ezekiel 25:17' scene below.