Lewis Hamilton would fancy his hand at acting now that he has started Dawn Apollo Films production company, with some mouth-watering projects on the agenda.
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion is known for his penchant for music, a home studio evidence of that, fashion is also close to his heart, and, of course, his voice cameo in Cars (the Pixar movie) peppered his interest in films which he regularly enjoys and watches avidly as he races around the world.
In a wide-ranging interview with Deadline, Mercedes F1 driver Hamilton spoke candidly about his plans for the future and the thought process about his thespian projects and personal ambitions.
Hamilton admitted he was intrigued by acting as a craft when asked if he had aspirations to perform in front of the camera: “I’m fascinated by it, I really am. I would love to try it one day but I’m very conscious of the fact that it takes ten thousand hours to master something.
“I’m very stubborn. If I’m going to do something, I want it to be really good. I don’t have to be the best at everything, necessarily, but I know how much hard work these actors have put in. I don’t want to be one of those celebs that just moves into a different field and thinks he can easily do it.
“I’ve always been into movies, I watch a lot, I find it a real escape. There are a lot of movies I find inspiring and I’ve always dreamed of one day doing something in this space. The question was often asked whether I would act.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be an F1 driver so I never really had time to dedicate to the craft of acting but a dream of mine has been to story-tell. I sat down with my team, and I asked: What would it take for us to start a production company?
“And I went around and I met a range of producers and filmmakers in LA just to gain knowledge. One of them was Jeffrey Katzenberg. The goal is to make impactful stories and ultimately to inspire people through movies and storytelling. A big part of the new company will be about social impact, community and causes.
“That’s very important to me,” declared Sir Lewis.
Apollo is the Greek god of sunlight, music and poetry
In fact, Hamilton is wholly committed to the task at hand, namely his F1 career. Since his sensational 2007 F1 debut the Briton has won 103 Grands Prix, more than anyone ever, has those seven titles to his name and has won a race in every year he has been in the top flight.
However this year, his once dominant Mercedes team, let him down with a below-par car relative to the pacve setters Red Bull and Ferrari, hence Hamilton’s incredible record of winning annually could end if he does not do the business in the next three races, starting with this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
“I try to move forward,” explained Hamilton. “Whether it’s positive or negative, I try to channel energy into the right direction through my work. This year has definitely been difficult. We’re really, really trying to improve the car
As for the name Dawn Apollo Films, Hamilton explained: “Apollo is the Greek god of sunlight, music and poetry, so I’ve always loved the name. Dawn because it is a time of other-worldliness and light, and symbolizes new beginnings. It’s generally a time of day that I love.”
Hamilton’s first project features Hollywood’s AAA-listers, with formidable backing ($150-million reportedly) for what will be a blockbuster movie about F1: “We have a couple of great projects in the works with Apple TV+. One is the documentary and the other is the F1 movie we’re making with Brad Pitt and Joe Kosinski.”
Pitt was a high-profile guest of honour during the United States Grand Prix canvassing for his movie, the superstar was granted freedom of the COTA paddock for his sight-seeing tour.
Hamilton continued, “I actually had an opportunity to work with Joe on Top Gun: Maverick. Tom [Cruise] put me on the phone with him and Joe moved heaven and earth to create space for me to be one of the pilots in the film, but I wasn’t able to make it work, which I regret every day. I try to grasp these opportunities when they come up now, but the racing season is still paramount.”
Cool Runnings is one I often think about and reference
Meanwhile, the deal with Apple is for one project and not for a series revealed Hamilton: “I would love to do more work with Apple. I’m a big fan of the brand. I love the stories they tell and how they go about promoting them. There is an opportunity for us to do more and we’re trying to find more inspiring stories. There’s a lot in the pipeline.
“As we set out, I think it’s important we remain open-minded with our approach and it’s important we’re able to voice our key values… Throughout my life, even back to when I was a kid, I’d refer to movies. Whether I’m talking to a friend, my engineer or a CEO, I often quote movies.
“Cool Runnings is one I often think about and reference. It’s so uplifting, but it was also very relevant to me as a kid when I was the only person of color at the race track. The kind of look that we got as a family was the same the Jamaican bobsled team got. It inspired me.
“For me, the end of the movie when they are determined to finish the race even if it means carrying their sled over the line, is about integrity and values. I want kids to leave the cinema and to think “Wow, I can be great too.”
F1 made Hamilton first and foremost, the success he was able to attain at the highest level has opened doors he perhaps never dreamed of and, naturally, is cherry-picking the countless offerings he must receive. But, in the end, he knows where the root of his success lies.
“My main focus and my core job is still motor racing. I’m 37. I’m very focused on my health: on my body, my mind and my spiritual well-being. I’m very conscious of other great athletes who spend their whole lives as I have, focused on their sport, and when they come to the end they might not necessarily have had the right people around them to help structure the course ahead for them.
“I’ve spoken to people who have said: Look, when I stopped it all came crashing down. I wasn’t prepared to do other things. I hadn’t taken time to learn any other crafts, other skills. I don’t know what my other passions are, so, I didn’t really focus on trying to understand what those are and create pillars.
“So, when I do stop racing — which I don’t plan on doing for a while; I still feel I’m in a good place — I want it to be seamless. I want to be able to move on to fully focus on Dawn Apollo Films and to be able to jump in at a similar level to what I’ve been used to,” concluded Hamilton.
