Is IronE Singleton your real name?
No. Robert ...Singleton is my real name. I came up with IronE 7 years ago just before I went to L.A. in search of "stardom". I wanted a name that people would remember and a name that would represent who I am at the same time.
So there is a meaning to IronE other than its originality?
Yes. IronE has several meanings aside from the obvious pun; drop the y add E and something solid and unbreakable. Given my life experiences, statistics said I would be dealing drugs, dead or in jail but I'm not. The E could have several meanings (eccentric, enigmatic, energetic, etc.) depending on my mood. The constant representation of the E in my name is for "Eagle". Therefore the connotative meaning of IronE is "An eagle in flight with an unbroken spirit."
Uh huh. So nothing too profound ...I see. (laughs)
(Laughs)Nah. I couldn't think of anything else.
As of late, I've seen on the internet that you've been referring to yourself as the G.O.A.T; The Greatest actor Of All Time. Why do you refer to yourself as the G.O.A.T?
If you remember nothing else about me, please remember this. There is "ALWAYS" a method to the madness. I've recognized that in a media frenzy industry, society thrives on controversy. Some people may say, "How can you be so bold as to refer to yourself as the G.O.A.T when nobody knows who you are?" I'd say, "You, now, know who I am in part because I call myself the G.O.A.T, and you will tell others either because of your contempt for me or admiration because of my bold declaration. Either way you recognize me." The playwright Richard Wesley said in "The Talented Tenth" that "controversy attracts people...and dollars." To make a long short... It's good for marketing.
Aren't you concerned about people thinking you are cocky or arrogant?
I think people who really know me know I'm not cocky or arrogant. I'd, actually, label myself to be a pretty humble ... but confident individual when it comes to "my" craft of acting. And I would hope that that is the perception that others have of me. I've been acting for a long time. Therefore, I've put forth a diligent enough effort to possess the confidence that I have towards "my" craft.
Why do you say "my" craft when referring to the craft of acting?
I'm only referring to "my" approach to acting. It's all subjective to me. I've been acting long enough and take "my" craft as seriously enough as any well known actors to have developed my own philosophy on acting. Of course, with respect to the pioneers, I've borrowed lots of interpretations along the way from the other "Greats" such as the Ancient storytellers all the way down to Stanislavsky, Boleslavsky, Meisner, my contemporaries and the like, but I've mixed, shaped and molded their philosophies into what has become my own. ...kind of like how I develop my characters.
The other "greats"? So you actually believe that you are the G.O.A.T.
(laughs) You're still caught up on that "great" thing, huh? If I don't believe it then who will? I think others that consider themselves to be great at what they do, believe they are, or else, no one else would believe it. Alot of them just don't say it because it's not necessary. They already have the spotlight. I'm still searching for the spotlight. I think Jordan knew he was a great ballplayer before "we" said it. I think Denzel knew he was a great actor before "we" said it. T.I. knew he was the "King" before most of his fans knew it and he, actually, said it. Let me break this thing down once more and for all. I read somewhere days ago that "greatness" is ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I don't know of one human being on this planet that is not capable of doing extraordinary things. We are the way GOD made us. SHE made us to do great things. I doubt that GOD made ANY individual in this world better than any other. Some people just have better opportunities. That means you just have to work harder. That means you don't have much time to complain lest you fall further behind. "Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure." Part of that power is doing great things. I'd like to implore everyone to discover their greatness and go out and put in the work so that they can be great at it. But you must first believe it, to achieve it.
What would you be doing if you
were not acting?
I'd be a culinary artist and a homemaker
because I think my wife would be pretty content with playing opposite
roles. I would probably go to law school for civil rights and entertainment.
But I'd rather be a judge than a lawyer.
Which genre of movies do you prefer,
fiction or documentary and how much and what kind of research do
you do in order to take on your characters worlds and lives and
translate them to film?
Either genre suits me just fine as
long as I'm able to have a mere expression through the movie of
who I am and what I represent as an individual. I consider myself
a method actor. I think my life experiences have given me a head
start in my characterization process. My research is more introspective
than observational. My observations, I would say, are the whipped
cream on the apple pie.
What are your strengths as an
actor?
I would have to say my "in the moment-ness",
timing, and ability to bring a high level of humanity to my characters.
To sum it up my training and education (formal and informal) get
the credit.
What are some weaknesses that
you've identified in your craft?
Say what? (laughs)
What do you feel is your purpose
in life?
SHE told me purpose in life is to help
others search for theirs' and on that journey you will find yours…inspire
humanity.
I appreciate the interview and thanks to all my fans for your continued support. I love you.
IronE Singleton 2000