Doug Jones, the 6', 4", 140 lb actor who portrays Marvel Comics' the 'Silver Surfer' in the upcoming Vancouver-shot "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", has used stage training in mime and skills as a contortionist to become one of the most sought-after 'creature' actors in the business.
For director Guillermo del Toro, Jones played a 'cockroach' in the Toronto-shot 1997 horror thriller "Mimic", then appeared in del Toro's comic book-to-film "Hellboy", playing aquatic 'Abe Sapien'.
In del Toro's current "Pan's Labyrinth", Jones plays 'Pan'.
"He has an intelligence and a sensibility that is able to shine through the makeup," said del Toro. "That is a gift that not all actors have. "
"If you want the movement and performance and character with a story line, you need to have an actor," said Jones.
"I consider myself an actor first, not a suit performer."
Set in post-war, Franco-ruled Spain, "Pan's Labyrinth" stars actress Ivana Baquero as 'Ofelia', a young woman forced to move to a military outpost commanded by her stepfather (Sergi López). To escape the isolation, Ofelia retreats to an old garden near her house, uncovering magical elfin creatures presided over by Pan.Regarding CGI character misfires like Universal's take on "The Hulk", Jones says "...what I think they found is that they missed a certain performance element that only human beings can give...
"What has happened is that they have realized they can enhance (characters) with CGI seamlessly now. It's like the best of both worlds coming together."
Click here to sneak peek "Pan's Labyrinth"
