I asked them how they found work, how they got paid, how they made friends, how they traveled-even how they crossed the street. I met some immigrants who went through that life and had the experience of living illegally for a time. His accent, the way he moves, how he looks at people were all really interesting to research. It was challenging for me to play a character who was so far from who I am. I’m working with the same directors, and each time we collaborate, they give me a new kind of challenge as an actor. That’s why it was interesting for me to play him.

The character of Samba is, in many ways, an inverse of your role in “The Intouchables.” Sy spoke with about how “The Intouchables” changed his view of filmmaking, the delight of making “ Jurassic World,” and his deep belief in the messages of Nakache and Toledano’s films. His performance ensures that Samba is no more defined by his status as an immigrant than Philippe was defined by his status as quadriplegic. Though the film strikes an odd balance between cheery escapism and gritty, Dardenne-esque realism, Sy anchors the film with his unforced charisma. Sy plays Samba, an aspiring chef and immigrant struggling to acquire citizenship, who forges a tender relationship with Alice ( Charlotte Gainsbourg), a weary immigration officer with a smitten heart. Nakache and Toledano’s latest feature effort, “ Samba,” provides Sy with the opportunity to stretch his dramatic muscles, while tackling the role of a man less comfortable in his skin.

Harry samba interview