Actor James Purefoy finding a place in history

Although not all his acting roles are period pieces, James Purefoy admits "it's what most people know me for."

Purefoy, who on was rumored to be a candidate to play James Bond both before Pierce Brosnan took the role and before Daniel Craig succeeded Brosnan, is probably best know for playing Mark Antony in HBO's ambitious "Rome."

He also visited the past in "A Knight's Tale," when he played Edward, the Black Prince, and in "Vanity Fair," in which he appeared with Reese Witherspoon. He was recently seen as the wicked King Lot in Starz's series "Camelot."

Now he's in a new historical drama, "Ironclad," in which he plays a Knight Templar. The movie is set in 1215, shortly after England's King John (frequently a villain in various "Robin Hood" movies) is forced to sign the Magna Carta, limiting his powers. Rather than accept those limits, he hires an army of Danish mercenaries and sets out to punish the barons who forced him to sign. One baron gathers a small force of men, including Purefoy's Thomas Marshall, to occupy Rochester Castle and block John's path.

While he does contemporary movies and TV shows, Purefoy said he loves doing period pieces.

"I like to see the contemporary in history," he said.

The Knights Templar was essentially an order of "warrior monks you could only describe as Fundamentalists with a capital F," Purefoy said. "They could commit any atrocity in the name of God."

His character in "Ironclad" has returned from the Crusades, tormented by the violence he has committed in the name of God.

"Ironclad" has echoes of "The Alamo" as well as Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai," the masterful tale of a group of mercenaries hired to defend a village against a horde of bandits.

The baron hires his companions and as they ride to the castle, viewers realize there are seven of them. Purefoy said he likes "The Seven Samurai," its westernized remake "The Magnificent Seven," and "The Magnificent Seven's" various sequels so much that he handed out boxed sets of the DVDs to cast and crew.

"I love that template of battling insurmountable odds," he said.

But there is nothing romanticized about "Ironclad's" view of medieval warfare, which also pleased Purefoy.

"I'm interested in making it as authentic as it is possible," he said. "You're flat-bang in the middle of a Medieval siege."

With a cast that includes such distinguished British actors as Brian Cox, Derek Jacobi and Charles Dance, plus Paul Giamatti (who Purefoy called "one of the best actors alive") as King John, Purefoy said it was "a joy just watching" his fellow actors work.

Purefoy will next be seen by American audiences in Disney/Pixar's live action "John Carter," about a Civil War veteran who falls asleep in a cave and wakes up on Mars.

Purefoy said he usually doesn't "like to watch myself." But since many of his scenes were shot against a green screen and will be computer enhanced, he said he's eager to see that one.

"It's a very, very exciting process," he said.

Charlie Patton: (904) 359-4413