(gentle piano music) - The overall themes and messages of Les Mis are timeless.
For my character, Fantine, this idea of seeking love and wanting to fight for love, even when all these roadblocks are thrown at her.
- [Woman] By the time you read this, we have left.
- This constant determination and courageousness that comes with love.
It's the love of her daughter that causes her to continue on.
This kind of beacon of light and hope for generations to come, that's something that I think maybe we all can strive for, even if your time on this earth is short, your legacy can live on.
- In this story, the theme that resonates the most with me is redemption, which is love, you know, the ability to forgive, the ability to say to someone there is nothing you can do to make me love you less, that is to be redeemed.
And that's what Jean Valjean achieves, but his past never seems to be able to fully let him go, and that's the theme that my character, Javert, cannot come to terms with.
You would risk your good name to help a creature like that.
- She's one of God's creatures, Monsieur Javert.
- Redemption doesn't make any sense to him, and that's why those two characters are perpetually at odds.
You astonish me.
- What's lasted with me is the nature of a great hero.
So they save people's lives, but what's more interesting and more heroic is what's going on inside, and the struggle that Valjean has to be a good guy.
- [Javert] Go on, then, take your revenge.
- And not to be a vengeful, violent man, which is what he should be, 'cause he's been deeply wronged.
There, you're free, now go.
- What are you doing?
- It's that ability that some people have, that great people have, to take the high road, and to be a good person, and to exude love rather than hate.
That's really what the book is all about, and what Valjean is all about.
- Papa.
(gentle piano music)
