Andrew Garfield ‘fascinated’ by psychology of OpenAI tech giant Sam Altman

Andrew Garfield has said he is “fascinated” by the psychology of OpenAI tech giant Sam Altman but admits he was glad when his portrayal in the upcoming biopic came to an end.

The 43-year-old actor stars in Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial about the five days where the controversial OpenAI chief executive was ousted and then rehired by the company he co-founded.

The role comes 16 years after he nearly portrayed Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg in Eduardo Saverin’s 2010 film The Social Network but instead was cast as co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

Speaking to Esquire UK about playing the tech billionaire, he said: “I think I’ve been fascinated since I missed that opportunity (of playing Zuckerberg).

“Though I got given the most amazing opportunity (of playing Eduardo Saverin) and I wouldn’t have it any other way – but I definitely feel I’m closer to understanding the drives, the psychology.

“With Sam, everything’s a game. It’s a game and everything gets very, very simple. It’s, ‘I know I have to win this game, because I am the most ‘good’ person, and if I don’t win this game, Elon Musk wins this game’.”

Garfield said he does not know Altman and has never met him, with his portrayal based on what was in the script, court transcripts, interviews and research.

He added: “We were telling a story, but I think anyone who takes on that level of responsibility for a company or a technology that you know is going to do a hell of a lot of damage to the soul of humanity (must have) a certain ability to disassociate.”

The role came off the back of Garfield starring in Guadagnino’s psychological drama After The Hunt, alongside Hollywood star Julia Roberts and The Bear actress Ayo Edebiri, where he played professor Hank Gibson, who gets accused of sexual assault by a student.

Despite feeling “grateful” to have the opportunity to play these challenging characters, he said he does not “love it”.

“Ultimately I’m like, ‘Thank God that’s over’,” he said.

“I felt that way with Sam and with Hank because I much prefer at least trying to be community-minded, a good friend. I love being a cosy guy.”

Garfield also stars in Paul Greengrass’s new film, The Uprising, where he plays a medieval ploughman who leads a rebellion against King Richard.

The three back-to-back films have taken a toll on the actor, who said he is “knackered” and ready to “be normal” and “ordinary”.

He said: “I learnt a lot over the course of this past year. I did three things back to back — I’ve never done that before.

“But it happened to be three things I really wanted to do and they were all happening at the same time.

“I’m definitely going to have a holiday and a rest. I’m going to be normal. I’m going to be ordinary.

“I’m going take a walk and I’m going to read a book, and I’m going to be with my people, and I’m going to go to Disneyland with my nephews … I’m going to play basketball, and I’m going to go swimming, and I’m going to be. Just be.

“And I’m going to remember that I don’t always have to be ‘on’, performing. And I’m going to think about how to live.”

Garfield’s breakout role came in the 2007 TV film Boy A, followed by the films The Social Network and Never Let Me Go, both released in 2010.

He also starred as Spider-Man and appeared in Hacksaw Ridge, Tick, Tick… Boom! and recently in an adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree.

The full interview can be read in the September/October issue of Esquire UK, which is out on August 26th.