Horiwood's Blog

Hollywood Actor Cliff Curtis has Courage To Love the Middle East

Hollywood actor and film producer, Cliff Curtis holds his early edition copy of Courage To Love, the new Romeo & Juliet novel by author Robert Ellis. The modern story of forbidden love that is set in Israel and the Gaza strip, is getting good early buzz in Hollywood. Curtis describes the book as being “beautiful.”

Of this pivotal novel, Curtis features here in his hand, filmmaker Bill Birrell says: “I have been looking for a human scale story about the Middle East: but one that will both entertain and provoke. In short I believe Courage to Love is it. Not since Elie Wiesel, the Nobel prize-winning writer, has an author distilled these conflicts into such human terms.  Put another way, while the story touches on significant issues, it is really a tale of two young people and their struggle to be allowed to love each other.”

Cliff, a newly wed himself, is all about love these days and furthering love’s potential in a world wind epic romance he finds himself caught up in, in his real life. His Hollywood career also has elevation. Curtis currently stars as Firelord Orzai in M. Night Shyamalan‘s 3D film franchise, The Last Airbender and has just signed on to two films starring opposite, Zoe Saldana (of Star Trek and Avatar film franchises fame) where he’s cast as Zoe’s closest family member. Coming up, Curtis will also star with Sigourney Weaver and Bruce Willis. 

In his upcoming film project with Weaver, a woman Cliff likes in Hollywood a lot for her seamless blend of grace and grit; Curtis plays an Israeli Mussaud agent. Courage To Love is a novel Cliff has interest in, having played Arab men in Hollywood films in the past. A fine character actor Hollywood actors admire, Curtis has also shattered New Zealand box office records, for a New Zealand funded film he produced called Boy, exceeding $10 million at the N.Z box office. Boy has won international critical acclaim having won a Silver Bear Award in Germany. The film opens in Australian movie theaters in September, the same month Robert Ellis’ Courage to Love sales are expected to boom. 

To order Courage To Love from Amazon and to find out what conscientious, international Hollywood actors are reading this summer, go here. Cover artwork of the Ellis book is by famed surrealist artist, Salvador Dali of Spain, featuring Dali’s contemplative painting Rosa Meditativa that like Ellis’ novel, evokes love’s ability to transcend any divide of human difference and misunderstanding. 

Recently married in Rotorua, a lakeside paradise resort township of New Zealand, to a beautiful Asian bride; Cliff Curtis is content in love, developing new film projects, considering several scripts from around the world in Cliff’s signature discerning fashion and looking to settle in L.A after currently spending time in London, UK.

Meeting at Earth Bar in West Hollywood for a chocolate protein power shake, and juice from a fresh coconut a piece, it was then on for dinner at local Hollywood celebrities’ favorite dining spot, Hugo’s organic restaurant on Kings Rd. Action all the way and a healthy focus for life and L.A business; is how Cliff rolls to keep California’s economy growing.

Hollywood’s Maori King is as funny, humorous, hospitable and relaxed as ever. He’s thriving, focused and well. Mauri Ora! (Life to you!).

Cliff starts filming with Zoe, next month. He’s a movie man, humanitarian extraordinaire and like Lebanese writer, Emile Kanim, Cliff Curtis is also an eco-friendly ambassador of environmental concerns that affect future generations. It’s no surprise then, that in Hollywood, Cliff is in top demand.

All power to him. Courage to be a wise king of noble spirit, extraordinary vision, a romantic action man with trademark gracious humility to walk in the way of Peace. 

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 7.18.2010~