Golden Globe winner Forest Whitaker was so desperate to land the role of Idi Amin in The Last King Of Scotland, he begged the director to let him audition twice. Kevin Macdonald confesses he wasn't convinced Whitaker had what it took to play the terrifying Ugandan dictator - but the American convinced him with his passion for the part.

McDonald says, "He said to me at the end of the meeting, 'You still don't think I can do this, do you?' I admitted I had my doubts, and he said, 'Let me rehearse a piece and come back tomorrow'. Hollywood stars don't need to do that. He was the only actor who really wanted to do it. He told me he had turned down the opportunity to go to Africa to film in the past - but that he felt this was the right time. To play Idi Amin!"

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)