"I've pretty much gotten used to dying, it's like the 5th time I've died in a movie or on television [in addition to other death scenes, he died in a role in an episode of THE X-FILES]." Actor Lucas Black spoke to me in his deep authentic Southern drawl about his role in the big new movie COLD MOUNTAIN opening Christmas day. He is an Alabama boy, ROLL TIDE.

Black previously appeared in the 1994 film, THE WAR, later having a major role in Billy Bob Thornton's excellent SLING BLADE. Black went on to work with Thorton in his sweeping western ALL THE PRETTY HORSES dying in that film as well.

"I'm lucky in finding roles, the first picture [THE WAR] the audition was 30 minutes from my house." Black was so honest about how he got into show business.

"I didn't even audition for my role in COLD MOUNTAIN. I met with Anthony [director Anthony Minghella] in Charleston. I reckon he had seen my work." Black said without any detection of being full of himself.

If only all actors were as lucky as Black who has worked with some very talented folks on sincere projects. In COLD MOUNTAIN, Black plays Oakley a young Southen soldier who becomes involved in a huge battle early in the film.

"It was intense doing the scene in the crater. It's the scene where the Union troops run into a hole and when they were shot they couldn't fall down."

The crater battle is a truly amazing scene. Taking place toward the beginning of the film, it kind of makes the film front-loaded from an action/war event film perspective. COLD MOUNTAIN is really a love story.

"I was in there and it was pretty rough. " Black told me. "Nothing was chroneographed other than Anthony telling everyone that he wanted it as real as possible and the extras came in and were told to get as close to one another as possible. People would come into the crater and fall down right against one another. Jay Tavare who plays the Cherokee [Swimmer] chipped his knee cap while filming. I'd say that there were a few bumps and bruises."

While COLD MOUNTAIN is a love story at its core, Black believes that "most men will like that scene [crater battle]. Everyone will be touched and moved by the scene because we couldn't imagine putting ourselves into that battle and coming out alive."

Black grew up in Alabama and Civil War history was well known to him.

"I did learn about the battle of Petersberg because that is the battle in the movie. I really didn't have to do any research. They did bring in Gunsmiths and people to help us with the weapons but I grew up around guns so they were not a problem."

COLD MOUNTAIN is directed by Anthony Minghella who was responsible for the Oscar winning film THE ENGLISH PATIENT and the Ripley adventure THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY. I asked Black how Minghella was to work with.

"He [Minghella] had a meeting with the actors in the battle scene and said that he was going to be busy working on other shots. He told me to bring whatever I could to the role and to go to him with questions. I did my thing and didn't have any questions."

Though he has a brief appearance in Cold Mountain Black's scenes are memorable not only for the stunning battle sequence but for his touching death scene. Hopefully, we will see Lucas Black alive and staying that way on the big screen for many years to come.

COLD MOUNTAIN opens Christmas Day.

Jonathan W. Hickman