Cary Elwes plays Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the movie 'SAW' written by two emerging Australian filmmakers Leigh Whannell and James Wan. Whannell plays Adam, a young man who wakes to find himself chained to a rusty pipe in a dark subterranean chamber opposite Elwes character who is also chained up in the room with the instructions to kill Adam within eight hours or they both will die. The question underlying the film is 'How far would you go to save you own life?' This theme is explored as the story unfolds and the film keeps you guessing until the end. In addition to Elwes, the film also stars Danny Glover and Monica Potter.

Talk about your character Dr. Lawrence Gordon? Did you have to do anything to prepare for the role?
Cary Elwes - I spent time with a neurosurgeon at UCLA’s Hospital in LA who was kind enough to share with me with as much information as I needed for the role. Other than that I just explored what the character was going through emotionally as well as intellectually and physically.

What part of yourself did you bring to the role?
CE - As an actor there are always parts of yourself in every role you play. There’s no escaping it. The sense of loss that Gordon experiences when he thinks his wife and child are dead was obviously drawn from my own sense of loss at losing someone close to me.

How was it working with the James and Leigh, any unexpected surprises?
CE - When I first met them I was surprised at how young they were. Not only was I taken by their personal charm, but also by their passion to realize their dream. They had worked very hard on the material and it showed.

What is your favorite genre for work?
CE - I have no particular favorite. To me it is less about the genre and more about the material and whether or not it appeals to me on a creative level.

Tell me how this film differed from many of your other parts?
CE - Well I have never been chained to a pipe in a subterranean toilet for an extended period of time before so that was a new one! Also I don’t think I have ever played a victim before so that was refreshing.

What's up for you next?
CE - I have just completed two films: 'Edison' with Justin Timberlake, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey and 'The Trouble With Frank' with Jon Bon Jovi and Estella Warren. Both will probably be coming to theaters sometime next year.

Tell me something about you that no one else knows?
CE - I’m a philatelist.