Kevin Costner: ‘I had to evolve’ on Slashing His Republican Roots That Delivered Underrated Election Movie ‘Swing Vote’

Veteran actor Kevin Costner, who starred in a 2008 film called Swing Vote, talked about politics and how he doesn’t let it get in the way of acting!

It was the year 2008 when Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner starred in an iconic film titled Swing Vote.

Starring Madeline Carroll and several other stars such as Stankey Tucci, Kelsey Grammar, and more, the film was an underrated gem.

Costner in a still from Yellowstone | Credits: Linson Entertainment.

Following the presidential election, Kevin Costner’s character is the last person whose vote can bring a majority to one party or the other.

The 10 days that follow are shown in Swing Vote but for that role, Costner had to evolve above his morals.

Kevin Costner Had a Tough Role in Swing Vote

Kevin Costner grew up as a Republican.

The actor revealed that he was raised in a Republican household and politics was one of the key talks in their little home during his childhood.

Kevin Costner in a still from Swing Vote | Credits: Touchstone Pictures.

Of course, mixing politics and acting is often considered a bad idea, but Kevin Costner revealed to Roger Ebert that he doesn’t mind it.

From talks of politicism to the depths of greed, Costner and Ebert had a great interview.

The actor revealed that despite his Republican upbringing, he had his own set of morals when he was 20.

However, he did not let his personal beliefs get in the way of acting as he evolved his character of Bud Johnson for Swing Vote.

I grew up in a Republican household, and I heard [my] father go, ‘Damn that Kennedy,’ and when you’re 12 years old, you’re probably thinking, if you love your father, yeah, damn that Kennedy.

He further continued,

My family was very staunchly Republican.

I had to evolve and that took time for myself.

I moved very quickly as a 20-year-old.

I have very conservative roots, but my evolution allowed me to make JFK (1991) and Thirteen Days (2001) and those kinds of movies.

I’ve always felt too limited by both parties.

In the end, the film found an underrated gem and Hollywood found an iconic actor in Kevin Costner.

The actor went on to take part in several Hollywood projects and movies and continues to do so.

However, it might not have happened if Costner hadn’t met a famous Welsh actor on a plane that day.

The actor’s assurance is what gave Costner the confidence to go ahead with his dream of acting.

When Kevin Costner Met Richard Burton

Before he was a famous actor, Kevin Costner’s dream was to make it big in Hollywood.

He would try to star in various projects to get a little credit but it wasn’t on the level that he wanted.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in 1963’s Cleopatra | Credits: Walter Wanger.

During his talks with Roger Ebert, the veteran actor mentioned a particular incident when he met Welsh actor Richard Burton on a plane.

Burton, who was known for movies like Cleopatra, Where Eagles Dare, and more had found worldwide fame for his roles.

Naturally, Kevin Costner got very excited when he saw Burton sitting on a plane.

The actor recalled how he approached Burton and the following conversation that happened.

I’ve always kinda kept it private what the conversation was.

I told him, ‘I was hoping to become an actor, and, well, you’re a celebrated actor, but you’re a brawler, you’ve had a lot of marriages, a lot of things … I just want to know, does that kind of life follow an actor? I want to have a life that’s not filled with drama.’

Costner further continued,

And Burton looked at me and he said, ‘You have green eyes.

I have green eyes.’ And he goes, ‘I think you’ll be fine.’

If it weren’t for Richard Burton’s assurance, people may not have gotten Kevin Costner.

Swing Vote received a rating of 6.1/10 on IMDB and an average of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes.

With Costner in the lead role and starring a plethora of celebrities, the iconic 2008 film is available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S.