More of this Feature "SEABISCUIT" PREMIERE COVERAGE: • Tobey Maguire ('Red Pollard') • William H. Macy ('Tick Tock McGlaughlin') • Elizabeth Banks ('Marcela Howard') • Gary Stevens ('George Woolf') • Director Gary Ross and Race Designer Chris McCarron MORE INFORMATION ON "SEABISCUIT": • "Seabiscuit" Premiere Photo Gallery • "Seabiscuit" Photo Gallery • "Seabiscuit" News, Trailer, and Websites • "Seabiscuit" Credits

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In "Seabiscuit," Jeff Bridges plays showman/entrepreneur Charles Howard, a self-made man who, as producer Kathleen Kennedy notes, was a larger-than-life character. Bridges was very familiar with Laura Hillenbrand's book, "Seabiscuit, An American Legend," prior to being cast in the film. In fact, his cousin had suggested he read the novel and even mentioned he'd be perfect for the role of Charles Howard.

Producer Frank Marshall couldn't agree more with Bridges' cousin's assessment. "Jeff Bridges is Charles Howard. He embodies that character."

JEFF BRIDGES ('Charles Howard')

Where do you get the inspiration to play someone from that era in history?
I was lucky enough to talk to Laura Hillenbrand who wrote the wonderful book, “Seabiscuit,” and she was kind enough to give me photographs, and actually gave me a wallet that Charles Howard carried in his pocket that I could carry in my pocket. That was like a nice touchstone.

The story is set in the Depression. How will the story play today?
I think we're lucky to be American, it's the most wonderful country in the world. One of the great things about the movie is that it takes you back to the past and how we dealt with tough times in the past. While we're not going through as tough times as we were in the Depression - the time the movie portrays - a lot of us are going through tough times in this country right now. Hopefully this movie will help those folks to have some hope and see the best in each other. And also send a message to our government to support programs and properly fund them so we don't have even more people left hungry and without roofs over their heads.

This movie's not just about horses.
It's also about partnership, it's about how we can nurture each other and bring out the best of each other.

Do you ride?
I love horses. I've got a couple of horses up in Montana. Whenever I can ride it puts a smile on my face. I love it.

So you did your own riding in “Seabiscuit?”
Oh yeah.