Kevin Costner: I Wanted To Make My ‘Hidden Figures’ Role ‘Meaningful’ | TODAY

Oscar winner Kevin Costner talks to Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb about his role in the Golden Globe-nominated movie “Hidden Figures,” about three African-American women key to the early days of the U.S. space program. He reveals that his character in the film, a NASA administrator, is actually a composite of several real people and that he worked with the movie’s director to make the role “meaningful.”
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Kevin Costner: I Wanted To Make My ‘Hidden Figures’ Role ‘Meaningful’ | TODAY

[@briane5706]

Costner is not only a great actor but a generous and socially aware human being. His films are intelligent and interesting.

[@1toshi32]

I loved the part Kevin played in this movie. He played a guy who was interested in getting the job done no matter who did the math. He wasn't interested in what the colour of the skin was or if it was a woman. I also loved the fact that he was disgusted by the people who would segregate her by making her drink out of a coffee pot for coloured and did away with the segregated rest rooms. In the end it was all about getting a man in space. That should be the goal in the end. It should be about how and not who.

[@ujugafu2209]

God bless Kevin Costner, he's an actor whom I respect very much. He does his best to be the best and it shows Great guy!

[@ShiftsInReality]

Word!!

[@thamechanic3324]

Hidden figures is one badass movie you can never get tired of watching it over n over again... The three black women are true legends and the whole cast of the movie are amazing 👌😍...

[@MeandMyHair]

Growing up as a science student, I've always questioned why there weren't black people in the history of science major courses especially physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. The truth is they were there and did play significant roles but they were all HIDDEN. I'm thankful to date I didn't go on to study medicine because most of the findings would be based on lies (no offence if you're a medical student or a Doctor). Katherine Johnson's story speaks volume about our universal educational system.

[@Jenjen-qc5eq]

Frederick McKinley Jones was an African-American who invented the refrigeration to the long-haul transportation of perishable goods.

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Kevin Costner, a high-level celebrity that has never forgotten where he came from.

[@seuny]

2:20 "the problem is with us when we hold people down, that will always be our problem"

[@stephaniesaunders5689]

I'm soooo proud to hear my Aunties name on screen, and KC did a great job.

[@deloriscollins3188]

Because they do not tell how much Taraji made on Hidden Figure,it makes one think ,"aha, there is a pay discrimination which validates Taraji' in Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures.I am so disappointed.

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@susanqtips]

This character is the definition of woke. All obstacles are removed to reach the goal, and color and gender are not obstacles that he sees.

[@ShiftsInReality]

Love Kevin Costner since I first saw him in Dances With Wolves, a book I had read a few years prior to the film. I took off from work to see that film in NYC. The Bodyguard, Open Range (along with another great actor Robert Duvall), Field of Dreams, The Untouchables, JFK, Thirteen Days, No Way Out, Bull Durham, Rapa Nui, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, a very long list of great films. Yes, Kevin stole my heart a long time ago. I hope Kevin reads this someday and smiles :-)

[@jasonmarkson3773]

Kevin Costner makes a profound statement @ 3:50 and air head blond responds with LOT OF AWARDS GOING AROUND.

[@dennyawright21]

The uplifting film Hidden Figures shows extraordinary people working together and should have won Best Picture instead of the depressing Moonlight.

[@karenkinserlow7744]

He is awsome actor performer in every thing he does my favorite

[@fireballfitness170]

1:30...John Glen says " I'm not going unless the smart girl tells me I can" they were called "the computers",....somehow the cream gets to the top, and that is what we need to be about in the film "Hidden Figures". 2:15 ...the problem is with us, when we hold people down, and that will always be our problem 3:51...when we finally come to terms with putting people on the same level there's no end to what we can accomplish.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Sadly those three women weren't given the public recognition that they greatly deserved long ago. Two had already passed away before this movie was filmed.

[@xuxa795]

Don't watch much American tv but this movie looked promising and I was right. Always finding out about amazing people we should have read about in school. Now that I've learned on my own, I take every opportunity to learn about other cultures. It's a pleasant awakening.

[@raj-hg7yd]

He was perfect for this film! Love him!

[@beth2513]

Three very strong and smart women. ❤️

[@avtgomez]

He ages so well..

[@yvetterene]

Absolutely adore this man.

[@jessejohnson159]

When I watched this movie, I had to hear "computers" a few times to know what was being said and the meaning. And as Mr. Costner stated here where he was "charmed", that title was a surprise to me also that fit!

[@jims6056]

Kevin Kostner is amazing!

[@anileb100]

Cannot wait to see you Kevin I love your acting

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@HummingbirdJa]

I adore Kevin Costner, always have since watching him in Dances with Wolves. Love him.

[@TheGodsRain]

Why wasn't Taraji nominated for a golden globe, I'm insulted!!!

[@angelinafaggett6979]

I was shocked to hear that at the end as well...

[@rickbarbera7721]

It's a mystery to me also. She was superb although has she ever done a part that she wasn't?

[@maygirl1595]

That’s Hollywood though. Still inadvertently racist

[@xzach1993]

@@maygirl1595 🤔...In My Opinion...Still Deliberately Racist!

[@studio22lusakazambia66]

Amazing and inspiring woman! She was more than a mathematician! She deserves a Nobel prize for advancing humanity's space cause! She has contributed to our hopes of being an interplanetary species. Besides, everything about going to space is physics! Smart black woman AKA 'human computer'!

[@emmiesblessed8800]

He play’s in A movie called Black & White with Octavia Spencer! He has A grand daughter he is raising who’s father is Black I think his daughter died and his wife as well in the movie and all he has is his grand baby and Octavia is the grandmother. Good movie though! They both love the little girl

[@jackwmith8445]

"Something named after her at NASA." Do your homework. The "Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility."

[@charcami_]

Exactly what I thought!

[@thehaughtcorner]

@@charcami_ Can't expect much when one of the "interviewees" mentions at the outset that the other one hasn't even seen the movie!

[@doberman1ism]

One of the greatest actors on the planet also a great writer and musician.

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@doberman1ism]

@@kevincostner7246 I just saw A Perfect World again and it is such a wonderful story. Casper The Friendly Ghost was my favorite cartoon character. The inner action between you and the little boy is so genuine that one does not even realize that it is a movie 🍿. This is the magic spirit that you put into all of your roles. Whatever you do please do not let the character of John Dutton die. If he dies your wife is going to find me sleeping and crying 😭 inconsolably on your couch 🤒😂.

[@chrisshugart6189]

Costner comes off like the consummate engineer of that time: Smart, dedicated, and the furthest thing from a socio-political activist. But when he discovers that “the system” was hindering the progress of his vitally important project, he solves it quickly and effectively, letting his actions speak for him.

[@nafseltaeb]

What a smart guy

[@HeidiMarionFoster-xj1jt]

Thanks ❤❤❤❤❤ Kevin Coster

[@missglass101]

It would have been nice for the hosts to asks and focus, but also mention the names of the Historical Women.

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@LaDonnaSmith-ur4no]

Kevin your the best.

[@princejraxson469]

this guy will leave a legacy once he's gone

[@ronaldrussell5481]

This was a great movie! KC did an excellent job as did the three female main characters. Highly recommend this for school science/math/social studies class viewing as part of their education.

[@diannapenny5990]

In this role, KC very much reminded me of a boss I had years ago and greatly admired. Not so much in appearance, but in personality and actions.

[@davidlasher3821]

Yes! Why are we surprised? ... People have things they like to do and, sometimes those things turn out to be really important! ....

[@user-ne5nf7pt2i]

❤beautiful movie😢😢❤

[@bluedoggg1]

The cream always rises to the top.

[@HeidiMarionFoster-xj1jt]

❤❤❤❤❤❤I love you Kevin Coster

[@DrJohn493]

Growing up in the 50s and 60s south, I never was taught that African-American women played a key role in getting John Glenn into space. Nothing in high school, nothing in college. It infuriates me that I only learned about this pivotal history in our nation's space accomplishments and the role of African-American "computers" came from this movie. Regrrettably, I would wager today, in 2023, this movie would be banned in Florida because of some idiotic misunderstanding of critical race theory.

[@jogreen2417]

Kevin gold dust amazing role you did with the lords help. You don't really how how you helped people of colour. Appreciate & love your work. Keep it going 💙❤💯

[@cochiswatkins6137]

Great acting he was for real

[@michelebartlett3921]

He was excellent

[@user-ne5nf7pt2i]

❤my sweetheart for years❤❤❤❤

[@helenheeney2284]

Gosh love that man

[@robert100xx]

In the film, some shots of Kevin Costner looks like Governor Samuel Warden from Shawshank prison.

[@macpakinga377]

Awesome Kevin cos. Great movie 💐🥰🙏🎥🎦🌏FNZealand

[@HeidiMarionFoster-xj1jt]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I love you Kevin Coster

[@BURNETTFARMBOY]

Movie - Hidden Figures - Kevin Cosner blooper: Jet 747 Model on Kevin's office shelf... First flight 1969.. The movie is based on Atlas LV-3B that flew from 1960-1963...Just saying Lol

[@ddrakiel]

"I had no idea these women existed" is exactly the problem this movie solved

[@lindsaynordstrom6621]

Great women all 3 Fantastic.

[@bknightify]

Damm Frank you still look good ...I will always love you ! ;) lol

[@susanwahl6322]

Please read the book.

[@sianorourke5573]

♥️

[@chariotwofilthy8374]

Hi edagdwg thanks for sharing this story of what happens when you have a heart to do what should be done God made sure the story is being told for the world to see what God does what no man can do Linda j peace 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋❤️❤️❤️❤️🐦🐦🌹🐻

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@paulaurrea2069]

So beautiful man 😻

[@jacekkubiak3551]

We all in NASA pee the same color ... just love it.

[@katalinruzsits9220]

ich habe so lieb,diese mesch,und mann

[@kevincostner7246]

Thanks for the love and support you showered on me . It's been wonderful having fans like you solidly behind me this is my way of saying thank you .Much love 😘❤️💯

[@sergeantmasson3669]

LOL, Kevin stated "we wanted." He wasn't one of the producers and he wasn't the director.

[@sunnyd2221]

BTW Laurel Clark who was always Sally Ride is John Nashs and Dorothys daughter and she still alive no thanks to a lot of weird revisionist history buffs!

[@bendia77]

Problem here is - they should be interviewing the women who portrayed the main characters. Nothing against Kevin - I have always loved his work and his style.

[@Mary2020VA]

So much racism in this clip.. Huda and Kathie Lee seemed stunned that this movie is about black American mathematicians.

[@florientcalliste-leonard680]

Mary A - what r talking bout- your mistaken- don't be so quick to judge- besides huda is defended from Africa.

[@nicknametoolong]

We never learn about black mathematicians, or black investors, or black achievers of any kind except sports and music. So i don't blame them.

[@GeoHvl]

I love this movie but please when are we going to start using the term Black American. They are Americans who happen to be Black.

[@markopolo5695]

They were very noisy, I bet he was glad to get out of that interview

[@willieboy8798]

computers have been around since water way shipping! .....wake up!!!

[@amyclarke41]

he was good in this but loved his sandwiches

[@WakandaBabe]

What the heck happened to Gifford? Holy crap.

[@wallacebell4311]

Time passes on everyone……………including you someday if you are lucky enough to live long enough!!!

[@watcher9997]

Shush Kathie Lee and let him talk.

[@TJW68]

Did he realize he had a caterpillar below his lip??

[@deborahpinkey1264]

And to think - people like Ron DeSantis want stories like these to remain "hidden!"

[@irmaadams7780]

I think there was racism to not nominate her….the irony!

[@joseroman1385]

PRESIDENT TRUMP,the king of racism

[@Abby-yc7tt]

I am so glad Kathy Lee is gone.

[@JoshBWeaver]

Love Costner but I could hardly follow him because of that thing attached to his bottom lip.

[@hayzersolar]

this is what is so funny feminism is all about girl power, but they don't even know what their own did. that is so sad don't even know the achievements the women have done.

[@erwinmonti5066]

I don't know if Kevin Costner knows this. But this movie was based on actual facts and it was back when Kennedy was President in the democrats. Are always holding black? People? Down they don't want them to succeed and get ahead. That's why they put them in ghettos and housing projects. But the fact was Kennedy did not want. It known that the people that figured out how to get the space programming gear were actually a black woman that knew the mathematics to get the job done. It's amazing this movie should be shown in every school in our country every year. To make people aware of what other people do to contribute to our society. They always have suppressed what black people have done. I believe it's still goes on today but this movie is just awake up call to Howard reedy was back in the day and I defy any one of you out there that's 78 years old. To tell me the true new about this lady and the other 3 that made this program successful and I guarantee you not 1% of you know that.

[@HeidiMarionFoster-xj1jt]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I love you Kevin Coster