Edgar Ramirez on Bin Laden Film ‘Zero Dark Thirty’: ‘It Changed Everybody’s Life'

Dec. 10, 2012: Actor Edgar Ramirez arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Columbia Pictures "Zero Dark Thirty" at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Calif. (2012 Getty Images)

Few films have been more buzzed about this award season than Kathryn Bigelow’s highly anticipated “Zero Dark Thirty.”

It is Bigelow’s follow up to her critically acclaimed 2008 film “Hurt Locker.”

The film follows a decades-long journey of the CIA’s top secret operative to locate Osama Bin Laden following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

For Edgar Ramirez, the Venezuelan actor who plays one of the CIA agents involved in locating Bin Laden, being a part of the project was “very gratifying.”

Drawn to the idea of working with Bigelow, Ramirez appreciates the director’s unconventional approach to storytelling.

With an “uncompromising way to build stories,” Ramirez says the story behind “Zero Dark Thirty” is one that “changed everybody’s lives."

“What is so interesting and smart and honest about this movie is that for the first time we see different point of views presented in the same movie.”

Like everyone, Ramirez remembers exactly where he was on that fateful September day. Filming his first film in Venezuela, Ramirez was as isolated from the reality of the occurring events as possibly.

“I was in the middle of the jungle,” he said.

It was not until two days later that Ramirez actually learned of the extent of what had happened .

“By the time we got to the airport the entire flying protocol had changed,” Ramirez said. “We had no idea.”

Unlike most American’s, Ramirez could not tap into his own personal experience from September 11th for his role in the film.

But Ramirez believes, “No matter how conscious you are or not…this story and what happened changed everybody’s life.”

Interestingly enough, Ramirez’s role in “Zero Dark Thirty “was his first time playing an American.

However, playing a character involved in the military Ramirez is “universal” regardless of what country you live in.

“I think that, in the end, the military behavior and intelligence services are not very different from each other," he said. "It’s an attitude of hunters, they’re observing the prey.”

Ramirez was drawn to the subtle complexity of the characters in the film.

Ramirez's character blends in instead of standing out. With no background story on the characters, “you only learn what you see.”

“It is a very innovative way to present characters. What you see is what you get, what you get is what you see.”

And as for what he thinks about working with his rumored love Jessica Chastain, Ramirez gave his co-star rave reviews.

“She’s one of the most honest actresses I’ve ever known,” he said. "She’s a sweet, sweet person.”

With his latest role in “Zero Dark Thirty,” a hot Hollywood romance, and more roles in the works, Ramirez is officially on everyone’s radar.