ClevelandMagazine.com — While actor Sebastian Stan completely changed his look for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, his character Bucky Barnes goes from being Captain America’s best friend to his arch-nemesis — the Winter Soldier. He opens up to us about the nuances of acting in a mask and the unprecedented access our city provided for the film.

It’s exciting to see my character take this turn and show more sides of him. But, at the same time, it was challenging. I felt like I had a lot of homework to do. This character is so complex and tragic in a way and there are so many sides to him that hopefully we will see in the future.

The Winter Soldier wears a mask for most of the film, which made it difficult for me to convey emotions. But it also kind of helped in a way. I felt when I was looking at myself in the mirror that I couldn’t recognize myself at all. I had to pay more attention to the way I behaved, the way I moved and the physicality of it all.

A lot of the close combat was very difficult for us to shoot. It was hard because your heart is racing and you’re trying to get it right. But you’re also going over it in your mind, because you have rehearsed it so many times and you’re concerned with not hurting the other person.

I did feel bad about shutting down the [West] Shoreway and the traffic problems that it caused, but I honestly never thought we would be granted that kind of access. Most times with these films you end up working with a green screen. I feel like you can really tell the difference with this one, because we didn’t.

As an actor, it helps so much to be able to turn up on set and see an actual highway be shut down and explosions everywhere. You get goosebumps.