INTERVIEW: Ernie Hudson On ‘Ghostbusters’, Longevity, & The Art Of Storytelling

When you’ve spent nearly six decades in the entertainment industry and racked up more than 200 credits, you’d think there wouldn’t be many surprises left, but talking with recent Supa-Star Ernie Hudson reveals a career built not just on longevity, but on curiosity, humility, and a deep commitment to storytelling.

For many fans, Hudson will always be Winston Zeddemore from Ghostbusters – the grounded, everyman member of the team. But the actor and man behind Winston has travelled a much wider road than ghost traps and proton packs, including memorable experiences right here in Australia.

We caught up with Hudson for a chat while he was in Australia for Supanova in April.

A WARM WELCOME DOWN UNDER

Hudson speaks fondly about his time filming in Australia. One of those projects was the action thriller No Escape, which was shot partly in Queensland before moving to Sydney and Newcastle. The experience left a lasting impression.

“It was a great experience and an exceptional cast, led by Ray Liotta,” Hudson recalls. “The people of Australia were very welcoming. I had a great time getting to know them and count it as one of my best experiences filming.”

It wasn’t his only Australian project. Hudson also filmed the television movie Nowhere to Land in Sydney and later returned on a press tour connected to the groundbreaking HBO prison drama Oz. Each visit reinforced the same feeling. “Again, it was a wonderful experience, primarily because of the people of Australia who were so welcoming.”

WINSTON’S JOURNEY

Of course, fans still love to talk about Winston, and recent films have given the character a new dimension. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Winston has evolved far beyond the practical new recruit audiences first met in 1984. Hudson appreciates how the character has grown.

“I love how they’ve allowed Winston to grow and develop,” he says. “As you know, he now owns Ghost Corps, which owns Ghostbusters.” But the expansion of Winston’s story goes beyond wealth or corporate ownership. “More importantly, they’ve given him a backstory that includes civic involvement and charity. For me, that centres the character, and I couldn’t ask for more.”

Despite the changes, including Winston’s new billionaire status, Hudson believes the character’s essence hasn’t changed. “His steadiness and basic common sense approach has remained the same,” he explains. “I think audiences appreciate him being the down-to-earth Ghostbuster.”

That grounded quality is part of why Winston continues to resonate. “His love for the Ghostbusters and for ghostbusting has never been more apparent,” Hudson says. “That allows audiences to identify with him and his journey even more.”

A CAREER BEYOND GHOSTBUSTING

Although Winston is iconic, Hudson’s career spans a massive range of films and television shows. When asked if there’s a role he wishes people talked about more, two titles immediately come to mind.

“My role in the movie The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and the movie Congo are two of my favourite roles that I don’t think people ask enough about,” he says. “But they’re two that I’m very proud of.”

Of course, some projects refuse to stay under the radar. His role in The Crow remains a fan favourite. “I love my role in The Crow, but that one people do mention quite often and really appreciate.”

FROM PLAYWRIGHT TO STORYTELLER

Long before Hollywood, Hudson imagined a different creative life centred on writing. Early in his career, he even worked as a resident playwright. But today he’s candid about how that identity has changed. “If I’m honest, I’m embarrassed to refer to myself as a writer,” he says. “Over the years I haven’t contributed very much in that area.”

Acting, he says, ultimately became the centre of his creative life. “Now I completely identify as an actor. That’s where my heart is and what has supported me for nearly 60 years in this business.”

Still, the urge to write never disappeared entirely. “I do continue to write,” he says, “but I no longer put pressure on myself by calling it a profession.”

At its core, he sees both crafts as part of the same creative impulse. “Writing and acting are about storytelling. I consider myself a storyteller – and acting is specifically telling a character’s story.”

SIXTY YEARS OF PERSPECTIVE

After decades in front of the camera, Hudson’s understanding of acting has evolved dramatically from the ambitions he had when he first started out. “When I began, I thought I could completely transform into another person,” he says. “I strived to become someone else.” Experience has changed that perspective. “Now, after 60 years of acting, I’ve come to realise that whatever character I play, at its core, its soul, it’s still ME. It’s still who I AM.”

That realization doesn’t make the craft easier. He says, “Every character has different fears, hopes, and dreams, different obstacles to overcome or be defeated by,” Hudson explains. And after all these years, the work remains a process. “I’m still trying to get it right.”