Former CIA Officer Discusses Movie Role

December 09, 2013

Tony & Jonna Mendez

Author and Subject of Oscar Best Picture "Argo", retired CIA Officer

Written by Scott Neumyer

If you’re a fan of the 2012 Academy Award Best Picture winner Argo, then you probably know the name Tony Mendez. Portrayed by Ben Affleck in the film, Mendez is the CIA officer who was instrumental in the Argo operation that helped rescue six American hostages in Tehran while posing as a Hollywood movie production. Mendez, now retired, has gone on to write several books about his time in the CIA, and hints that there’s more to come. With the Argo: The Declassified Extended Edition Blu-ray arriving in stores this week, Parade recently sat down with Mendez to discuss the film, the CIA, and Edward Snowden.

When you were going through the scenario that’s played out in the film, did you know how surreal and ripe for Hollywood it was even back then?

I didn’t really understand what that meant until we got through it, but I would say “surreal” is a good word for it. We’ve probably overused it already.

Do you ever remember thinking that it was just too crazy to work?

I never did such a thing. I had my moments, but I was very confident. If you don’t have your moments, you’re not paying attention.

What was your reaction when you heard that they planned to adapt the Wired article into a feature film?

I guess I was a little complicit in that. They’d been trying to get someone involved in making the movie for a number of years, so I knew the idea was there and the way that Wired handled it was really cool. They had the storyboard features in the article so it was kind of a natural jump.

What about when you found out that Ben Affleck would be playing you in the movie? You do realize that you’re now two degrees away from being Batman, right?

[Laughs] Actually it was George Clooney that they were buying it for.

I guess you can’t really go wrong with either one.

Yeah. Every chance I got, I said to Ben that he wasn’t good-looking enough to play me. [Laughs]

Did he agree with you?

No, not at all. [Laughs] And then I upped the ante by saying, “By the way, the fact that Clooney is no longer going to play me has the women bummed out.”

What do you think is one of the biggest misconceptions the public has about the CIA?

That everybody in the CIA runs around with guns betraying each other. The CIA is actually very boring, in many ways, and there isn’t much action.

Do you have an opinion on all the media hype that’s surrounded the NSA, surveillance, and Edward Snowden?

Oh, certainly. I follow that news because that’s the sort of thing that would affect us directly. The fact that there’s a Snowden in our midst, everybody considers that situation going into any activity we do.

You started your career as an illustrator and graphic artist. Did you ever imagine that kind of work would lead to a career in intelligence?

No. I had some skills that they liked and we got on with it.

You’ve written three books about your time in the CIA. Do you still have more stories to tell?

Yes, I constantly have more stories to tell.

Will we get another book?

I would hope so. Another movie? I hope so.

Are there any fiction movies or books that you think do a good job depicting how the CIA operates?

We always thought of John le Carré, but these days I think there are more people that know how to treat it.

For information on how to book Tony Mendez for your next event, visit PremiereSpeakers.com/Tony_Mendez.

Source: Parade