‘Ebenezer’ star drawn to Dickens tale’s ‘good message’

Sam Claflin has learned a few things about himself since turning 40 this past summer.

“Here’s the secret they don’t tell you at 38 or 39,” the English actor says in a Zoom interview. “It’s wonderful to accept where you are in life now. That’s aging. People will say something negative, and you honestly think, ‘I’m 40. Who cares? What matters most is how I feel about myself.’”

The latest turn for Claflin — who famously played Finnick Odair in “The Hunger Games” films and has also starred in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and “Daisy Jones and the Six” — is a co-starring role in “Ebenezer,” in theaters this weekend.

In the latest retelling of Dickens’ classic holiday tale “A Christmas Carol,” Johnny Depp plays the miserly businessman Ebenezer Scrooge. Claflin portrays old Scrooge’s warm and joyful nephew Fred in “Ebenezer,” which also stars Ian McKellen and Daisy Ridley.

“The film is a stark reminder to treat people better and choose love rather than negativity or divisiveness. It’s just such a good message,” Claflin says.

The native of Ipswich, England, shared his good life advice:

‘Reach for kindness’

Claflin gravitated toward the “Ebenezer” role because he’s a fan of the classic story — in all of its many iterations. “I’ve seen a lot of the old movies,” he says. “I also love ‘Scrooged’ and ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol.’ This new version tells the whole story. … The theme is ‘Just be kind.’ It’s such an easily said thing, but so important. I think it’s especially important to reach for kindness now. It’s cold out there.”

Catching up

Claflin and Johnny Depp worked together in 2011’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” It marked Claflin’s feature film debut, playing the new missionary Philip Swift alongside Depp’s Jack Sparrow. “I was shocked that Johnny ever remembered me on ‘Ebenezer,’” he says. “He had done plenty since we last saw each other. … It gave us time to catch up. He’s still the same old Johnny. With old friends, the joy is when it feels like no time has passed.”

Find the joy

“Thankfully, my kids (Pip and Margot) are now 11 and 9. I’m not building Barbie Dream Houses anymore. I remember staying up all night with that screwdriver in my hand trying to read the directions! … I love Christmas. I love having kids and being able to watch the magic through their eyes. It revitalizes that Christmas spirit and the joy within me.”

Zone out

Claflin says turning 40 made him look both inside and out. “For me, exercise is hugely important,” he says. “I’ve tried meditation and went through a period where I meditated a lot. But I would struggle with me. But the opportunity to go for a run or go cycling is my meditation. I’m on my own. People can’t call me. I can just zone out for an hour or two.”

Talk to strangers

“Fans come up all the time,” Claflin says. “Some people want to talk ‘Hunger Games’ with me. I get a lot of ‘Daisy Jones & the Six” questions. And the romantics want to talk ‘Me Before You.’”

Re-energized

“I feel better physically and mentally than I did when I was younger,” the actor says. “I generally feel like I have more energy than I did at 30. If this is how it goes, then I’m saying, ‘Bring on the 50s.’”