Buddy Guy Calls His New Movie Role a “Dream Come True” — and Says He Did It to Keep the Blues Alive

Blues legend Buddy Guy has played to millions, inspired generations of guitarists, and won just about every award a musician can dream of — but acting? That’s something new. At 87 years old, the pioneering artist is stepping into a buzzy new chapter with his role in the independent film Sinners, and for Buddy, it’s about more than just ticking another box off his list. It’s about keeping the blues alive.

In an exclusive interview, Guy spoke candidly about what drew him to the project. “It’s a dream come true, to be honest with you,” he said. “I didn’t do it for me. I did it to help the blues.” Guy portrays a seasoned bluesman whose music helps bring a fractured community back together — a role that couldn’t be more fitting for a man who’s spent his life doing just that.

“It’s not about me trying to be a movie star,” he said. “It’s about telling the truth. The blues is still here, but it’s fighting to be heard.” Guy has long warned about the fading presence of true blues music in American culture, and he sees Sinners as a chance to introduce the genre to a younger, broader audience.

The role wasn’t without its challenges. Guy joked about the nerves he felt stepping onto a film set after spending most of his life onstage. “I’m used to a guitar in my hands, not a script,” he laughed. But the production team, he said, made him feel right at home, allowing him to bring his own authenticity to the role. “They told me, ‘Just be yourself, Buddy,’ and that’s what I did.”

The film, which is already generating awards-season buzz, showcases Guy’s quiet magnetism — a reminder of why he’s considered a national treasure. But for him, the accolades aren’t the point. “If one kid watches this movie and picks up a guitar and plays a blues lick, then I did my job,” he said.

Buddy Guy, who has weathered decades of change in the music industry, sees this new role as one more way to make sure the blues doesn’t become a forgotten language. “We can’t let the blues die,” he said. “It’s our history. It’s our story. It’s who we are.” Sinners is set to premiere later this year.