Why Garrett Hedlund wanted to do 'Unbroken'?

Actor Garrett Hedlund says he was so gripped by the story of Louis Zamperini that he called Angelina Jolie and asked her to let him be a part of her directorial, which is about the Olympic runner's life.

"I called her. When I was working on 'On The Road', I read about Louis Zamperini. I thought the story was sort of too good to be true. When she signed on to direct it, I contacted her and said, 'I'm such a fan of this man, this story. I'll be your caterer's assistant if I have to'," he told eonline.com.

"Unbroken" tells the real life story of Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was held captive and brutalized in a Japanese prison camp for two years during World War II after his plane crashed into the ocean. Hedlund plays a fellow prisoner.

"She's extremely collaborative," Hedlund said of Jolie's directing skills.

"She's one of those who gets inspired by seeing an actor's creative wheels turning. The more someone brings to the table, the more excited she gets."

Actor Jack O'Connell, who plays Zamperini in the film, has also gushed that Jolie "is very compassionate. She approaches everything like an equal, and is thoughtful. She knows what it takes".