dvd
by tim parks
Michael
eMerson
isn’t bad
- he’s just written that way.
Lost star Michael Emerson isn’t anything like the evil char- Rage: You have played gay characters in the past – what challenges, if
acter Benjamin Linus that he portrays on the hit TV show. In any, are there in being a straight man portraying a gay character?
fact, he’s downright affable and, gulp, even nice, as The Rage ME: Honestly, I’ve never thought it was particularly chal-
Monthly found out during a recent interview. Emerson is also lenging for me. I’m just interested in people and their stories
straying far from Lost territory with his first-ever gay starring – I’ve never been called on to play anything that was wildly
role in Ready?Ok! and his resumé already has a smattering of flamboyant or stereotypical.
gay-related subject matter and parts on it. The film festival I’m just happy to play human beings, and as much of their
favorite, which was shot in San Diego, will be available on DVD complexities as possible – I don’t hesitate a minute over
on March 24 by Wolfe Video. Ready?Ok! is a unique take on the gender issues in casting.
typical coming out story; it is told through the eyes of a single
mother, Andy Dowd (True Blood’s Carrie Preston - Emerson’s Rage: What is your take on the character of Ben on Lost? Would you
wife), who watches her 10-year-old son Joshua (Lurie Poston) classify him as outright evil – or do you see him as more complicated
develop an interest in pom poms, girlish couture and Barbies than that?
– oh my! Emerson, who portrays Charlie New, a gay neighbor ME: I’ve never thought that Ben was a full-fledged villain.
who serves as a support system for the family, gave us the rea- I mean he certainly is capable of manipulative and probably
sons why to add this poignant comedy to your Netflix queue, violent behavior, but he has his reasons.
and how his Lost character is open to interpretation. He’s fighting a battle or some great cosmic conflict that
requires the methods that he employs.
Rage: What was it that drew you to this particular project? I think the jury is still out, and I’m happy to think that way
Michael Emerson: Partly, it’s so flattering to have a part writ- about it, because it means I play the character as ambiguously
ten for you - it was sort of customized for me by James Pedro as he’s being received.
Vasquez, who wrote and directed the movie. And I just liked I let the wickedness, goodness and humor be – it’s sort of up
the character that Charlie was. to the people at home to make up their minds about where he
I thought he was the kind of person who I have seen in real resides on the scale of good and bad.
life and admired, but whose story doesn’t get told that much
in the media. Rage: Is the public-at-large able to separate you from Ben when you
run into them?
Rage: How was it to be able to act opposite your wife, Carrie Preston – ME: I think people generally understand the concept of
any pros and or cons to that situation? an actor not being what he plays. But, there might be some
ME: There are pros and cons located in the same place, sort of subliminal hangover, a gut reaction, even though they
which is being so familiar with her face – it’s hard to look at know better in their minds.
Carrie and not see my spouse. In a way, it’s a little harder to So, people are sometimes a little wary of me, and they’re
imagine her being someone else. At the same time, I know her certainly very formal with me. Because I think part of them
and I trust her craft so implicitly – she and I don’t get to work worries that I might do something (laughs), I don’t know what
together much, so it was a treat. they think I’m going to do – so, it is kind of funny.
24 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2009
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