Q&A: Michael Emerson
'Lost's' bad Ben
By Gerald M. Gay
ggay@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.31.2008
Filming "Lost" in Hawaii is no day at the beach, according to actor Michael Emerson.
"We shoot so much outdoors," Emerson said in a phone interview from his New York City home. The 53-year-old plays the castaway drama's über-villain Ben Linus, leader of the island-dwelling "Others.". "We shoot in the jungle, the mountains, often at night and in the rain. You have to deal with sunburn and the bugs and doing take after take, running through a jungle full of roots and holes. It is impossible to escape without some bumps and bruises."
That being said, Emerson is champing at the bit to get back on set to film the remaining eight episodes of the hit ABC series' fourth season. Production was halted after the first eight due to the writers strike.
Emerson shared his thoughts earlier this week on the strike, his bad guy reputation and the new season.
Have you ever been to Tucson?
"I have not. The desert parts of America are really attractive to me, yet they are parts of the country I have not visited. I haven't been anywhere in the Southwest beyond Southern California."
How has the writers strike affected you?
"It provided sort of a long holiday break in December. I was mainly occupied with socializing and shopping. We also traveled a bit to see family and stuff. Some of the initial charm has worn off at this point. Now we are thinking, 'What is our next move?' I've involved myself back in the New York theater scene to the extent that I can, doing readings, going to plays, auditioning for stuff that might possibly happen in the future."
You managed to squeak out eight episodes of the new season before the strike hit. Is it right back to work when the strike ends?
"I think ABC's official position is that we will finish this season, if we can. As you can probably guess, there is a point somewhere beyond February or early March at which they'll just have to throw in the towel and wait for next year.
"It would be a drag. Even though I'm on the show, I am still a fan of the show. I like to watch and I'm interested in the story. I am eager to know where this season is going. I feel like someone came and tore the script out of my hands when I was only halfway done with it. I'm curious to see where they want to go with it."
Do you get recognized a lot?
"I do. It kind of depends on how I'm dressed and what glasses I'm wearing. But people do recognize me. They are usually kind of funny about it. They tend to treat me formally because the character is so formal. They like to pretend they are a little bit afraid of me. It is cute. People call me Mr. Emerson and keep their distance."
What can viewers expect from the new season?
"We're going to have that added layer of the flash-forwards, which is going to be explored in a lot of interesting and dramatic ways. Everything is going to be ramped up this season. Our show used to be about the battle between two camps of people. Now there is going to be a third cast, a group of new characters coming in that the audience will get to know.
"These characters are eccentric, dangerous, mysterious characters. It is going to force new alliances among people who were previously enemies."
And what's in store for Ben? "Ben is separated from his resources. He is a miserable, beaten up mess. He is being dragged around the jungle on the end of a rope. He has no warriors or weapons. What we get in Season Four is Ben winging it. He has to improvise now and live by his wits."
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