I've learned that often life is about the detours we take. When I refer to my pursuit of acting I often compare my approach to a year abroad backpacking across Europe.
I came to Los Angeles with that frame of mind and thought if nothing extraordinary happens within a year, that I would just go home, wiser for the adventure. That it did. Within five days I had lucked out and gotten cast alongside Kyle MachLachlan in a Dick wolf pilot. Thus beginning my long relationship with Wolf Productions and Universal. The pilot, 'The Invisible Man' did not work out but shortly after I pursued Law and Order. I guess perseverance is the name of all games and although I did not get Law and Order with my first attempt in 1998 due to decision makers thinking I looked too young to convince audiences of my legal expertise I found myself at the bargaining table again in 2001. It is true that I was a fan of Sam Waterston and Jerry Orbach, and when I was finally invited to fill the shoes of Carey Lowell and Jill Hennessey I entered the hallowed halls of TV’s longest running show with much excitement. I was especially lucky to be added to the illustrious cast while Diane Wiest was still calling the shots as the DA. Most importantly it was her spirit I loved; that beautiful, elusive and quixotic quality that she brings to all her films and most recently 'In Treatment'. I learned much from her and felt honored to watch, learn and essentially call her a friend. It was Sam; however that meant the most as my formidable mentor during those five years I called the Law and Order stages 'home'. Although I had started out wanting to do Merchant Ivory films I was coming pretty close to fulfillment working with Sam who had done all I longed to do myself. And we laughed a lot. Sam, Diane and I had an uproariously good time between scenes. I felt very lucky to be where I was.
As I said, it is about the detours, and even though I had hoped to start my career in movies, life seemed to be pulling me towards TV and I was fine with that. It all began with Dick Wolf and Kyle MachLachlan, but soon after that Pilot I met with Joss Whedon regarding 'Angel'. I had reservations about doing a show about Vampires but after talking to him once and seeing his keen vision and uncanny depth I signed on immediately. Fondly, I refer to him as quite DR. Suessian in his ability to portray deep concepts and meaningful philosophies in youthful and surreal story lines. His storytelling is larger than life and yet with every Demon, Vampire and fantastical Hero you are being filtered the simplest truths and most authentic life lessons. It was at 'Angel' that I had the sincere pleasure to make a friend in David Boreanz. He has been a great ally and I always think that as famous as David has become there is still so much for the world to see. He is truly talented in every way.
While I was on 'Angel' I moved on to a TNT show called 'Bull' in which I starred opposite Stanley Tucci. Now it was really time to get on the edge of my seat and take notes. Not only was I working with a phenomenal actor but also a piercing Director. Stanley knocked on my trailer door one day after doing an intense scene and he said, "You know, as a director I just wanted to say you don't have to torture yourself. It will be there." After that I trusted myself more and let some of the air out, so to speak. I will always be grateful for that lesson.
Then came those aforementioned hallowed halls of Law and Order where I remained for five years. This detour was becoming a long and windy road. I was entrenched in TV.
I had found that upon my departure from Law and Order it was seven years later, and although I had not worked with people in the film industry I had shared with such formidable talent that I could not feel anything but satisfaction.
The memories created with David on the Paramount Lot, to the crack-up lunches with Stanley while we worked on Bull, to finding my way home again in New York with the likes of Sam, Jerry, Diane and then Fred Thompson were my detour and I couldn't believe my luck.
Having left the show in 2005 I set out to do films. I wanted to travel and enjoy the benefits of my dual citizenship. I longed to change more radically than I had been allowed to on any of the shows. However, TV had become a home to me and in a sense I had grown up on it. So, although I began to do films like Miss Congeniality and recently 'the Kreutzer Sonata' I also have been lured to do some TV since I left Law and Order behind.
How can you turn down ABC to work with such talent as Judy Davis, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell and again Sam Waterston. so, in 2007 I signed on to do a miniseries narrated by Steven Hawking called, 'Masters of Science fiction'. My co-star was Terry O'Quinn. Our movie in the series was called 'Awakening'. Terry, not unlike the others I have been blessed to work with, was a great teacher. He had an appreciation for everything that was happening to him in his life (not to mention great taste in music) and I took note of how long the detour can become. He had been working for many years and doing well, but 'Lost' changed things for him and I thought, 'You just never know where your luck will take you.' It is usually better than whatever you had planned for yourself. He was very open with me as an actor. I am grateful for that.
Then there was a lovely interlude on a show called, 'Big shots' with Michael Vartan. A brief visit to Simon Baker's 'The mentalist', who is intoxicating to work with.
Looking back it is my long term relationship with TV that has allowed me to cross paths with such amazing men and women. Although I like the changes film allows I am sure I will always find my way back to Television on this long and curvaceous detour. Some say life is a marathon, so I pace myself and try to be fully where I am at any given moment. TV has been good to me and I appreciate all the years I have had working in that medium.
