This is NOT a real interview....
This is NOT an actual interview with Teh Man. This is a series of questions with the answers that, IMHO, he would give, using the words I think he’d use. In most cases, the responses are based on things he has said (see references at bottom.) In some, the response is speculative (such as how he hears his voice.)
Let me know if this sounds like Teh Man to you. :-)
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: How do you perceive yourself? If you don’t feel the "sex symbol" label fits, do you feel there’s one that one does?
A: I don’t like labels, not for characters or for flesh and blood people, so no, there isn’t a label that I think “fits.” I don’t go around thinking about my self-image, really, not at this stage in my life. But I’ll try to answer. If you’ve seen Snowcake, Alex Hughes is more like me than any other character I’ve played: he's just doing his best. That's me. I’m a person who’s doing my best.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: How much of a stretch is it for you to play a super sexy character? What do you draw from to do it? Do you feel that any of the character's "moves" are like yours?
A: There you go with another label--who was a “super sexy” character? The way I approach a character and the way the audience ends up viewing him are two completely different things. But I suppose you mean characters like Valmont and Rasputin who use their prowess and magnetism and manipulate women to get what they want. People need to understand that I’m an actor, and when I’m in character I’m working. I draw on training, instinct, research-- anything that I have or can get-to create a character with particular needs who then acts accordingly. There’s no formula, I just try to be as honest and as fearless as I can. No doubt one could look at my work and say “you do that in real life, Alan,” referring to how I stand, tilt my head, squint a bit, move my hands or countless other things. But for me, it all just comes together in the performance, there aren’t “moves” on a checklist. It’s much more instinctual than that.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: You said you don’t like the sound of your own voice (or that is sounds different to you on film). HOW does it sound to you? Deeper? Higher?
A: At this point perhaps it sounds more “trained” than what I hear in my head, if that makes sense, more formal. [Note: that last point was complete speculation.] It’s not that I don’t like my voice--though an early voice teacher said my voice sounded like it came from the backend of a drainpipe. It’s the voice I’m stuck with, I can’t get a new one. It seems to have become an asset, I suppose. (Smile.) What I hear in my head when I speak is just different from what I hear in a recording of my voice. It’s a bit of a shock.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: How does stardom sit with you? Would you have been as happy to have just done local theater your whole life or did you WANT to find some fame for yourself?
A: Stardom is just like any other cloak an actor puts on; as soon as you can, you shrug it off and get back to real life. I work hard to stay grounded.
As for just doing local theater, I don't suppose there’s any actor who wouldn't want to be in the movies if he had the chance, and I was lucky enough to get that chance. The work is the goal, not stardom. Stardom and success or whatever you want to call it have given me the freedom to do what I want, which is a combination of theater and movies, acting and directing. Fame per se has never been a goal. I’m happy that I’ve been able to form great friendships and work with wonderful people from all over the world to tell stories. Would I have been happy doing local theater? Yes, I would have been happy doing local theater, although it would have been harder to pay my bills. (Smile.)
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: Would you be happier if fame came with no recognition outside of the recognition of basic acting talents?
A: Fame creates opportunities to do what you want professionally. This is a business, after all. I’m glad that the recognition of talent draws attention that brings the money that makes the story-telling possible. Potential producers say “he’s good and he has a following, he’ll attract an audience so it makes sense for us to back this film or play”-that’s just how the world works. And though there's baggage associated with fame, that’s just reality and it’s up to the person to deal with it.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: Have you ever put yourself into a character you couldn't quite shake such that you brought home the character’s negative traits, bad habits or moods?
A: Living with Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses for so long and 8 times a week was hard. I didn’t come home in character and vent-no one would let me get away with that! (Laughter.) But it was emotionally stressful, I suppose. It was a relief to be done with him after the New York run. That doesn’t happen with films since the work is done over a number of weeks not months, and the scenes are shot out of sequence. Plus I’ve learned a thing or two in the past 20 years about how to compartmentalize.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
How does "celebrity" work in your life and how does it affect you?
As I said, I try to make sure it doesn’t. I see myself as a normal person and so do the people I care for. They don’t treat me like someone out of the ordinary so I can leave all that stuff “at the office,” as it were. I’ve learned to co-exist with "celebrity" so it doesn’t affect me.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
References for this piece are below. Parts of the piece are totally speculative.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/film/cinema-one-more-for-the-rogue/2007/07/26/1186252542792.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2
http://www.btinternet.com/~sc.i/mellow_drama.htm
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=2&t=1&islist=false&id=17424143&m=17470976
Let me know if this sounds like Teh Man to you. :-)
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: How do you perceive yourself? If you don’t feel the "sex symbol" label fits, do you feel there’s one that one does?
A: I don’t like labels, not for characters or for flesh and blood people, so no, there isn’t a label that I think “fits.” I don’t go around thinking about my self-image, really, not at this stage in my life. But I’ll try to answer. If you’ve seen Snowcake, Alex Hughes is more like me than any other character I’ve played: he's just doing his best. That's me. I’m a person who’s doing my best.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: How much of a stretch is it for you to play a super sexy character? What do you draw from to do it? Do you feel that any of the character's "moves" are like yours?
A: There you go with another label--who was a “super sexy” character? The way I approach a character and the way the audience ends up viewing him are two completely different things. But I suppose you mean characters like Valmont and Rasputin who use their prowess and magnetism and manipulate women to get what they want. People need to understand that I’m an actor, and when I’m in character I’m working. I draw on training, instinct, research-- anything that I have or can get-to create a character with particular needs who then acts accordingly. There’s no formula, I just try to be as honest and as fearless as I can. No doubt one could look at my work and say “you do that in real life, Alan,” referring to how I stand, tilt my head, squint a bit, move my hands or countless other things. But for me, it all just comes together in the performance, there aren’t “moves” on a checklist. It’s much more instinctual than that.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: You said you don’t like the sound of your own voice (or that is sounds different to you on film). HOW does it sound to you? Deeper? Higher?
A: At this point perhaps it sounds more “trained” than what I hear in my head, if that makes sense, more formal. [Note: that last point was complete speculation.] It’s not that I don’t like my voice--though an early voice teacher said my voice sounded like it came from the backend of a drainpipe. It’s the voice I’m stuck with, I can’t get a new one. It seems to have become an asset, I suppose. (Smile.) What I hear in my head when I speak is just different from what I hear in a recording of my voice. It’s a bit of a shock.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: How does stardom sit with you? Would you have been as happy to have just done local theater your whole life or did you WANT to find some fame for yourself?
A: Stardom is just like any other cloak an actor puts on; as soon as you can, you shrug it off and get back to real life. I work hard to stay grounded.
As for just doing local theater, I don't suppose there’s any actor who wouldn't want to be in the movies if he had the chance, and I was lucky enough to get that chance. The work is the goal, not stardom. Stardom and success or whatever you want to call it have given me the freedom to do what I want, which is a combination of theater and movies, acting and directing. Fame per se has never been a goal. I’m happy that I’ve been able to form great friendships and work with wonderful people from all over the world to tell stories. Would I have been happy doing local theater? Yes, I would have been happy doing local theater, although it would have been harder to pay my bills. (Smile.)
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: Would you be happier if fame came with no recognition outside of the recognition of basic acting talents?
A: Fame creates opportunities to do what you want professionally. This is a business, after all. I’m glad that the recognition of talent draws attention that brings the money that makes the story-telling possible. Potential producers say “he’s good and he has a following, he’ll attract an audience so it makes sense for us to back this film or play”-that’s just how the world works. And though there's baggage associated with fame, that’s just reality and it’s up to the person to deal with it.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
Q: Have you ever put yourself into a character you couldn't quite shake such that you brought home the character’s negative traits, bad habits or moods?
A: Living with Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses for so long and 8 times a week was hard. I didn’t come home in character and vent-no one would let me get away with that! (Laughter.) But it was emotionally stressful, I suppose. It was a relief to be done with him after the New York run. That doesn’t happen with films since the work is done over a number of weeks not months, and the scenes are shot out of sequence. Plus I’ve learned a thing or two in the past 20 years about how to compartmentalize.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
How does "celebrity" work in your life and how does it affect you?
As I said, I try to make sure it doesn’t. I see myself as a normal person and so do the people I care for. They don’t treat me like someone out of the ordinary so I can leave all that stuff “at the office,” as it were. I’ve learned to co-exist with "celebrity" so it doesn’t affect me.
[NOTE: This is NOT an actual interview.]
References for this piece are below. Parts of the piece are totally speculative.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/film/cinema-one-more-for-the-rogue/2007/07/26/1186252542792.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2
http://www.btinternet.com/~sc.i/mellow_drama.htm
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=2&t=1&islist=false&id=17424143&m=17470976