Copyright ©2007 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted:
September 23, 2007.
During the past year, Kevin Alejandro’s career has blown wide open. After
years of toiling in the television trenches, he finally has picked up the
white-hot interest that has casting directors looking his way as a go-to guy
for street-smart sensitivity.
First, Alejandro took on the recurring role of Santos, the gang-banging ex
of Betty’s sister on the ABC buzz series Ugly Betty. With that
series of appearances putting him on people’s radar, he landed a starring
role in the heavily-hyped FOX action series Drive. Of course, if
Hollywood teaches you anything, it is to expect the unexpected. So despite
getting much critical love Drive barely made it out of the gates –
with the network using an itchy trigger finger to pull it long before it had
a chance to catch on. Not only that, his Ugly Betty character was
shot in the season finale of that series.
However all things happen for a reason and the premature cancellation of
Drive and the apparent demise of his Ugly Betty character opened
him up for his most challenging role yet (on his third network in less than
a year) in the sophomore season of the popular CBS law drama Shark
with James Woods.
The
new character is Danny Reyes – a tough-but-honest prosecutor with a past who
storms into the life of Sebastian Stark and his lawyers and starts a war of
wills over the fine points of the law and ethics.
Alejandro took the
time to give us a call – after grabbing breakfast at an extremely crowded
Venice Beach joint – to fill us in on his career and what it's like being
the new guy on Shark.
I
just watched your first episode of
Shark last
night… You were really good in that. I was supposed to interview you last
year when you were on
Drive but
unfortunately that happened right…
…
Right as we were getting canceled?
Yeah...
How were you able to see the first episode?
They sent me a rough-cut screener…
Oh, that’s really cool. I’d like to see the first episode.
You were really good in it.
Thanks, man. It’s a challenge. A pretty different kind of character than
I’m used to playing.
I
interviewed George Lopez just a couple of weeks ago and he was saying that
most roles for Mexican-Americans were criminals and guys with no shirts.
(He laughs heartily.)
What’s it like to get to play a smart and principled prosecutor?
You know, it’s amazing. Like I said, it’s the first time I got to play
something like this outside the theater. It’s like going back to school. I
have to research. I have to understand exactly what I’m saying. Obviously,
I’m not used to some of the legal jargon that has to be spoken. It’s such a
fine stance. It’s like going back to school.
I
read that you sold everything you owned to move from Texas to Hollywood to
pursue acting. How did you originally get involved with acting and how did
you know that you would be able to make it?
Yeah. Well, originally what got me interested was high school theater. I
was fortunate enough to go to this high school that was a very successful in
the theater department. My high school teacher was named Jerry Worsham.
There was a thing called UIL, University Interscholastic
League, and we’d compete against other schools in sports and arts and math
and sciences. I’m not sure if they have it out here, but I know it’s a
Texas thing. I just happened to be with this guy who was the winningest
state director. He was there for like 36 years or something like that.
Through state appearances and fifteen state wins and all the other times
were second place. I played sports and I needed an arts class. I went in
and he took me under his wings for some reason. I started doing plays, got
into one-acts, competed all through high school. Ended up receiving the
best actor at state award my senior year – for the role of Oberon in
A Midsummer Night’s
Dream.
That got me a scholarship to the University of Texas. So, it just
sort of planned its way out for me. It kind of chose me, you know?
Now that you are doing
mostly television, would you like to get back to
theater
at some point? How are they sort of different as art forms?
Absolutely. I would love to get back to the theater. They are just two
different worlds. I love the theater because of the instant reaction.
Whatever kind of audience you have at that moment is what affects your
show. You always have a different show, according to your audience, and I
love that live interaction. Film and television – I like it as well, but
you just never know. You shoot something and then you wait for several
months to see a product. Whether or not you watch it with people, you don’t
know how it is received. I just like the rawness of the theater.
Speaking of your teacher, you began the Jerry P. Worsham Scholarship Fund to
aid underprivileged theater students in college. How did this come about?
Well, because the guy was such a successful man and such a mentor to many,
many other people in our neighborhood. Where we come from, it’s a small
town. It’s West Texas, northern Texas. Not a lot going on there except oil
and football. He chose to stay in this small town and help people. Just
give us the arts in this whole town. He was offered to be the head of
acting for the University of Texas – turned it down. Just to stay in this
small town. God, he just loved young people and liked to be that influence
at that stage of their life. Like I tell you, if it were not for this guy,
college didn’t even cross my mind. He helped point me – and a lot of others
– in a good direction. So, my best friend and I, Steven Taylor, he and I
started this fund together.
Not too long after
you moved to California to become an actor, you were guesting on some of the
biggest shows on TV, like
24, Alias, Nip/Tuck, Medium
and
CSI: Miami.
Were you surprised when it took off like that?
Oh, man, yeah. You say shortly after – it didn’t feel like shortly
after.
(laughs)
I
got here and did extra work for almost a year. I was like, oh, man, what’s
going on? I don’t understand how to get into this business. It’s a whole
new thing. You asked earlier what’s the difference between film and
theater; to come into this industry I had to learn to be more of a
businessman. For a while you think what the hell is going on? At last I
landed a national tour with the national theater of New York. I toured all
over the United States – we toured like 42 states. When I came back here I
had a whole different state of mind. I ended up landing a manager. That
landed me my first role, which landed me an agent. And work just started
downfalling on me. I was like, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
(laughs)
You also had a recurring role on
The Young and the Restless.
They say that soaps are like a boot camp for actors – everything is faster
and done on the fly. How did the experience help you as an actor?
You know what, that was the best job that could have happened to me at that
time. At that time I was missing theater too – a lot. Unfortunately I had
to put my theater on hold for a little while in order to make ends meet
here. So when I got that job, it was like being in a play, almost, because
we had monologues and monologues of stuff – and it’s different every day. I
loved it. It was the best acting coach for me for getting experience to
prepare me for other jobs.
Your first regular series role was on Showtime’s controversial series
Sleeper Cell.
What attracted you to that show?
Well, what attracted me to that show was the first season. I was given the audition for the second season and I hadn’t watched
the show. But I knew that I’d received a bunch of screeners – when
they’re trying to decide who is nominated, they’d give you the free DVDs.
So I was, I think I have that. So I watched it. I was planning to watch
the first episodes to understand the pace of it. I couldn’t stop, man. I
watched the entire thing back to back. Every episode – like a movie. You
know, just the complexity and how far they go – how they put you inside the
mind of the terrorists and sort of humanize them – as opposed to
dehumanizing them. That’s what really attracted me to that. You can
actually go on this journey and sometimes feel yourself being like, ooh, I
understand.
You then got a
recurring role on one of the biggest hits of last season,
Ugly Betty.
The show, while it certainly has some very serious parts, is in general much
lighter than most of the work you’ve done before. Did you enjoy doing a
role that gave a chance to be more comedic?
Absolutely.
(laughs)
Comedy has been my struggle for a while, since I got out here. Mostly
it was half-hour comedy, because I didn’t understand the pace of it, the
rhythms that they have. For a long time, I was like, man, I know
there’s some humor in me. I know I’m funny somehow. And when
this came along... what’s helpful is working with the cast of such funny
people. They really just brought it out. That was a really groundbreaking
feeling for me – you know, like
finally!
I
live in Philadelphia, and Ana (Ortiz)
–
who you play against mostly
–
is
from here. Her father was a politician here in the city…
Oh, wow, I didn’t know that.
Yeah, he was in City Council here for many years.
That’s great. I didn’t know that. She never told me that.
Your character in
Ugly Betty
was
shot in the final episode of last season, but they did not say whether you
survived. Obviously working on Shark
you can’t go back full time, but will Santos be back at all for the new
season?
Umm, you know, I’m not sure what I can tell you. I mean, they’re definitely
going to resolve the cliffhangers of last season. Definitely tune in and
see what happens.
(laughs)
I
really enjoyed
Drive.
I thought it was a shame that FOX didn’t give it more of a chance to attract
an audience – it was pulled after only four episodes. Were you surprised it
didn’t get more of a shot?
I
had so much fun doing that. Playing with cool cars and working with such a
huge ensemble cast. (Series creator) Tim Minear is one of the greatest guys
I’ve met out here. We still keep in touch. It was just a really good
experience. Unfortunately, I personally don’t think it was given a chance
to develop whatever audience it deserved. But I know it was well on its way
getting some sort of [following.] Anyway, it’s one of those shows where you
have to give it time to boil. It just wasn’t given the time,
unfortunately. That sucks, but… I don’t regret it at all because I had
such a fantastic time working with everybody.
How did you get
involved with
Shark?
Shark,
man, Shark came right at the perfect time in my life. I was just
offered a role in Prison Break. I would have had to have moved to
Texas to shoot it. After I find out that I’m up for the role in Prison
Break, I find out my wife is pregnant.
Congratulations…
Thank you. So do we move to Texas? Then, a day after that I’m having all
these mixed emotions. Great, I’m going to have a job, but I have to go to
Texas. Hey, you’ve got an audition for Shark. Shoots here, la la
la. Okay. Shark – I didn’t think I’d get it at first. It’s was a
lawyer, I’m like everyone’s having a hard time seeing me as anything but –
you know, as what you’ve already seen me as. But luckily I’d already
started growing out my hair a little bit. I think that really helped – as
far as my appearance goes. I auditioned for it, ended up testing for it and
going to the network. I was the only one who tested for it. I got a series
regular, as opposed to a strong recurring – which is what Prison Break
was offering me. So I got that and my wife’s baby is doing fine and I get
to stay here. It was a crazy process. I tested with one guy at the studio
and then the network it was just me.
One of my
co-writers on the site just interviewed your co-star
Sophina Brown…
Yeah, I love Sophina.
She said that her
character was not going to be butting heads with Shark this season – there
would be a new character to be a thorn in his side. I’ve only seen the
season premiere, but it looks like that character will be you… although
Kevin Pollak was in his face as well. Is that the case, and how will they
play Reyes off of Shark?
Yeah, they’ve done a really
good job with the dynamic between our two characters. We butt heads – he is
who he is and I’m just sort of a young, snappy version of him. But we like
each other. We have a weird sort of: I love to hate you. Oh great, you’re
right? Well I was just less right this time.
(laughs) Yeah,
they’ve done a really good job. I think Kevin Pollak also is there to butt
heads, but most of my stuff is with Jimmy, so…
Obviously, James Woods is considered to be one of the great actors working.
What is it like doing scenes with him?
He’s exactly what you just said. He is one of the greatest actors out
there, man. He’s so… I don’t want to sound like a cliché by saying his work
is organic. He’s a master at improv and ad lib. He knows that script
forwards and backwards. He knows every moment that happened before, every
moment that happened afterwards. He’s always keeping you on your toes.
He’s a great guy to work with. I wish every actor would get a chance to
work with James Woods, because then you definitely know what it’s like to be
on top of your game.
Is it a little hard
coming into a show with a cast that has already had a year to gel together?
Everyone has been really inviting. It’s been a pretty easy transition, you
know? First I was a little nervous because it’s a much more mature show
than I’ve ever been a part of. As far as the cast and the crew, everyone is
just sort of more mature. Jeri (Ryan) is fantastic; she was the first
person to talk to me. It’s an easy question to answer, not just a lengthy
answer. Everyone is great.
Without giving away too many secrets, what are some other things we can
expect from Reyes over the season?
One thing to look out for is you get to figure out who this guy is. He has
a bit of a past and that’s going to unfold. So I think that’s one of the
most interesting things you can look out for. He’s an edgy lawyer. There’s
a reason why.
Do you have any sort
of fantasy storyline you’d like to see Reyes involved with?
You know, right now I’m just sort of going with it. Rolling with it on how
it’s going and enjoying whatever journey they are giving me. I’m new at it,
too, still new to the cast, so I’m like, thank you for giving me the
opportunity or playing with all you.
In the end, how would
you like people to see your career?
I
would like people to say, “That guy, he was in everything.” Not necessarily
remember my name, just remember that…. I like to be the chameleon actor. I
really like that.
Are there any misconceptions you’d like to
clear up?
No. (laughs) Not that I’ve heard of yet.
Email
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think.
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