TV INTERVIEW: SIMON BAKER
'The Mentalist' Draws Distinctions Between Real & Unreal In A Winning Role
Emmanuel Itier: Are you yourself, or are you in character?
Simon Baker: Uh, a little bit of both. [Laughs] What do you got?
EI: First of all, congratulations to your Emmy nomination.
SB: Oh thank you.
EI: When did you realize the switch from the new TV show and then the huge success? Was it like episode 2 or 3 when you said to yourself, “Okay, this is working”?
SB: I thought it had the potential to be something good when we were shooting the pilot, and then, when I saw the cut pilot, I was like, “Yeah, I think it’s good. I think it’s alright.” But that’s me. I don’t really get to choose to whether or not it’s successful or not. Those are the choices of the viewers.
EI: I think we couldn’t see anybody else playing your character, which I guess is good for the show and for you. Do you watch yourself?
SB: I watch the show, yeah, sometimes. Certainly it’s fun for me. Is it a perfect fit? Eh, it fits well. I would hope each character that I ever played fits well. Some characters are more entertaining than other characters. I couldn’t play this character in every job.
EI: Do you believe in psychics? Did you go to psychics?
SB: I don’t believe in them. I don’t go to them. Anyone claming to have a sixth sense is either deluded or dishonest.
EI: Do you see yourself using any of the tricks on real people?
SB: Oh yeah.
EI: Give me one example.
SB: All the time.
EI: Give me one small example.
SB: No.
EI: Oh, come on. Like when you go shopping…
SB: [Laughs] Like when I go shopping?
EI: Yeah, I’m not asking something deep. I’m just saying, since you’ve played that character…
SB: Not to a degree; I mean, I think people are responsive to certain behavior, and I think sometimes people have barriers that they put up in public, and I think once you get pass that barrier, it can disarm people in a lot of ways and you can get more from this person in more of a communicative way. They will open up to you more if you reveal yourself to them. It’s just basic…
EI: Aren’t actors mentalists, in a way?
SB: Oh yeah, actors are. Yes, they use that. That’s the thing. I’m playing an actor on this show. There are a lot of elements of mentalism that are very similar to what I do as an actor anyway. It’s about observation and making a quick connection with people. Often, you have to sit down and you meet someone, and they say, “Hello, I’m playing your wife.” I go, “Oh, okay.” Instantly, we have to play a scene and have a level of intimacy, so we have to manifest that intimacy on cue — like a mentalist.
EI: Is there a new quality coming to the show this year?
SB: I like the different directions you can go with the character. Certain episodes, he goes more this way, and other episodes, he goes more that way, so I don’t know how many more new sides of the character we can bring. Certainly we can accentuate certain sides of the character that we’ve always seen to the eyes, if you understand what I mean. There is a bit more of a reckless abandon to the character in this second season. I think that’s manifest through the frustration that he carries with him, that he hasn’t exacted his revenge.
EI: Is there some kind of behavior that you that cannot stand or you don’t like that will reverse your character in real life, like analyzing people?
SB: As an analyzer of people, and a better actor than I am an analyst, I’m not too lazy, but there are certainly a lot of elements of the Jane character that come from my own personality. I have a certain level of playfulness. That’s how I work as an actor. I’m not a method actor. I take certain elements of my own personality and accentuate them for different characters — somewhat like a mixing board: a bit more bass for this character, a bit more treble… Patrick is melodic.
EI: Isn’t this the Australian way more than the American?
SB: Earnest. A lack of irony. [Laughs] Yeah, he’s ironic. My character is full of irony. He’s a sort of self-accepting contradiction.
EI: Has your family seen a difference since you’ve played that guy?
SB: No.
EI: I was in Toronto with Viggo Mortensen and his son, who is 19. He was saying, “Dad, cut the crap. Give up your Russian accent, or whatever; you’re home now.” Have you been in that situation with your girls?
SB: No.
EI: So you can go home and be Simon?
SB: Yeah, I think Viggo is very method-y. I’m working out the different hours. I still like what my life is. Simon Baker’s life is a good life. I like to live that life while I’m at home, and I live/play Patrick Jane at work.
EI: Patrick Jane will be in jail this season. What’s that like?
SB: That’s going to be interesting…
EI: Can you tell us a little bit about his jail experience?
SB: No. [Laughs] I don’t want to ruin it for you. We work hard to make it so that it unravels when you watch it.
EI: Do you see yourself in that character for seven years, which is probably the end of your contract?
SB: Potentially, yeah.
EI: You wouldn’t mind?
SB: At this point, I wouldn’t, but I’m quarter of the way into the second year. After this year, when we finish this season, I will have another four seasons on contract.
EI: I read somewhere you said that it’s probably the best experience you ever had on TV.
SB: It’s a great experience.
EI: Why is that? Can you analyze it?
SB: I love playing the character. I have a lot of fun playing the character. That is a great foundation to start off with, that I just enjoy playing it. I love the character. I like the people I work with. Bruno Heller is very generous, creatively, and very trusting in me to work with — he’s very good to work with on that level. He makes me feel competent and he makes me feel that I can take risks in characters that are difficult, and he has a good feeling of what I am capable of.
EI: How is it working with Robin Tunney?
SB: Robin Tunney is a fantastic, solid, reliable person — salt of the earth — and she’s great to work with. I spend most of my time with her, and we have a wonderful on-screen relationship.
EI: What’s the biggest challenge?
SB: Hair. I’ll leave you with that. And not mine. The biggest challenge is hair, but not mine.
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