The Verge: Alex O'Loughlin
How much is that notion of celebrity defined by someone like Jennifer Lopez, who's very much her own brand? She has perfume, music, movies...
I just know her as her, you know what I mean? I know her as my costar, her husband as my friend Marc, I know Max and Emme as her kids and they're my own little mates...I just don't see it in that way. When I step away and look at it from that perspective, yes, she's a brand, and the machine behind the J.Lo brand informs and creates that. She obviously wanted that, and in that case, she's a very smart businesswoman because she's made a lot of money, I presume, and she's had a lot of success and is very well-known. She must be pretty resilient, because I don't want that. I'm not suggesting I could ever have that, but the other thing you've got to realize about Jennifer is that she's as famous as she is based on her talent. She's a very talented woman, an incredible singer, dancer and writer who's very good at what she does, as opposed to these people you see these days who are famous for being famous. There are celebrities in this day and age who really have offered nothing artistically but they're on the cover of magazines and stuff. That world, I don't really get it.
Have you shot the Hawaii Five-O pilot yet?
We wrapped it a couple of weeks ago, and now we've been editing and waiting to see what happens.
If it goes to series, you'll be living in Hawaii for a while. As a native Australian, I would think you might have an affinity for a warm, beachy place like that.
I think anybody's gonna have an affinity for paradise. [Laughs] It's a pretty beautiful part of the world. Every breath of air is great, every glass of water is sweet. It's a beautiful part of the planet and it's a great show. I don't really know anybody there -- I'm sure I'll meet people -- but if it's a part of my journey, then that's what's going to happen next for me. It's important for me at this stage, though, to relax and not put too much out there, because you never know what's going to happen.
You've survived two canceled CBS shows, but CBS head Nina Tassler keeps finding new vehicles for you. What is that relationship like?
I love Nina, she's a personal friend. Having advocates at that level, and the amount of belief they have in me, as an actor...it's really quite moving, to be honest. I've been doing this for a quite a while, and this is a business that is full of rejections and heartache. There are situations where you have to get up, shake the sand out of your chaps, put your fists up, and get back into the ring. Every actor will tell you that there are certain points in your life where you just go, "Aw, man. Why didn't I become a banker?" It's moments like this and it's people like that who renew my faith in myself and my place in the industry,
you know?
Is that an attitude that you had when you lost out on the role of James Bond to Daniel Craig?
I don't know, man. It can be just as damaging and painful to have that massively international, global slap in the face as it can be to sit in a room with a director who you really respect for an independent film that you really want and be rejected for that, too. It's all the same thing. At its biggest scale [like Bond], when it's making headline news, and the fact that you're talking to me about it all these years later...it was one of the biggest rejections of my whole life. It's something that people bring up constantly. What it is was that I wasn't right for the role, I was too young, and Daniel was fantastic, you know? Maybe I will be right for it later on. It's a weird thing, you know? You step away from it and maybe adopt some Buddhist philosophy [laughs]...it's not normal. It's not normal to go in for a job interview every day and get rejected this much.
Our careers change, though. The last three jobs I've had have been offers. I didn't need to audition. These are the moments in my life when I go, "Wow." Those trying elements of what it means to be an actor are starting to die down with the faith that these filmmakers around me now have. They say, "I know he can do this." It means a lot to me.
[Lead Photo Credit: Valerie Macon/Getty Images]
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Comments
Thank you for this wonderful in depth interview. We have heard so many fluff questions for Alex and it's refreshing to hear some intelligent questions for a very intelligent and thoughtful man. I have been a fan from the first moment I laid eyes on him. He is a brilliant actor! It's been great to see him attain the notability he so much deserves. He is a humble and earnest human being with an old soul. Alex you are loved for who you are and your incredible talent. We love you!
I'm not going to say Alex is a great actor. I don't know that yet. I'm not infatuated with Alex, nor am I a fan. I will say, however, I like what I've seen of him, so far. I'm watching you Alex, as so many others are. All the best.
Thanks for the interview.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING TV THIS MORNING AND HAVE SEEN MANY ADS FOR THE BACK UP PLAN.. ON NOT ONE OF THESE ADS HAS ALEX'S NAME EVEN BEEN MENTIONED!!! lIKE JENNIFER WAS THE ONLY ONE IN IT!! I HAVE FOLLOWED HIS CAREER FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND THIS MAN AT LEAST DESERVES HIS NAME TO BE IN THE CREDITS!! BELIEVE ME, WITHOUT HIM, THIS MOVIE WOULD NOT BE AS GOOD AS IT IS. I HAVE AT LEAST 1/2 DOZENS OF GIRLFIENDS GOING WITH ME TO SEE HIM IN THE MOVIE. AND HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT HAWAII FIVE 0 THIS GUY IS A KEEPER AND WON'T NEED JENNIFER, OR ANYONE ELSE TO "MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD" SUZANNE HIS FOREVER FAN
After watching an interview where the first question Alex was asked was, "You're Australian, is that right?", I want to thank you for this in-depth look into a wonderfully talented, charming and intelligent man. These are the kinds of questions fans would ask, if given the chance.
I've been a fan since Alex sauntered on to my television screen as Mick St. John. Since then, I've watched him in everything he's been in I could get my hands on, and continue to be impressed by Alex's level of acting skill. I wish him the best of luck in Hawaii 5-0 and I will so be at the theatre on the 23rd for BUP!
Thank you for this fascinating and superb interview on the very talented, gorgeous, humble, charming and intelligent Hollywood's newest star and gentleman, Alex O'Loughlin. I know that Alex is the perfect romantic, humorous and charming leading man on The Back Up Plan, a soon-to-be a highly successful romantic comedy film. I am very excited and happy for Alex in his upcoming CBS Films, The Back Up Plan, and new television show on CBS!
I think Alex O'Loughlin is a truly talented actor and seems to be such a well grounded and thoughtful man. He is intelligent, well-spoken and is also very kind to his fans.
I first saw him in Moonlight and it was such a wonderful series that was cancelled way too soon. I then found some of his earlier work in Australia and they also were very good. He then was in CBS' Three Rivers which unfortunately was also cancelled too soon. I think most of his fans have always known he is going to be a major star and we can't wait to see him in a variety of roles.
Alex is a great actor. He was awesome in Moonlight.. still miss it very much. I believe it was just a year before it's time and also got hurt by the writer's strike.
I'm so looking forward to seeing the Back-Up Plan and Hawaii five o. This beautiful talented man needs a break.
I agree with Cindy R, it's great to have an intelligent interview with Alex. Sometimes, the interviews sound like something out of TMZ. I've actually been a fan of Alex since long before I even knew his name. Great to go back to some of those movies when they are in bit parts. It's even greater to see his career advancing like this and wonderful to know that he is still essentially the Alex we all loved before "celebrity". To those who don't know him yet, pay attention. You'll be glad you did.
Very good interview, thanks. I've been a fan since his brief stint on The Shield, and then Moonlight. He sounds like a genuinely nice guy, and smart.
Thank you for such a great interview with Alex! This is one of the only interviews where you truly learn more about HIM and not just superficial stuff (like: "You're Australian right?" Uh, yes.) He seems so sweet, genuine, intelligent, funny and honest. I wish the women who have been interviewing him lately would contain themselves more...they're horrible! (Kathy Lee Gifford) They look at him like fresh meat! It's disgusting. He's more than just a pretty face. I wish him all the best.
Thank you for a fairly in-depth interview. All the questions were right on except for the James Bond one which he may be tired of. I agree with a number of the comments above. I fell in love with Moonlight which was canceled way too soon. Alex was also wonderful in Mary Bryant and showed how versatile he is in roles such as the Oyster Farmer, The Invisible, and August Rush. In addition to Moonlight, he was excellent in a guest spot on Criminal Minds and did a very nice job on Three Rivers - a quality show but one that needed more exploration of the doctors lives. Alex seems genuinely interested in his fans and he certainly deserves to become a celebrity. I wish him all the luck in the world with The Back-up Plan and Hawaii Five-O. Those of us who have been fans for years can say "we knew him when."
Best wishes Alex and again thanks for a thoughtful interview.
The ads didn't mention this guy because he's coming from obscurity, lol! Being completely unknown and suddenly being famous is like hitting the lottery. Not to mention having a sex scene with Jlo...
TOMORROW IS MAY FIRST...WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HEAR OUR WONDERFUL MAN ALEX IS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT FOR HAWAII FIVE 0..HOW ABOUT GOING FOR THE GOLD AND DOING YOURSELF A FAVOR CBS AND MAKE IT AN ENTIRE SEASON!! NOW THERE'S AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT FOR YOU GUYS. HE DOESN'T DESERVE ANY MORE B.S. ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU "LOVE " HIM...JUST MAKE HIM AND HIS MANY FANS VERY VERY HAPPY AND PUT HIM ON THE SCREEN!!! LOVE SUZANNE YOUR FOREVER FAN
When he was a sexy vampire he did have a huge fanbase but he is not that person anymore and most of them were only interested in Mick St John....Not too many fans left from Moonlight
Oh, get a grip "sad girl" no wonder you are sad. alex is a terrific actor and sexy in any movie or TV show you could name. They were interested in Mick st. John because of Alex's terrific portrayal of a real MAN and he played that role to the hilt. AND we loyal fans have followed him everywhere and will continuie to do so There are many many thousands of us sweetie....you are living on anohter plant if you don't know that. Suzanne Alex's Forever Fan
Thousands of fans? Sure, Alex has about 10,000 fans on his MySpace. But compare this to Nathan Fillion (Castle) who has 550,000 fans on Twitter following him. Or David Blue (Logan on Moonlight) who has 187,000 fans Twitter. So yeah, Alex's fanbase is not large, just loud.
Everybody in show biz has to come up the hard way. Even Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, George Clooney had their times in their careers that weren't great. AFter Hawaii Five O gets going....Alex won't have to worry about his "fan count" Loud? You have heard the squeaky wheel gets the grease. All in good fun. Love you Alex Your Forever FAn Suzanne