Michael Shannon Talks Boardwalk Empire with Movieline

You mention Van Alden's relationship with Margaret, and I'm totally crushing on Kelly Macdonald. She's really wonderful and the scenes you two share are always coursing with sexual tension and subtext.

I love doing scenes with Kelly. She's super talented, very natural. She pays a lot of attention to what you're doing. It's hard to not get consumed worrying about what you're doing and pay attention to the other person. She's really good at that. If that makes any sense.

Now with the exception of Margaret, there has been a lot of criticism of the way Boardwalk Empire treats its female characters; that they're either sexual objects or victims. Did you feel that way reading the scripts, or do you think that's society trying to place 2010 values on a show that takes place 90 years ago?

I don't know. (Pauses) I wouldn't discount someone feeling that way. I think, in a way, that's a very valid point of view. But, Boardwalk Empire is a sordid story and nobody comes out smelling like a rose. The men -- I don't know why people don't sit around saying, "I feel so sorry for these men! All they do is beat each other up and shoot each other in the head!" It's the same thing: All these characters are interesting because they're kind of screwed up. It's Atlantic City, you know? It's the nature of the beast. I wouldn't discount that point of view though, and if people are offended I would understand them not watching.

It's funny you say no one comes out smelling like a rose. My parents watch Boardwalk Empire and they hate Van Alden. Which I find funny since your character is ostensibly the hero of the piece. You're the law.

I can't control how people see the character. I don't really know what I've done that is so villainous. I feel like I have tried to do my job -- which is a very hard job -- and I'm not getting any help, so I'm frustrated. I think this fascination with Margaret, it's a kink in the character. I think if Nelson went around arresting people and busting barrels of beer and never had any problems, it wouldn't be very interesting. We've seen that character already.

We certainly have. Is that something that weighs on your mind while you're performing? The familiarity of seeing a G-Man crusading against Prohibition?

No, I don't really worry about that. You can't worry about that. The work to me is very instinctual. It's from the subconscious really. So there probably are some fragments of other characters that I've seen -- or performances I've liked in what I do, but it's not a conscious choice. That's how we all are; we're just an amalgamation of everything.

One of the things that frustrates me about Boardwalk Empire is that there are so many great characters...

It's a loaded ensemble.

Right! And sometimes it feels like there isn't enough time in the show to give everyone a fair shake. Is that frustrating for you as an actor?

It doesn't frustrate me. To be honest, I feel a little lucky. I don't have the pressure of being in Steve Buscemi's position or Michael Pitt's position because they've got this show on their shoulders. Like oxen. And they do a fabulous job. I don't have to work as much as they do, and every time I do get to do a scene, it's really interesting.

We obviously don't know Nelson's fate just yet, but would you be open to returning for the second season?

I would love to come back -- I'll do it as long as they want to have me on. These things rise and fall, it won't last forever. But it seems like we're on an upward trajectory.

It really does. There was so much hype leading up to the pilot, but it feels like Boardwalk Empire has lived up to it, especially from a ratings standpoint.

It's funny -- you almost get nervous when you see all the posters going up everywhere. You know a lot of people are going to watch the pilot, but the question is will they stick around. And it seems like they are and have been.

Last thing: My friend says he saw you at the Pavement show in Williamsburg back in September. True?

Oh, yeah. I was at the Williamsburg show. Definitely, definitely!

How long have you been a fan?

Pretty much since they started, back in the early '90s. Yeah, I loved them. I saw them a lot in Chicago. I was living in Chicago, and I've seen them at a few venues. But obviously I hadn't seen them in a long time.

Did you get recognized at the show?

Well, your friend recognized me, I guess. But I didn't talk to anyone -- no one came up to me or anything. But, oh man: That was a great show.

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