HBO's sprawling Boardwalk Empire is a character actor aficionados dream come true; after all, the lead is Steve Buscemi. So it isn't all that surprising to see someone like Michael Shannon killing scenes on a weekly basis. The very definition of "that guy" -- having appeared in everything from Revolutionary Road to World Trade Center to Bad Boys II -- Shannon stars as Agent Nelson Van Alden, a G-Man looking to keep both alcohol sales and his sexual desires bottled up during the era of Prohibition. The Oscar-nominated star rang up Movieline to discuss his role, the way Boardwalk Empire treats its ladies, and just what he made of that now infamous self-flagellation scene.
You're obviously known for film and stage work. What made you decide to take the leap into serialized television?
I had a meeting with Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter and they made it sound like a very exciting project. Which it is. Obviously, the chance to work with Scorsese on the pilot was a big draw, and the rest of the cast is a really exceptional group of actors to be associated with. The scripts have been outrageously good, too. I really have no complaints. It also doesn't take up that much time; it's not like network television where you're stuck there year-round. You work a few months, then you can go to other things.
You're so perfect for Van Alden, it's hard to imagine another actor in that role. Were you their only choice?
I think it was more Terry's idea. I had auditioned for Scorsese a couple of times. He knew who I was because his casting director, Ellen Lewis, is a friend of mine and she put me in front of him. It was really Terry, though, who had seen some other work. Hey, look: They saw other people for Van Alden -- I wasn't the only guy. But I never auditioned, really; Terry just turned to me and said, "What if you were this guy?"
And there you go. Did they give you any backstory on Van Alden before you accepted?
They just gave me the premise. They don't tell you what will happen the whole season, they just give you the fundamental premise of the character. For Van Alden, that's incredibly uptight, super fundamentally religious, and crusader against alcohol who is incredibly outnumbered and understaffed. That was basically all they said.
You're not necessarily used to television, obviously, so is it hard to not know the end point for your character? You just have to go on those broad strokes.
It's exciting, you know? As long as you trust the writers. And on Boardwalk Empire, it's a really good group of writers. I'm actually getting to work with a writer who I've really admired for years: Howard Korder [who wrote the episode "Family Limitation" and the upcoming "Paris Green"]. One of the first plays I ever did, he wrote. So that's exciting. And Terry and Tim Van Patten are fantastic writers. As long as you trust the writers it's good.
Were you a fan of their work on The Sopranos?
I mean, I don't have like the box set or anything. But every time I saw it, I was impressed. I'm not a big TV watcher in general. I don't even get reception in my house. We just watch DVDs. I can't even watch Boardwalk! I don't get to see it. I guess I'm going to need to watch it all at some point, but hopefully they'll send it to me.
You had that big scene at the end of "Family Limitations" where Van Alden self-flagellated himself, and a lot of people online thought it was sexual in nature. How did you read that moment?
I don't see the sexual angle, really. Otherwise I would have dropped trou. It seems like it was straight-up punishment. He's trying to get rid of this desire he has for Margaret. He's trying to condition himself -- looking at the picture and whipping himself at the same time, hoping that will drive the desire out of him.
It was a pretty big scene, especially coming at the end of the episode like that. Were you excited to get to perform something so out of the ordinary?
Oh, I was pretty stoked. It's cool -- that's one of the things you start to realize when you're working on a show: Who gets the last scene in the episode? It's cool to end an episode, it's kind of an honor.
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.