RM: You attended the University of Florida, home of the Gators, who are well known for producing top athletes. Which sports do you gravitate to most?
JW: I’ve always been a huge football fan, both pro and college. But the most fun part of the year is March Madness, watching college basketball. So, I hit the jackpot as a sports broadcaster at UF covering the 2007 National Championship Football Team and the 2006-2007 Back-to-Back National Championship Basketball Teams.
RM: When did you first discover your love for acting? Was this the path that you always had in mind?
JW: My parents put me in a summer theatre program when I was 5 years old and I haven’t looked back since. My 5th grade yearbook actually says “Professional Actor,” where it asks for our future profession.
RM: Most actors aren’t so fortunate when they’re starting out. But you were cast on the hit A&E series, The Glades. Tell us about the audition process and how you finally landed the job?
JW: I read for the pilot in Tampa, FL, as a local. The role was originally intended as a guest star one episode appearance, and the producers were asking for an Asian guy. My agent was able to get me through the door, despite that. It was easily the most enjoyable, thrilling audition of my life, as the whole room was laughing with me. I booked the role, the pilot got picked up to series, and I ended up getting upgraded to a series regular. Any one of those happenings would be incredible news, so it was certainly a fortuitous development of events for me.
RM: What do you like the most about your character, Daniel Green?
JW: His insatiable curiosity. Daniel has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, which drives him to learn about new situations and different people. I try to educate myself half as constantly as Daniel but I can’t seem to retain a smidgen of the knowledge he does.
RM: Even though you’re originally from Florida and you guys shoot on location there, what are some challenges that you and your cast mates have to overcome?
JW: It seems I’ve developed an immunity to sweating in the heat from growing up in the state, but my cast mates certainly haven’t. Whoever decided people on TV can rarely sweat, must not have been an actor working under the South Florida sun for 14 hours a day. On the flip side, many people don’t realize how much it rains in Florida during the summer when we shoot. We’ve been relatively lucky, but there have been a few production delays caused by stormy weather.
RM: Season four is finally underway! What can you tell us about the development of Daniel Green and what we can expect to see?
JW: We’re introducing someone in Daniel’s family life this year, and I think we’ll surprise much of our audience with whom that person is and the dynamics in the relationship between the two relatives. We’ll probably constantly keep fans on their toes with an amazing guest actor list this season, ranging from TV star legends to a championship laden former pro basketball player.
RM: If you had to emulate your career after someone, which actor(s) would influence you the most and why?
JW: I’ve always admired Edward Norton’s work, ever since watching “Primal Fear.” I’d relish the opportunity to sink my teeth into a darker role, like the one he inhabited in that film. More recently, I’ve really been a fan of the career trajectory of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He’s successfully transitioned from the innocent, ‘boy next door’ archetype, to a versatile, character actor over the past few years. I look up to those actors who transform themselves from role to role, especially the ones who took the risk in turning down work to establish themselves as that kind of performer.
RM: If you were not an actor, what would be your secondary career choice?
JW: Anything else would pale in comparison for me. If I had to pick, I would be a sports reporter since it would still allow me to work my creative muscles and I am such a big sports fan. Still, I much prefer being a fan of the games, than working them.
RM: What’s one thing that we would never guess about you?
JW: People who just know me from “The Glades” would probably be surprised at what a fitness nut I am. I’m weight lifting 6 days a week and running 6-12 miles at a time, 3 days a week.
RM: We definitely didn’t know that! Thanks for chatting with us. What other projects do you have coming up?
JW: I’ve been so focused on The Glades while down in Florida shooting this season, but I’m looking forward to doing some work in the indie film world when I return to L.A. It’s also a goal of mine to play a superhero and I hear there’s a “Justice League” film in the works. Maybe I can put those running skills to use and play The Flash? No one has laid claim to that comic book figure yet!
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