10 Things About Zach Smadu
You’re a Regina-born, Vancouver based actor who got his start on stage at an early age through musical theatre, dance and acting. When did you know that you wanted to work in the entertainment industry?
Well, as you mentioned I started doing the whole thing when I was ten— performing singing dancing – but it wasn’t until I was about 18 and on that precipice of graduating high-school that I began to think about it as a future career. Up until then Acting was just something I loved to do and it was fun. Like a really demanding and invasive hobby! But, I was fortunate in two ways, my parents were very supportive to whatever career path I wanted to pursue, and at the same time I had some teachers saying “You should do this!? GO, don’t study engineering, be a performer!” In that way it dawned on me that I should try and follow this path, wherever it leads.
You have a background in performing on the stage. How has this affected your approach to acting in film and television?
I think studying theatre and working on the stage really helped me understand, explore and develop the fundamentals of acting. You can’t hide on the stage, the actor has to be fully committed and present, and fuelled by the character’s circumstances and wants and needs. It’s essentially an Actor’s medium, meaning the onus is really on the performance to drive everything for the audience. Whereas in Film it’s not quite like that. Also, while making theatre often there’s more time to examine relationships and play with different ways to approach scenes and the character. In film and TV, no such time exists, so all that essential work I knew I had to do on my own. To be prepared. To come in hot with ideas and a point of view before the camera starts rolling.
Currently, you’re a lead on the CW series “Family Law” now in its third season. How were you first introduced to the series and what made you excited to take part in it?
Oh I remember it vividly! It was a Friday afternoon in late-January and I was on a train from Toronto to Montreal for a weekend getaway. The “Bat-line” went off as I call it, my agent’s specific email notification, with the audition sides and breakdown. And my immediate reaction was “Noooooooo, I just want a weekend off! I don’t want another audition right now.” But, I am very happy I started reading the script because I found myself laughing out loud and getting really excited by the material. Which is such a gift cause sometimes…well, it’s not like that. So, I dug in and asked my sister to help me shoot a selftape from my hotel room the next morning. I really didn’t want to miss the opportunity to play for these people. Because the script was so good and I just fell in love with Daniel right away.
You play the role of Daniel Svensson. What can you tell us about his personality and the aspects of his character that you enjoy playing on screen?
He makes me laugh. I find his type-A traits and up-tightness really funny. However, that’s really only on the surface because it’s actually just a bit of a control mechanism for him. He gets himself and others riled up because of this bravado, this attitude of excellence and competition but deep down he’s really quite empathetic and thoughtful and most certainly just seeking the approval of his boss/father Harry. So that makes him fun to play because there’s a lot of depth to him.
What can viewers expect to see from Daniel and the rest of the cast on this season?
I’m really excited that the audience gets to see more of the real Daniel, outside of work. Obviously during the past two seasons his relationship with his father and half-sisters has changed and grown. And that dynamic I think is paramount to the show, what people tune in for. But, season three sheds more light on Daniel’s personal life. And I think that’s an exciting element for the audience to see and consider as Daniel moves through the season. How his friendships and a very complicated romantic relationship impact his world.
The series was recently picked up for a fourth season, congratulations! What do you hope to see from Daniel in the new season?
Thank you so much! And to be honest I’m not really sure, but I am about to start that journey in less than a month as we go to camera very shortly! Of course I expect the writers to continue to evolve the family dynamic and to bring exciting and relevant cases for them to engage with. Selfishly I’d like to see Daniel step outside his father’s shadow and what that might mean for him personally and professionally.
Thus far, you’ve had a variety of roles. What type of characters do you enjoy playing on screen?
Honestly I love the variety. It’s the thing that’s most exciting about acting on the screen. You can dive into a role, be fully immersed in who that person is and the world they inhabit, and then be done with it in a few days. Then go somewhere completely different for the next one the next week. Obviously I like characters that are complex. I like characters that are different from who I am. That way I get to practice and play with unapologetic empathy, which is absolutely required when “becoming” someone else. I get to think about “Why is this guy killing people?” or “What would it mean to me if I was a billionaire tech-mogul?”. It’s fun, it’s crazy, the process and detective work always opens my mind, shows me things about myself and helps me understand people better. The work is fulfilling.
When you’re not working on set, fitness is a huge part of your daily life and on average you run two marathons a week. Tell us why this is so important to you?
At the core of it, I just need to be in my body. I need to struggle and push myself. It’s actually more of a mental thing than physical. Because there’s this zen and clarity that comes from doing and accomplishing something physically challenging. I also like doing something I initially suck at and being able to witness the progress. Whether that happens fast or slow, doesn’t matter. For example, while I still love running, I recently moved to Vancouver and wanted to try something new and different to challenge myself. So I joined Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And it’s a perfect example of being challenged and constantly humbled and checking the ego at the door. Cause of course you suck at it initially, but there’s these little moments of improvement, of understanding, of execution that excite me and bring me back for more. Plus, getting up for a 7am and struggling hard, makes the rest of the day kind of easy.
You’re an avid reader and passionate about sharing books and ideas. Tell us about where this love came from and why it brings you so much joy?
I grew up in a household where everyone read books. My parents and siblings always had multiple books on the go – and still do! Obviously the interest and joy of reading is an extension of storytelling, and character and being immersed somewhere else, in someone else’s life. Which has a direct link to acting. So, reading is another way to inhabit that, to learn and be inspired or educated or stimulated in another world.
What other projects do you have coming up in the near future?
We were on a hiatus from Family Law this past year, so I was able to do quite a few guest spots on other shows: the final season of NBC’s Transplant, and two new CW shows Wild Cards and Sight Unseen. But, of course we are back for Season 4 of Family Law in March, so I’m gearing up for that. I’m super thrilled to be back doing this show that I love.
Photo Credit: Richie Lubaton
Instagram: @ZachSmadu