RM: How did you get start with acting?
ELH: I saw my very first theatrical production one Sunday afternoon after church services. I have been fascinated with the art form ever since. It wasn’t until my junior year in college, that I decided to commit myself to the craft. The journey still continues to surprise me…
RM: Over the years, you’ve been casted in several police TV drama series. What did you enjoy most about these experiences?
ELH: I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of storytelling. Trying to complete the puzzle of how my character fits into the drama always interests me. TV drama have their beginnings, middles and ends and tempering the arc and the journey of my characters teach me a lot about patience.
RM: What initially drew you to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire?
ELH: Well, I received a call one afternoon about this character and the show was interested in seeing me. His name was Dunn Purnsley. After I received the scripted material, I was immediately attracted to the role. I found the character to be unusual, bold, exciting, fun and oh so dangerous.
RM: What do you like most about your role as Dunn Purnsley?
ELH: The one aspect about Dunn that stands out the most for me, is his absolute sense of fearlessness. He is unafraid to live. A raw sense of lawlessness existed during the 1920’s; it was either kill or be killed…almost with no repercussions. His strong sense of self and his need to survive, leaves him no room for fear. I love Dunn…
RM: You get to work with an all-star cast which include Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald. Are there any challenges when it comes to how you approach your role?
ELH: How lucky am I? I mean this is a great cast with some real quality personalities. Steve, Kelly, and everyone associated with the show have been nothing less than professional and dedicated. I’m not just saying that to be nice. Everyone, from all departments, cast, crew, production; give their all to try and make the show the joy it is. They all just make me try to do my part as well. I feel as though I have been led by example.
RM: What can you tell us about the development of your character for this upcoming season?
ELH: I’m really excited about this season especially now that the Onyx Club has opened. And, of course, with new business ventures comes new business drama. Dunn has been established as Chalky’s right-hand man from past seasons, but this Season 4, the writers and creators of the show delve more into the inner worlds of both Dunn and Chalky. It’s been exciting filming this season and I think the audience will enjoy the journey.
RM: If you weren’t an actor, what career path would you take?
ELH: Surprisingly, I really enjoy cooking. I’m always watching cooking shows, looking for recipes and culinary tips. I see it as an art form when done right. It is called the culinary arts… Maybe it’s the creative aspect that chefs bring to food that I’m attracted to.
RM: We were just curious. But, since you’re an actor, what other actor’s work are you inspired by?
ELH: There are and have been so many good performances over time, that I would do myself a disservice if I only mentioned a few. What’s been inspiring to me over time, is when the actor and the story connect in such a way that the performance becomes electric…brings goosebumps to the surface, tears to the eyes, joy from the laughter…those actors inspire me.
RM: When you’re not on set, what do you typically do to relax?
ELH: Relax? There’s no time to relax. LOL. Seriously though, I find it hard to relax during the filming season. I’m always thinking of my character, how I can possibly improve performances and so forth. It’s only after filming is wrapped that I can really exhale. Then, I book the first flight outta here for some rest and relaxation.
RM: Thanks for chatting with us Erik. What other projects can we expect from you in the near future?
ELH: At the moment I haven’t committed to any other projects. I just got back from that flight I mentioned earlier… Who knows what the future holds. It’s my intention to continue working in this amazing business, but I’ll always be exploring new and interesting projects that give me an opportunity to become an interesting storyteller. We’ll just have to wait and see…
Twitter: @ErikLaRayHarvey