 |
| Conrad Grayson (Henry Czerny) and Victoria (Madeleine Stowe). Photo Credit: ABC |
Truth be told, we just love to hate the bad
guys. Especially when there is no end to
the length they would go to get what they need. Can you imagine the impact a
bad guy like that can have on a show named ‘Revenge’? Could it be more
appealing?
Conrad Grayson, impeccably played by Henry
Czerny, is that bad guy with cold blue eyes that will not hesitate for a second
before lying to anyone’s face to get rid of anything that happen to be on his
way. And we love to hate him.
While everyone else in The Hamptons has been
plotting against the mighty Graysons – as Kara Wallace Clarke wisely said “as far as the Graysons go, they’ll get
what’s coming. People like that always do” – Conrad and Victoria (Madeleine
Stowe) decide to re-marry each other to join forces. And along came the cops. However, when you think
that’s the end of Conrad Grayson, the initiative comes to the rescue one more
time. But at what cost? “I won’t know
until it’s too late”, says Conrad.
Henry Czerny talked to us about Conrad Grayson
and explained how the revengeful trio – Conrad, Victoria and Emily (Emily
VanCamp) – act towards their enemy.
SpoilerTV: First of all, on behalf of all
Revenge fans, let me thank you for playing the best bad guy on TV right now!
And you have serious competition! Let me start off by asking you how is it like
to play greedy, psychopath Conrad against the equally evil Victoria? The chemistry
between you and Madeleine Stowe is amazing!
Henry Czerny: I've no doubt that Bernie Madoff would argue that
he was only responding to the greed around him. I'm of the mind that genetic
predisposition and environmental influences develop the characteristics we
label as greedy or altruistic. Both Conrad and Victoria were born with a
predisposition to do whatever it takes to be perceived as folks who are 'in
control', and have been nurtured, consciously or unconsciously, to exercise
those talents. In a sense, they are a looking glass for each other, in which
they perceive themselves as remarkable tacticians. They're addicted to their
own aggrandizing behavior and the best place to relish that behavior is in
their competitive marriage, surrounded by the elegantly ruthless competition,
suffusing every molecule of Hamptonian air. Leonard Cohen points to it, I
think, with, 'And all I ever learned from love/Was how to shoot at someone who
outdrew you'. To come to set unprepared to bring your best opposite Madeleine
would be to bury yourself before you even stepped onto the field.
SpoilerTV: What has been your favorite Conrad’s
moment so far? Why? What would you like to see Conrad doing in the future?
Henry Czerny: For me, one of the most intriguing choices the
writers have given Conrad is his decision to bring himself and Victoria back
into their stormy alliance (marriage). To me, it speaks to an addictive
behavior I've perceived in the folks I've researched, in my preparation to
bring a conceivable Conrad to the screen. He craves a nasty itch. Because, he
believes, it helps focus his talent. Or talons. He likes to think he can find
the remarkable pleasure of a heightened experience in the midst of inevitable
pain. I'd like to see Conrad find the inexpressible pleasure in building
heirloom furniture for the families his addiction to lucrative drama has
disrupted.
SpoilerTV: How do you get into character? Are
some of Conrad’s traits of personality based on anyone you know in real life?
What is the most challenging thing about playing Conrad Grayson?
Henry Czerny: The scripts get me into character. They represent
the symptoms, and I go hunting for the disease that, I believe, would manifest
those symptoms. I find the writers are so steeped in plot, as they must be in
this genre, the cohesion of character is, at times, left to the actor. I met a
handful of hedge managers and CEOs, read various perceptions of Conrad Black
and Bernie Madoff. Conrad Grayson's body language is based on my notion of a
man aiming at remaining in charge. (I think you either aim at being in charge of
the world around you or you know you're not and make the best you can of what
you're choosing to see). The most challenging thing about playing Conrad is
presenting a character, within in the inherent improbabilities and romantic
licenses of the soap operatic structure, to which men in his position can, on
some level, relate.
SpoilerTV: Despite Conrad’s questionable moral
integrity, it seems he had been coerced into finishing with Victoria – not that
he didn’t enjoy it - especially because of his connection with Gordon Murphy.
Now that Murphy is gone, is Conrad on his own to do whatever he pleases or does
he still have unfinished business to deal with?
Henry Czerny: Conrad will never be on his own. He
unconsciously craves others to push himself against. It's all he's ever known.
Victoria is a perfect choice in that regard.
SpoilerTV: Any teasers you can share with us
about what to look out for your character?
Henry Czerny: The possum game. When you think Conrad's under a
thumb, he's probably studying the person at the end of the arm, readying
himself for his next move. He differs from Emily in that she studies them
first. Victoria tries to bite the thumb, immediately.
Revenge airs Sundays 9/8c. You don’t want to miss "the style of the rich and shameless", do you?
Streaming Options
