This is the second of two parts of a batch of actor interviews I conducted on Lost’s set in Oahu (and in the case of Matthew Fox, over the phone) in April for my feature in TIME. Part one, with Terry O’Quinn, Evangeline Lilly and Josh Holloway, posted yesterday.
As I said then, there’s nothing horribly spoilery in them (at this point we know that all six actors are in the finale, for instance), but spoilers are in the eye of the beholder, so if you’re especially sensitive to anything that even hints of spoilage, do not read this. Or wait until Monday.
Below, excerpts from my chats with Michael Emerson, Matthew Fox and Jorge Garcia:
Michael Emerson
On his late arrival to Lost, and learning how to play Ben:
“I had given up on the idea that I could ever be a regular on a show. I’m a man who has never booked a pilot… [But] I didn’t have any anxiety about how to play the part. I knew right away, Oh, I see how this goes. This is to be played in a neutral key. This a role where ambiguity is everything, and a sense of mystery, and let’s just not give too much away ever.
“I’m grateful for my theater background playing this part. There are a lot of roles on Lost where you could play yourself, or play something close to yourself. But Ben requires a little crafting.”
