New Kids on the Block Star Talks About Playing a Boston Dad
Donnie Walhberg who started in New Kids on the Block talks about doing a guest spot on In Plain Sight, landing the juicy part, and his chemistry with the regulars.
Donnie Wahlberg got his start in the boy band New Kids on the block, but smoothly transitioned into a very respectable acting career. In a recent conference call interview he talked about his upcoming guest spot on USA Networks' In Plain Sight, airing Wednesday, March 31 at 10:00 pm. He discussed how he got the part, the chemistry on the set, and living up to his Boston roots.
Donnie Walhberg Returns to TV
It's been almost two years since Walhberg was on TV (HBO's 2008 show Runaway) and seven years since he was on a critically acclaimed series (NBC's Boomtown). But Donnie makes a triumphant return to the small screen in a guest spot on In Plain Sight.
Donnie said doing a one-episode appearance is different than starring in a show. "A guest star is a whole different responsibility." He remarked, "You come in and it’s a lot of unfamiliar faces and you want to try to fit in as best you can, but also you want to stay there without making waves… I’ve been a regular before and… it was always fun when a new actor came along and brought something to the table."
Walhberg's Chemistry with the Cast
As for how he got along with the In Plain Sight cast, Donnie said, "I felt incredibly welcomed. I also knew that… everybody was really looking to raise the bar for Season 3 with John McNamara coming in. I felt like I was playing with a team that was trying to be great. So everyone was very encouraging and very welcoming."
Donnie Walhberg Hates to Audition
Wahlberg revealed that he hates auditioning and lucky for him he did not need to for this role. Instead he met with show runner John McNamara who built a part specifically for Wahlberg. He recounted that in a meeting, McNamara told him he wanted to create a character for Walhberg. They discussed the role and shared ideas before McNamara began writing.
Wahlberg revealed, "Fortunately, I didn’t have to audition because I'd rather stick nails in my eyes than audition for anything. As many people as I’m in front of in my life and acted in front of them and performed in front of them, I still get pretty nervous about auditioning."
Walhberg Relates to the Dad-side of Jimmy
The character that was written for Walhberg was Jimmy, a father from Boston who has to go into the witness protection program. When asked if he could relate at all to this character, he replied, "I think being a dad, that’s certainly something I was able to relate to immediately. I have a 17-year-old boy and I’m starting to experience what that means, the different things that they get into… and sometimes the head scratching that comes along with it."
Playing a Guy from Boston is a Big Responsibility
Donnie Walhberg and his brothers grew up in Boston, so Donnie felt a certain obligation to get the Boston character right. He noted, "Whenever you play somebody who comes from your hometown, it’s sort of a responsibility to not goof it up. Nobody wants to be that guy that is representing somebody built from a character from Boston. It may be the worst thing in the world to get it wrong and we take pride in people getting it right… If I stink it up as a Boston guy, then I’m going to get a lot of flack when I come home."
Donnie Walhberg on Playing the Bad Guy
As a New Kid, Donnie had a reputation of being a bad boy and in his acting career he has played his share of shady characters. But Wahlberg said he likes to play a wide variety of roles. "I enjoy playing all types of different characters… I’ve played ballroom dancers. I’ve play psychotics. I’ve played cops. I’ve play silly cops and serious cops. I’ve played so many different roles, but I just try to take each role based on the material."
He went on to say, "And if I like the material, then I’m attracted to it. If I’m attracted to it, then I’m going to give all my energy to it. And if I give all my energy to something… then I know that I’ve been committed and gave all I could. And I usually feel very satisfied at the end."
Because Donnie has played a lot of bad guys, he acknowledged, "I think the challenge with this particular character was to do something different with the character that was somewhat similar to things I’ve done in the past… I didn’t want to do things that I’d done before, mannerisms or certain behaviors or actions or even the way that I spoke."
Tune in to the Season 3 premiere of USA Network's In Plain Sight on Wednesday, March 31 at 10:00 pm to see Donnie Walhberg's return to TV.
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