Plumbing new heights
Film actor returns to television in tense drama about a missing passenger plane
Departure Debuts Thursday, Global
Christopher Plummer is preparing for a flight of fancy. After working primarily on films in recent years, the actor is returning to television to star in the Global original drama Departure, about a passenger plane that has vanished over the Atlantic Ocean. The 90-year-old plays Transport Safety Bureau head Howard Lawson, mentor to brilliant investigator Kendra Malley (Archie Panjabi).
Filmed a year ago, the sixpart Canada/U.K. co-production debuted on U.S. streaming service Peacock last month. It's hitting screens in Canada, with production on season 2 now underway. Plummer, who was born in Toronto and raised just outside of Montreal, spoke about the series, his career and being a nervous flyer.
Q This project is your first regular television role in years. Were you looking specifically for TV work?
A I didn't mind going back to television. All my friends are going back to television, and it seems to be the fashionable thing to do at the moment.
Television has certainly upped the bar. For a long time it was kind of floundering, in my view, and now it's attracting a lot of distinguished and talented people.
Q This show's about a missing plane — are you a nervous flyer?
A Of course I am. I even think when the plane ride is smooth that something will happen. You're always on guard. I've never been totally comfortable on a plane.
The only great fun I've had was on the Concorde, and I'm so sorry that it doesn't exist anymore. It was a wonderful plane that had such style, and such style surrounding it. But those days, I'm afraid, are gone.
Q Did anyone on the set of Departure ask you for acting advice, or mention any roles of yours that they loved?
A Sometimes people are sweet like that and do, or else I'll beat the hell out of them if they don't. (Laughs.)
Q As an actor, who do you look up to?
A I grew up in Quebec and we had the French theatre there, and actors would come from Paris, Comédie-Française and all that.
I learned a lot about acting from Gérard Philipe and names you wouldn't know. But they were all great in the French theatre and French movies. French cinema was in its glory in the 1940s, particularly. The late '30s and into the '40s was France's golden time for movies, and they were so marvellous.
Q Looking back over your career and life, what are you most proud of ?
A Nothing yet. There's still so much to learn. I do learn a lot, and there's so much more. That's why you stay in this business. It's so attractive in that way.
Q You're known for playing dramatic roles — do you have a silly side?
A Oh God, yes. I couldn't face all this if I didn't.
Q Are you more of a practical joker?
A No, not that sort of banana-type humour, no thank you. (Laughs.) I just think I'm terribly witty.
Q What do you like to do in your time off?
A I love the piano — I play the piano at home and love doing that. It relaxes me. I used to play not a bad game of tennis, but I don't anymore because of my knees. I save them for other things.
Q Do you ever think about retiring?
A Absolutely not. There's no such thing as retirement in this business.