NO SLOWING VANCOUVER ACTOR
WE SIT DOWN WITH ROGER CROSS FROM THE TV DRAMA CORONER
A busy actor for two decades, Roger Cross has had recurring roles on shows such as Taken, The L-Word, The X-Files, 24, Continuum and Arrow, to name just a few.
Now, Cross can be seen as Det. Donovan (Mac) McAvoy in CBC’s new TV drama Coroner, which debuts on Monday at 9 p.m. and stars another Vancouver actor in Serinda Swan.
The series wrapped in late November, so Cross had a bit of time recently to answer some questions.
Q: Vancouver? Do you still have family in A: family Most still of lives my in immediate Vancouver. Q: What comes to mind when you first moving think of here Vancouver from Jamaica and at age 11? A: Fresh air and beauty. It was a much smaller city when I first moved here, a few million years back, but you can still see the natural beauty of this city. Q: What is on your must-do list when you come back to Vancouver? A: Besides seeing family, I love going to Riddim & Spice and getting some Jamaican food. The family and I also love going on walks and hikes. Q: You have an aviation degree from Trinity Western University and you were a pilot. Do you still fly? A:
I don’t get to fly very often. Insurance companies get a little nervous when actors fly, so it’s on the “dangerous activities” list. The last time I went up was about a year ago. Q: What’s your favourite plane and why? A:
I love the new 787 Dreamliner. It’s an amazingly efficient and beautiful airplane, plus it’s really comfortable to be on. Q: You are kind of a Vancouver film industry OG actor as your IMDb page credits go back to 21 Jump Street, Wiseguy and Neon Rider. What do you remember most from those first jobs? A: Joy! It was all so new and exciting for me and I was just learning so much. Q: What’s a piece of advice you would give a young actor starting out? A:
One, find out who you are: Learn the good and bad and be honest with yourself. Then you’ll be able to use all the tools at your disposal. Two, work hard at your craft, and never stop learning. Three, love what you do! This industry can be rough on you. If you don’t love what you do, it will chew you up and spit you out — or you’ll become cynical and bitter, even if you succeed. Q: What is the biggest difference in the Vancouver film industry since your early days? A:
The sheer size of it. We used to have a few shows and movies and you knew everyone. Now there are dozens of shows and movies at any given time. Q: You have worked consistently for many years. Aside from your talent, what has been the key to working so much? A: I love what I do and I never stop learning. Q: What was the job that made you think you could make a living at this? A: The International Rescue that I shot in China was the true spark. And when I got back to Vancouver and booked Wiseguy, I knew I was in the right place. Q: What do people most recognize you from and what do they ask you? A:
It depends where I am. Everyone has a different favourite for various reasons. But because of the magnitude of it, 24 is probably the one. And the question most asked is, “Why did they have Jack shoot you, man? It didn’t make sense. Curtis always had his back.” Q: How many cops have you played over the years? A: I have lost count! Q: Do you have a favourite character? One you wished you could have spent more time playing?
A: Aside from my current role as Det. McAvoy, I’d have to go with Travis Verta on Continuum, Curtis on 24 or Six on Dark Matter. Q: What’s this latest cop, Det. McAvoy, like? What are his strengths and weaknesses? A:
McAvoy is a complicated man. He’s great at his job, but his personal life needs work. He has been on the job a long time and, as is apt to happen, he becomes a bit jaded. He has been married a few times and his current relationship isn’t the healthiest. But he’s a very just and fair man and reads people very well. Q: Does he have secrets? It seems like he has some secrets.
A: He most definitely has some skeletons in the closet, but you’ll have to tune in to find out more about them. Q: Do you get nervous when you start a new job? A: I’m not sure it’s nerves, but the anticipation of starting a new job is always there. You’re not sure how your portrayal of this character will be received, how this director and producers will be to work with and what your fellow actors will be like to work with. Q: Actors often are superstitious. Are you? A: Not really. I have no set pattern for anything. Q: Do you live in L.A? If so, how long have you lived there? A: I do live part time in L.A. and Vancouver. I hesitate to say, but it’s coming up on 20 years in L.A. Q: This is a bit broad, but what’s it like right now to be a Canadian in America? Do you feel a difference? Is the current political climate always the topic of discussion? A:
I think the world is feeling uneasy about the current political climate. The U.S. went from an amazingly eloquent, educated and fair president, who showed the world the U.S. was progressing in the right direction, to this current p---y-grabbing, egocentric, conniving, mean president. So, yes, it’s always a topic of discussion.
Q: What’s your next job? A:
I’m currently working on some writing projects that have been put on hold while I was working, so I’m not currently signed on to any projects right now. But look for Headshop coming to a theatre near you and, of course, Coroner premiering Jan. 7 on CBC.