Christopher Egan – Gone Without a Trace

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Since beginning work on “Kings,” I have been under contract to the show and so I am technically unavailable for other things until we see what the network wants to do. I am always looking for other projects and so I continue to read scripts and talk to people. There are definitely some interesting things out there. My dream for now; however, is that we go straight back into production on more episodes of “Kings,” as it has been such a great experience for me.

Q) Please tell us the premise of the show “Kings” and about your character David Shepherd?

A) The premise of “Kings” is that it is a modern day re-telling of the story of King David. It is a story about bravery and hope. My character, David Shepherd, is an innocent who (because of his act of bravery) ends up becoming involved with the royal family. We follow his journey as he gets pulled into the world of money, politics and power. The show has all the elements of a high class soap opera; love, deceit, politics, money, betrayal, greed and is based on one of the great stories from The Bible. Something is there for everyone, I think!

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) When I first read the script, I was so interested in how the producers would do this. I always loved the story of “David and Goliath” and had been inspired by this when I was young. So, I was fascinated to see what they would do. When I met the writer Michael Green and director Francis Lawrence and heard how they envisaged doing the show within a modern context, I was immediately into it.

Q) What about the role was challenging for you?

A) There were lots of things, both physical and mental, that challenged me. I think that the main thing was I realized that I had to take such an iconic character that everyone knows so much about and make him different and not a cliché. So, portraying him was a challenge. Beyond that, there were lots of other challenges like learning to fire a gun, fight and portray realistically the physicality of being a soldier. It was all challenging, but it was great fun and a huge learning experience for me.

Q) Was there instant cast chemistry when everyone first came together or did it take some time to develop?

A) The cast all really got along and, although this is what everyone says about a show or a movie, it is critical that the cast and crew get along. You have to trust each other completely. We did become like a family, as we worked so intensively together through the six months that we were shooting and we are all still friends after the fact. So, that says something!

Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming “Kings?”

A) For me, the most memorable moment was with the preacher, Samuel, in one of the first scenes of the pilot. That was a very powerful moment for me and is also the event that sends the character David on his journey in “Kings.”

Q) Why will people want to take their time to watch the show?

A) I think that the show has so much in it that the audience will want to pay attention. There are so many stories and great characters who populate this world and it is so compelling that it demands attention from viewers, which makes for good television. There is the great story from The Bible, but then on top of that you have love, lust, money, power, politics, intrigue and deceit…There is just a lot going on.

Q) What made you want to be an actor?

A) I have always wanted to be an actor and have acted from an early age. I always knew this was what I wanted to do, as I always loved to entertain and tell stories. It was just a matter of working out how to make acting a reality as a job.

Q) Where can people go online to learn more about you?

A) I think if people watch the show “Kings,” they will see some of my best work and can learn about me as an actor. I have done work in Australia, which hasn’t been seen here and a few smaller roles in films. So, I am fairly new to the US audience. “Kings” is my first real exposure to the US market and I am very proud of it.