Harry Lennix – The Blacklist

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) Mostly “The Blacklist” is what I’m working on right now. Then, I did Spike Lee’s film Chi-raq earlier this year in the summer, which took me back to Chicago. It’s a great movie that everyone is looking forward to seeing and it deals with the violence in Chicago. Then, I’m working on two films I produced myself. One is called H4, which is the first Shakespeare film done from the point of view of the black experience using Shakespeare’s language. At least to my knowledge, it is the first of its kind. The other project is called Revival! and it is a gospel musical about the gospel of John. I think this is the first time that American gospel music will be used to be tell the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. These are two groundbreaking projects I am very proud of and hope to get out there very soon.

Q) What can you tease is in store this season on “The Blacklist” and with your character?

A) As you know, when we last left off in the never boring world of “The Blacklist,” everything was topsy-turvy. Everybody is basically on the run or in custody. My thing was that I was being led away in handcuffs and so I have to answer for what happened on the day that Tom Connolly, the Attorney General of the United States, was killed in front of a lot of people. I’m tied into Elizabeth Keene (Megan Boone), really. My horse is kind of hitched to her carriage and they pick up exactly where they left off. It’s a direct sequence after that and on the heels of where we left off last season. I think what you can look forward to with the show is more of the same kind of intrigue, action and character twists and turns. I think that holds true for Harold Cooper.

Q) Now that he isn’t in charge anymore, where does that leave his mental state?

A) I think there are two things that happened. Obviously, he is no longer working for the task force because of what we just talked about. The other thing is that he got a reprieve on what he thought was a death sentence. So, he’s not dying (at least in the immediate sense). So, I think it is a lot of mixed feelings for Cooper. On one hand, he is relieved on where he is and where he stands health-wise. On the other hand, I’m sure the fans can look forward to him getting to the bottom of all of these bad things that are happening in our world.

Q) With Cooper being taken into custody, where does his loyalty with Red and Liz stand?

A) I think what became clear last season to the fans, to a lot of the characters on the show within this mythology of the show itself and the characters individually is that over the last two seasons (years) these people have become like a family. They are more than comrades, colleagues and partners in a sense. I think he cares very deeply for Liz Keen and obviously so does Red (James Spader). Red has proved, if nothing else, that he has concern for Elizabeth Keen. I think that is authentic. I think his allegiance, at least emotionally, is to do whatever he can to exonerate Elizabeth Keen and keep her out of the pokey.

Q) What was one moment from last season that shocked you and made you eager for fans to see?

A) Last season I think I was really excited for them to see Cooper’s personal side. Being in the car with Liz Keen in the last episode I got to tell her how much she meant to me and I think that was something, for Cooper, is pretty rare. I was excited about that.

Q) There is such great chemistry between these three characters. Does their continued connection surprise you at all?

A) I think that I have been surprised, pleasantly. I think the continued comradery is a natural function of getting to know your fellow actors. This is the kind of relationship building that happens in real time. For example, when we first started the show none of us knew each other. I was just walking into the post office for the first time and didn’t know who Elizabeth Keen was. I only met Megan Boone very briefly a long time ago so we didn’t know each other. I didn’t, personally, know James Spader. I knew and loved his work. I think we have gotten to know each other as actors as the characters have gotten to know each other. So, it’s sort of been like a real thing in that sense. I’ve been surprised by how close I am to these actors. I really like my castmates.

Q) What do you think it is about “The Blacklist” that continues to make it a fan favorite program?

A) I think the production values are very good. I think it is a very competent cast, seasoned veterans and new faces alike, who are conscientious about the work. My formula for it has always been the acting, the intrigue and the action. I don’t think you see a lot of that on that level on network television, frankly. You have to go to cable shows and the movies for that kind of well put together casting, storyline and ongoing intrigue because you have a list of people that have instant connection. The creator of our show, Jon Bokenkamp, came up with a great idea and I think that we got really lucky in being able to cast James Spader and equally lucky to be able to cast Megan Boone. The formula worked out and the ingredients all held it together, thankfully.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) It’s almost mandatory now. It’s almost not an option. If you want people to follow you and be tweeting about you (which is where the world is now and certainly where people of a certain generation are) you have to engage with them where they are. Certainly, that is classic advertising and marketing. If you want to get people into your dance club, for example, you are going to have to go to the colleges and places where young people are hanging out. People are hanging out right now in cyberspace and Twitter so you have to go there and engage with them.

Q) What would you like fans to be sure to know about this season of “The Blacklist?”

A) I think that we are making a concerted effort to keep them engaged and entertained. I have a very strong feeling we are going to be able to do that based off the scripts that I have been reading. I have not read one script this season (there has been about eight of them) that I have been able to put down. It’s been a page turner each one of them. If that carries through, in terms of what we shot, they are going to be in for a great ride. I haven’t , personally, seen any of the episodes so I am looking forward to Thursday nights to see what it looks like as well.