Marc Kudisch – Billions

By starrymag | April 21, 2019

By: Jay Smith

 

 

Q) Talk about getting into character for Gus on “Billions.”

 

A) There’s no getting into character with Gus. There’s only staying out of Gus’s way. He’s a maniac. So, I’ve just got to power forward, no apologies.

 

Q) Do you guys share any traits?

 

A) Do Gus and I share any traits? Well, clearly we share some. I’m intense. And pretty blunt at times. I believe even when you play, play hard. Beyond that…

 

Q) What was your audition like for the show?

 

A) The audition was great. I was in the room with David Levien and Brian Koppelman, the exec producers and creators, and I didn’t have much time because I had a plane to catch, which helped, I think. The minute I walked in I was like, “I’ve gotta catch a plane, so let’s do this.”  They we amazing, really inviting, a lot of fun to be in the room with. Always. Seriously, that cast, the crew, the set on the whole is one of the coolest places to work.

 

Q) With Gus returning, what can you tease is to come for him?

 

A) Gus is Gus. Expect Gus.

 

Q) We’re also seeing you on “The Tick.”

 

A) YES, I am on “The Tick!” The comic book geek that I am is doing cartwheels about that.

 

Q) How would you describe your character Ty Rothbone?

 

A) I am Agent Commander Tyrannosaurus Rathbone. Even he knows his name is too damn long. Rathbone is the live child of Nick Fury from Shield and Robert Duvall from Apocalypse Now. Old School Agent. Absolute in his beliefs. Complex relationship with his heart.

 

Q) If you could switch characters with anyone who would it be with and why?

 

A) No one because everyone is pretty damn perfect in their roles.

 

Q) Who is your favorite person to do scenes with?

 

A) Now, that ain’t a fair question. I have fun with everyone. Seriously, each actor brings their own energy to the scene.

 

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming “The Tick?”

 

A) John Hodgman and I have some great stuff. Griffin [Newman] and Peter [Serafinowicz]. Even Scott [Speiser] and I have a very cool scene. That said, some of the most fun was when we were all together for the larger group scenes. That was awesome because a lot of the storylines don’t intersect through the season except for those moments and we all get a chance to spend time together.

 

Q) What got you into acting?

 

A) I’m not kidding. I was a Political Science major in college. The first day I sat down in my Political Theory class I watched the professor write something on the board, “All politics are based on Failure,” as in how long will it take for any political program to finally fall apart. I couldn’t base my life’s work on that. So, the theatre it was. Besides, acting and politics aren’t that far apart…The difference is, politicians want to hide their flaws as they think they’re a sign of weakness. In the theatre we expose the flaws, celebrate them, because we know they’re our strengths. It’s what brings us all together.

 

Q) What is your dream role and who is your dream costar(s)?

 

A) Dream role? I’ve been living them. The actors I want to work with, I’ve been working with them. Paul Giamatti and I did Hamlet together at Yale Rep – he played Hamlet and I was Claudius and The Ghost. Yep. I was his Uncle and Daddy. And Paul was an amazing Hamlet. This was before “Billions.” The creative people, the directors and writers, in both film and stage I’ve been able to work with the people I most admire. Working with Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, George Wolfe and Joe Mantello on Broadway; on television, David Fincher on “Mindhunter.” Koppelman and Levien on “Billions,” Ben Englund on “The Tick”…It does not get better than that.

Q) Any advice to someone wanting to act?

 

A) My advice to a young actor:

Patience.

Faith.

Passion.

Practice.

And most of all, listen.