Marco Grazzini – Virgin River

By starrymag | December 26, 2024

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

 

 

Q) When you first read the script for Mike in “Virgin River,” what drew you to the role?

A) Mike’s heart and sense of humor immediately resonated with me and made the prospect of the role very enticing

 

Q) Were you familiar with Robyn Carr’s Virgin River book series before landing the role?

A) No, I wasn’t; however, I’ve since read a couple of the novels to familiarize myself and ground my work in the world that Robyn created.

 

Q) “Virgin River” has been a massive hit for going on six seasons now. How has the character of Mike changed or evolved since you read the first script?

A) I think we’ve seen a massive evolution in Mike’s character throughout the five seasons that he’s been on “Virgin River.” In earlier seasons, the audience mostly experiences through the lens of law enforcement within the town. The relationship with Brie (Zibby Allen) has given us access to Mike’s humanity, his aspirations of finding true love and building a life with a partner.

 

Q) Mike was busy in season five, between getting with Brie and helping bring down Melissa Montgomery’s crime ring. Can we expect to see even more of him this upcoming season?

A) We definitely see more of Mike, as far as screen time goes although we see less of Mike, clothing wise. I’m glad that this season Mike isn’t so stressed with his work and is able to be present with Brie and also to enjoy the wedding festivities.

 

Q) Characters like Brady in Virgin River have commented to Mike about his potentially shady past, but his backstory hasn’t been fully revealed. Are there other sides to Mike that viewers will get to explore this season?

A) Yes, we’ll get a couple more layers pulled back in regard to the backstory between Brady and Mike. It has been and will continue to be a relationship fraught with thorns. Very fun to play with!

 

Q) “Virgin River” was an instant Netflix hit and is a top performer on the streaming service. What has this huge fan response been like for you, and has its continued popularity surprised you?

A) Experiencing the fan response for me has been an absolute thrill! I love interacting with fans online and in real life. It’s humbling to know that the show resonates with so many people from so many varying backgrounds, age groups and cultures worldwide.

 

Q) In any ensemble like “Virgin River,” there are so many wonderful characters for viewers to get to know. Are there any actors in the cast you wish you could have more scenes with?

A) I am a fan of all of our cast’s work on the show! I think scenes between Mike and Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) or Doc (Tim Matheson) and Hope (Annette O’Toole) or the sewing circle would make for interesting dynamics!

 

Q) You’ve got great chemistry with Zibby Allen, who plays Brie on the show. Did that develop organically over the seasons or was it shared from the start?

A) Zibby and I did a Hallmark movie together a couple years before “Virgin River” and we hit it off then, immediately! We share a lot of similar frequencies and there’s a great ebb and flow in our work together that I can’t picture anyone else playing Brie. She is such a gem and beloved by all of us on “Virgin River.”

 

Q) The town of Virgin River is full of scenic views and a tight-knit community. Do you think you could handle living in a town like that as well as Mike has adjusted?

A) I love to be nature adjacent, but I’m accustomed to a city setting and the best is when you have both.  I’d probably last a week in Virgin River before I’d crave a traffic jam and more than a dozen people in my line of sight.

 

Q) What scenes from “Virgin River” are you most proud of? 

A) The last scene of this 6th season. I will not spoil it for those who haven’t watched.

 

Q) This show has a vocal and proud fanbase all over social media. What do you think it is about the show that makes it such a standout?

A) There’s a community aspect to our show that obviously resonates with a lot of people. The familiarity of everyone knowing and caring for each other in a relatively small setting is something that appeals to us on a primal level, I think. There’s also a lot of drama and unanswered questions on the show and people love to gossip and speculate!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of your work?

A) I truly appreciate all of your love and support I’ve received throughout the years. I’m fortunate that I truly love to do what I do too and knowing that my work makes people feel – whatever they feel – brings a smile to my face and makes me want to keep telling stories through the screen.