Mark Hildreth – Resurrection

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

A) I just finished a play at the Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles with Taraji P. Henson (Oscar nominee, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). It was the world premiere of Bernard Weinraub’s “Above The Fold” about journalism, politics and corruption. It is a provocative look at the nature of journalism and how newspaper stories can be made up and promoted without much basis in the truth. I come from the theater. My first job when I was five years old was in the opera “Madame Butterfly” at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in my hometown of Vancouver, Canada. So, in acting terms, theater was my first love. My favorite thing in the world as an actor is that moment in a play when someone forgets a line, enters from the wrong side of the stage or a pigeon flies down from the rafters or something. It is the most loaded, the most alive moment in acting when the unexpected happens. It’s the kind of moment that I live for as an actor. And when it happens in the theater, as they say, the play must go on! You just have to deal with it and it is the best training for an actor. So, when I knew I had a little break while we wait for “Resurrection” to premiere on March 9th on ABC, I decided to go back to my roots and get back to basics for a while – to keep myself fresh. Because we all believe “Resurrection” could go on for a long, long time.

Q) Please tell us the premise for “Resurrection” and about your character Pastor Tom Hale.

A) “Resurrection” asks the question, “What would you do if those whom you love who were dead and gone came back to you?” In “Resurrection” I play Tom Hale, the Pastor of the local church in Arcadia and the spiritual leader in the community. Tom, like everyone, is looking for meaning in his life. When Jacob, his long-dead childhood friend, returns to him it makes Tom question everything he believes. Tom is a man of faith. He believes in a higher power and that there is more to this world than one can see with the naked eye. But he is, like all people religious or non-religious, a human being with human shortcomings and a very human struggle. That is the level I connected with Tom on the most – what makes a man who devotes his entire life to the service of others and the study of the human spirit tick? Here’s a guy who loses his best friend at age eight, becomes a Pastor, and is preaching the miracles of God for a decade. Suddenly, when Jacob returns and Tom comes face to face with a real miracle, he has trouble believing it’s true. This sends Tom into a total crisis of faith and he must rediscover who he is.

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

A) Tom Hale was one of those roles you wait a lifetime for. We have some of the most amazing people working on TV creating “Resurrection.” People from “Breaking Bad,” “House of Cards,” “The Killing,” “Damages,” “The West Wing,” etc. It’s very rare to get to play a character who is so much like you, but is at the same time going through an incredible journey of crisis. Not that I am a Pastor, but I’ve been working with and helping people for many years in a number of different capacities. I care deeply for the struggle of the human spirit. And that’s what’s so great about my character Tom – he cares so much about doing the right thing for himself and his community, yet at the same time he’s human like everyone else. He has problems like everyone does. And when he gets thrown in the middle of this looming crisis as people long-since dead start to return to the living, he has to become the leader he has always wanted to be, but was never sure he could pull off. I relate to that deeply.

Q) What do you find challenging about your role?

A) I was very sensitive about representing Tom’s religious faith in a way that was respectful and accurate. I spent many hours in the homes of Christian pastors in Atlanta, playing golf together, discussing and questioning the nature of belief and the deeply personal meaning of faith. Because there is so much fervor over religious beliefs in our world, I felt uniquely qualified to play Tom because I don’t personally subscribe to any particular religious faith. I find meaning and truth in many different perspectives, religious and non-religious. Because of this, I felt I could approach the role without a vested interest in making one religion right or another wrong. “Resurrection” is really not about the dead or what happens in the afterlife. It’s really about what it means to be human and to struggle with the ethical and moral questions that life throws at you. Jacob becomes the foil for each character’s deepest fears and greatest joys. And because of Tom’s vocation, he is able to emerge as a leader for his ruptured community. But through this, he still has to personally struggle with his own demons and find his own answers to the questions. I hope that one of the things people get from “Resurrection” is that, religious or not, nobody has all the answers. And that no matter our religious or spiritual beliefs (or lack thereof), in times of crisis we must all learn to come together as a human team and struggle through it together.

Q) Was there anything about the character that wasn’t originally scripted for you that you added to him?

A) I had wonderful discussions with the writers on “Resurrection.” We discussed some of the things that Tom was going through and how he would deal with those thing. And some of that ended up in the finished show. But really, there are always so many little things that actors bring to a role that weren’t necessarily on the page. One of the best things about “Resurrection” is watching this wonderful cast bring these characters so fully to life. Each actor is really giving it their all and it’s such a privilege for me to watch and be a part of. I really think we have one of the best ensembles on TV right now.

Q) The cast is so diverse. Was there instant chemistry when you began working together or did it take some time to develop?

A) The cast got along like a family from the very first episode.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “Resurrection?”

A) There are some very intense scenes, especially toward the end of the season, that required all of us to really go for it on set. We have such an amazing cast of actors. And while we did keep it light when we had the chance, we also created a bond that held us together while we shot such grinding emotional scenes. Of course, there’s also a lot of comedy and laughs in the show, but really “Resurrection” is a drama about what you would do if someone you loved and lost came back to you. We had a great time and became a family, but it really pushed us all to the limit.

Q) You are a part of the social networking site Twitter. What kind of fan reaction have you been receiving?

A) The fans love the show! It’s something they say they’ve been waiting for on network TV since “Lost” was finished. It’s a smart series that asks important questions and is also entertaining to watch. The outpouring of support from people who watch the show has been really overwhelming.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that will capture viewers?

A) Everyone can relate to losing a loved one. And everyone asks those important question – “What could I have done differently?” “Resurrection” gives each person a chance to walk through that with each of our characters. And everyone has a different point of view. So, many people can relate.

Q) Many people might be surprised to learn you’re a musician and an actor. Where can people go online to learn more about you?

A) Yes, I have released two independent pop/R&B records. They are available on iTunes and at http://www.markhildreth.com.