Matthew Owen Murray – Rookie Blue

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

A) I just finished shooting a movie called Hailstorm about eco terrorists. I did another film called Static and we are hoping that gets released soon. Also, I was just offered another quick short during our hiatus called Street Meet. It’s about a guy who is a normal businessman and he doesn’t have much luck with women. He hears the women in the office talk about how something small a guy does that wins them over by saying, “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” The girls think that is romantic. He goes out and tries it, but has terrible luck. He is turned down by everybody and it starts pouring rain. A beautiful woman comes up to him and he shares his umbrella. He kind of jokes around and says, “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” That kind of sparks something between them. I’ll be shooting that during our hiatus.

Q) You’re currently on the new season of “Rookie Blue.” How was your character Duncan originally described to you?

A) That’s a good question! He was kind of described to me as a screw-up. They didn’t give me many details and the casting directors specially didn’t tell me about him because she wanted me to do my own thing to it. I knew the casting director very well and she knew how I worked and created my characters. So, she didn’t tell me much about him. She just said he was kind of a screw-up and was very new, very green. I went in originally with just the casting director and she said, “I don’t want to tell you much. I just want you to do your thing.” When I got the call back, David Wellington asked if I wanted any background on Duncan. I said, “Nope, I just will do my thing and you direct me. Then, you can let me know if you want me to change anything.” I just did it and he didn’t change anything.

Q) What did you add then that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) I kind of related him to some experiences I would have or some of my friends would have where anytime you are new at something…I’ve been the new kid a lot in school. I remember what it feels like to be new. Now, I’m not as sloppy as Duncan where I am stepping on peoples’ toes and messing stuff up all the time, but I know how easy it is to do that. Sometimes something he would do, I would do, but luckily no one would see that. Tripping down the stairs or something like that. When you’re around people you are trying to make a good impression on like if you’re at a new school all of a sudden you might drop your books off your desk or fall out your desk. It’s so easy to be able to do that. So, I just basically I just kind of gave over to him doing that. I kind of showed more of his newness in him and I kind of related him to my friend Stan. He’s one of those guys who would do something and if anybody else did it you would get upset, but because he does it constantly you can’t get upset. I expect that from him. I kind of related it to him. I was like, “Dang! That’s a Stan moment.” Now, on set when someone does something ridiculous, they say, “Okay there Duncan.” They relate that to that goofiness and him falling into that constantly naivety of him.

Q) What was it like to join a cast that’s already so close and bonded together?

A) It was awesome! I loved it because immediately you could see the family feel that they have on set. On some sets you can go on and have that family feel, but they might want to keep that to themselves. And anybody that comes in they’ll let them know they’re a family, but with this set as soon as you come in they are like, “Welcome to the family!” Even day players are welcomed and they are so nice to them. They say, “Welcome to ‘Rookie Blue!’ We’re so excited to have you here.” Even if we’re not doing scenes with them, at the readings we’ll go up to them and talk to them. That’s what they did with me. As soon as I walked in and it was my first day in the trailer, most of the cast was there and they welcomed me to the family. They had already heard about me and were excited to meet me. They are constantly excited to be bringing new people around them and they all let their personalities show. The crew is also so amazing, so accepting and a lot of fun.

Q) What can you tease is in store this season for Duncan?

A) A lot of ups and downs with him! He wasn’t checked a lot when he was growing up so he’s being checked a lot on things he usually wouldn’t be checked on. There is a lot going on in his life that a lot of people don’t know about. There are a lot of things that happen with him you can kind of see it in him, but he won’t tell anybody. He’s the type of person where if something is going on he isn’t going to tell somebody. Somebody has to dig it out of him and then he’ll let them know. The thing is, with him, he’s not used to talking to somebody that he is with somebody like say Andy. So, he is constantly trying to find someone to accept him since he is not used to being accepted. He thinks he is there to get the pendant in the way, “This is my way. This is the way that has worked for me so far.” But I very badly want to have someone I can talk to and be close with. He hopes not to screw it up, but at the same time that’s what he does. He has a bit of regret in some of the things he does, but at the same time he wants to explain the reason behind it. He has a reason for the things he does, but he isn’t going to just come out and say it. It has to be dug out of him.

Q) Does that mean there is a possible romance on the horizon for Duncan?

A) Possibly! I think at the moment something is starting to rise, but he is just trying to fit in with everybody. Right now it doesn’t even have to be romantic. He’s just trying to find a friend that he can be with, talk to and help him feel better. I think that’s the thing he is more concentrated on right now. I think if someone came up to him and hit on him, I don’t think he’d realize it at first. But I think there is something building for him, accept because it is kind of ignorance it can be looked as he latched on to something.

Q) You are a part of social networking sites. Have you been enjoying the fan interaction you’ve been having since episodes in Canada began airing and soon they’ll start in the US?

A) Yeah! I’ve been loving it so far. I didn’t even go on Twitter until I was on “Rookie Blue.” I didn’t even do that for other shows I was on. Some of my friends suggested I should do it. I’m terrible at Facebook so I couldn’t see how I could keep up with Twitter. It’s been a lot of fun interacting with the fans and now I go on to Twitter more than I do Facebook. I have my times when I delay because I am busy, but I always make it a point to come on to Twitter and talk to the fans. It’s been so much fun and there has been an even bigger increase since the episodes began airing in Canada. I can’t wait for it to air in the states because that’s where my family is and a lot of my friends that I grew up with. So, I’m really excited for it to air in the States so people back home can see what I have been doing. I heard they had a little segment back in Detroit on Channel 7 News talking about how one of their homegrown is making it. That made me feel really good! So, I can’t wait for my home to be able to see what I’ve been doing.

Q) Is there anything else you would like to share with fans about Duncan or Season Five or “Rookie Blue?”

A) He does get into more trouble, but just know his heart is in the right place. I just know that. Things that happen can make people mad, but at the same time there are things going on in his life that will start being shared more. I’m excited about that and I think that the end of the first episode branches off into that. You’ll see there is something more to him than what you have just. That was my favorite scene in lockerroom and I loved that because it sets it up for later in the season what is going to happen.