Pooch Hall – Ray Donovan

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What can you tease is in store for the rest of the season of “Ray Donovan?”

A) I think Daryll finds love! I think it is going to be interesting as to what people think because people have been wondering when Daryll would get a love interest. The wolf is on the prowl!

Q) Was there anything you added to Daryll that may not have been scripted for you?

A) I went through a lot of pain this year, physically and mentally. It was really cool to exercise when my heart got hurt. Daryll definitely goes through some pain. I think this is a season of growth and, hopefully, in Season Four we’ll either see a butterfly or a hurricane. I’m hoping for the hurricane!

Q) What is it like working with such an all-star cast?

A) I’m working with Hollywood elite and they are just making me better. I think people are going to see this season is that the fans are only going to want more! I’m thankful to be a part of such an awesome team. Liev [Schreiber] – my God – but Jon [Voight] is the man! As much crap as he puts me through on screen, I love him! I love him on screen and I love him off-screen. I think our chemistry and our relationship helps the dynamic and the emotions to come forward. People have said that John and I could have our own spin-off! It would be an incredible show! Maybe one day we’ll get a show called “Mickey Donovan.” I think with John he just pushes me to be better. He challenges me competitively in a way because he knows my potential to where in every scene he is always telling me, “Let go.” It’s almost like he’s Obi Wan Kenobi and I’m Luke Skywalker. He sees my force potential and he challenges me. he makes me better.

Q) Daryll has found a new voice and is branching out into different areas this season. What do you think of his continual evolution?

A) I like it because Daryll is trying to find his position in the family and be accepted as a Donovan. As much as I want to be a part of Ray’s life, Mickey is my dad and he is the one who pitches me in. Regardless of what he has put me through, he is still my dad. Me being involved with him as far as being a pimp and his being this Irish gangster mastermind has something intriguing and sexy about it where I know it is wrong, but it feels right in a sense. I think you are going to see that. There is a great upcoming scene between myself and Liev where something happens and you see Daryll’s full commitment. Daryll wants to be a good worker because, if you think about it, Mickey has damaged all of the Donovan brothers. Even though he hasn’t been part of my life, I am still part of the bloodline where he has damaged me to where I am trying to be accepted and do what I feel is right to earn my place as a Donovan brother.

Q) Having a background in boxing, how does the feel and dynamic of your character compare to your own experiences?

A) Having been a Golden Glove champion and being a fighter, I think individually…Here’s the thing, it’s just you and the other guy. It’s just you and him. You don’t have a team of people going with you into battle. It’s not like you can say, “Even though I’m the quarter back, Lisa won the game for us.” For me, it’s just me. So, having that background allows me to be competitive to where my character is a competitive character or a hard worker. I think it relates to not just “Ray Donovan,” but to life where you have to work hard to get what you want. No one is going to do it for you. You have to earn it and you have to work for it. That is kind of what Daryll is doing and I just think it kind of makes it – I don’t want to say it makes it easy, but it makes it easy.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy receiving the instant fan feedback you receive when the episodes air?

A) I’m going to be honest with you, the first three episodes I got tweeted more than for the first two seasons combined! The fan love has been crazy! I went to Boston and threw out the first pitch at the Red Sox game. The owner came up to me with his wife and told me that they love the show! His wife was like, “How do they let him do that to you?! I feel so bad! He’s such a bastard! Then, I meet you and you are so adorable and cute in person! How could they hurt that face?!” I was like, “They don’t really do that, but thank you!” When I threw out the pitch, they had me on the Jumbotron and the people just cheered! There is a lot of love in Massachusetts for “Ray Donovan” and I think that is really awesome having that city behind a show. The social media fanbase, especially from back home, has been amazing. I’m very proud!

Q) You were also a part of the show “The Game,” which had it’s series finale. Can you talk a little bit about and reflect a bit your experience and what the project meant to you?

A) What it meant to me was that I was finally around for the character to go off into the sunset. I want to thank the fans for being behind me and supporting me to allow Derwin to have the life that he had for five seasons. I think I did five seasons and two or three episodes later. It was sad to say goodbye because I felt like it could have been more between myself and Tia [Mowry-Hardrict] where the past is the past, but some things weren’t handled to where we got a real good sense of their life after he got traded. That is something that I wish Tia and I got to explore a bit more, when I got traded to Baltimore. We weren’t able to go off into the world so Tia and I weren’t able to experience that part of the season. But as the season came to a close, it did feel good to say goodbye. Then, the feedback that Tia and I got to the series finale was crazy! The numbers didn’t lie. It was a good feeling to say goodbye, but I’m also ready to start another part of my journey. It’s started with being on another hit show, “Ray Donovan.” We have a fourth season and Liev just got nominated for an Emmy. I think we’re in a good position right now.

Q) Is there anything else you would like to try your hand at like directing or producing?

A) I want to be a lead in a film, to really take on that responsibility. I think I am honing my skills right now working with some of the best. Showtime episodes with “Ray Donovan” are like mini movies and I’m holding my own against some of the best to where I want to continue to challenge myself as an actor with other projects and other material. I want to learn more. I’m learning a lot, but I never want to stop learning. I’m waiting for an opportunity to get in a film and really continue to stretch that muscle.

Q) Is there anything else you want us to be sure we share with fans?

A) Go online to Showtime online. We want to hear your voices. We want to hear your input and thoughts because the fans are important with what we do. I want to be sure that they know they aren’t going unnoticed. Certain ideas and things that they write about online on blogs and with feedback is read. One of their ideas could come up in a storyline. So, definitely give us your feedback and we appreciate it. Follow me on Twitter and Instragram at @IAmPoochHall.