Scott Cohen – Allegiance

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) I have a movie coming out called Jack of The Red Hearts with AnnaSophia Robb and Famke Janssen. I finished working on “The Carrie Diaries” last year. I have another movie that was called Lake City with Lola Kirke, but I’m not sure if that will be the final title of it. I have a couple projects I am trying to produce myself that are TV bound. I have The 10th Kingdom, which was a huge thing I did about fifteen years ago and we’re trying to do a sequel to it.

Q) We’re currently seeing you on the show “Allegiance.” How was your character Mark O’Connor originally described to you?

A) Originally, he was described as a well to do defense contractor.  He was someone who worked for a very elite defense contracting company similar to Lockheed Martin, which is one of the biggest defense contractors in the world. But they have a separate, kind of secretive part of their company that really is specific to defense contracting and military things. No one knows exactly what is going on there, but it is called Skunk Works. It is based in Burbank, California and I was told that Mark works for Skunk Works. He started his career as an engineer, but quickly became an executive and salesman for weaponry around the world, where he found himself on the cusp of the Soviet Union becoming Russia. That’s how he met Katya (Hope Davis).

Q) What was it about the role or the show that made you want to be a part of it?

A) In terms of the description, what made me want to be a part of it was how complicated the character was and how he was in a position of great power, but wanted to somewhat abuse that power in order to rescue the woman he loved. That was the first thing that really kind of appealed to me. The other thing that appealed to me was that George Nolfi had written it and I have always been a fan of his. Another thing was that Hope Davis was starring in it, whom I’ve always been a fan of and was looking forward to doing something with her.

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

A) I think that everything is pretty much scripted. I think what happened over time was that he became much more of a skilled spy, which wasn’t as clear in the beginning of the show. As time went on, it became apparent that whatever he learned from her was really capable of being used. He never really wanted to use it and doesn’t want to use it, but in dire times and desperate moments he is capable of doing it. I think that was surprising as the show developed, but that much more fun because it was really thrilling and interesting. Who knew that was going to happen? I had no idea I was going to be handling a gun and that happened very quickly.

Q) What kind of research did you do on Mark’s backstory to prepare for the role?

A) Lots and lots of research! I read lots of books about the engineers that work for defense contractors, the KGB and their kind of hierarchy, structure and what they do. I read Russian literature. I had always been a fan, but I went into more romantic Russian literature and things like Doctor Zhivago. Then, I tired to hook up with people who worked in the industry. George Nolfi, who is very connected to government officials, hooked me up with a guy who is the head of Lockheed Martin in the Middle East. He is an ex-Navy Seal Vice Admiral named Bob Harward. He was pretty fascinating, interesting and wonderful and he gave me insight into what somebody would know and what somebody wouldn’t know and what are the things that makes someone give up information.

Q) Was the chemistry between you and costar Hope Davis instant or did it take some time to bond?

A) I think that the only time we had to bond was when we were on set. When I got the pilot, it was pretty much going right away so there wasn’t much time to sit down and chat about things. I think we’re both generous actors. We like each other. She is a great person and really easy going. We kind of are at similar points in our lives so I think we had lots to talk about and lots to commiserate about. It was just very easy and I think she is a great person to work opposite. She works really hard. Hope is somebody who does the scene full-out even if the camera is on her or not. That’s really a generous thing to do and an enormous amount of work to do. That just demands a lot of respect and I think we were respectful of each other. I think chemistry just kind of comes from understanding what the show is about and both of us doing similar research and talking to each other about that kind of research.

Q) You frequently appear in a lot of dramatic roles. Is that the type of show you are more partial to or what comes your way?

A) I think it is something that finds its way to me. I think I take things very seriously, probably too seriously. I think that I’m not necessarily seen as your sitcom type. I’ve done a couple of them, but not necessarily where people would say, “Oh Scott is great! Hire him for sitcoms!” I think comedy might come from a different source so it’s much harder to find. Sometimes it is hard to find that kind of framework for me to be funny in.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming the show?

A) I would say that we went to Philadelphia to shoot, which was pretty spectacular. We shot in the Mason’s Temple, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin and I found fascinating. I found that whole sequence, which probably was a month of shooting, the most interesting to me. I would say the most interesting thing about the show was being directed by George Nolfi, who I just really trusted his vision for what the show can be and just said, “Yeah, let’s go.” That’s a rare occurrence in television and then them moving with you and allowing you to be part of their visions. Letting them control you…George is not like that. He really respects the actors’ process and really wants it to be part of his process. That really was the most exciting thing about it. There are other things that I wasn’t a part of, but if I was then I would say that was the most fantastic, but I didn’t get to do those things. When I look at the other people doing them, I think, “Wow! That’s pretty cool!” On the normal side, it’s just being in New York and being at home to shoot. That doesn’t happen all the time either. So, that’s been very easy and really wonderful.

Q) Did you expect the kind of buzz the show has gotten when you began working on “Allegiance?”

A) Not at all! I guess when I was younger I did, but the more you do the less you expect. You just kind of go through it. You hope for the best, but it is so rare that it is what you expect. So, I didn’t know what was going to happen. It felt right to me. It felt good. It felt like this could be a really positive, good show and I’m really proud of it. I’m really, really proud of it.

Q) As a part of social media, do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive when episodes air?

A) That is a very good question as well. I thoroughly enjoy the instant gratification and instant satisfaction of hearing fan feedback. I love having fans. I love having feedback. I love responding to fans. Social media moves so quickly that it is so difficult to keep up and I don’t even have a fraction of stuff going on that others do. I have friends that have so much going on! I find it so frustrating because I mean to respond to someone, but it goes away so fast and you’re like, “Where did that go?!” It’s very quick, but I thoroughly enjoy it.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I would say thank you very much and continue to do so. I hope my best work is not behind me. I hope it is in the future. I hope that I have stuff that people will enjoy past the day I die. I hope it continues to give people pleasure, wonder, awe, fascination and entertainment.