Michael Emerson On “Person Of Interest”

By Abbie Bernstein On January 14, 2015 In Actor Interviews, Science Fiction & Fantasy Actor and Author Interviews No Comments

Michael Emerson Interview

Emerson currently stars as Harold Finch in Person of Interest and is known greatly for his role on Lost as Ben Linus

Michael Emerson

On CBS’ [easyazon_link asin=”B0053O8AKU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]PERSON OF INTEREST[/easyazon_link], now in its fourth season on CBS, Michael Emerson stars as Harold Finch. Harold invented the Machine, which was originally designed to detect incipient acts of terrorism, so that the government could act on them before they happened.

The Machine also can detect non-federal crimes before they happened, but the government didn’t care. Finch did and, with the huge sum of money he made in the computer field, he hired John Reese (Jim Caviezel), a former CIA operative, to protect people the Machine said were in danger.

Over the seasons, the Machine became self-aware. “She” has a disciple, Caroline Groves, aka Root, played by Amy Acker, who speaks directly with the Machine. An arm of the government has developed another self-aware system, Samaritan, which is a less benign rival to the Machine.

Emerson, originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has won two Emmy Awards. The first was for his guest performance as an intense homicidal man on [easyazon_link asin=”B00HNGC516″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]THE PRACTICE[/easyazon_link]; the second was for his supporting work on [easyazon_link asin=”B0036EH3WU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]LOST[/easyazon_link] as the infinitely complex, indelible Benjamin Linus.

At a party thrown by CBS for the press, Emerson attends with his wife Carrie Preston, who recurs on [easyazon_link asin=”B009LDD1H6″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]PERSON OF INTEREST[/easyazon_link] as Finch’s love interest, painter Grace Hendricks, and has her own Emmy for her work on [easyazon_link asin=”B003FSTN52″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]THE GOOD WIFE[/easyazon_link].

Emerson is perfectly accessible when identified as a person of interest for this interview, which begins with a discussion of the series third-season climax, which began the battle of the Machine vs. Samaritan in earnest. Does Emerson worry about competing computer systems taking over the world?

“Well, we certainly are on [easyazon_link asin=”B00FEVZH8K” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]PERSON OF INTEREST[/easyazon_link],” Emerson replies. “But I think it’s not an inappropriate worry for real life.”

The conflict between artificial intelligence systems is something Emerson says he didn’t see coming before he received the scripts with those developments. “I never dreamt of the rise of Samaritan and I never dreamt that we would be kicked out of our comfortable routine at the library. So now honestly, I don’t know where it’s going.”

Taraji P. Henson was a series regular on [easyazon_link asin=”B00OZ0ARZ4″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]PERSON OF INTEREST[/easyazon_link] for the first two-and-a-half seasons before her character, helpful NYPD detective Joss Carter, died heroically, taking down a conspiracy of corrupt cops. Emerson says of Henson’s departure, “For personal reasons, I miss her, because she’s so much fun and she’s so lively and brilliant and funny. But she wanted to go and I thought they did a pretty good job of making it dramatic and gut-wrenching.”

Although Kevin Chapman’s police character Lionel Fusco is still part of the team, [easyazon_link asin=”B00DCY7MSE” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”yes” localization=”default” popups=”default”]PERSON OF INTEREST[/easyazon_link] has gone through some changes since Detective Carter’s demise. Emerson says, “We are somewhat less grounded now. We aren’t so much attached to the original premise – two undercover guys and then these steady and dependable police people. Now it’s all up for grabs. Everybody’s got to go underground now. I guess Lionel is the only person who can show his face on the streets.”

While masterminding the rescue of civilians who don’t know anything about the Machine is time-consuming for Finch, there are times he must adopt fake personas to help further the cause. Emerson enjoys these scenes. “It’s always fun to step out of the normal Finch role. I guess I like him best when he’s funny, or any time he’s not himself. I like it when he’s [accidentally] high on drugs or when he’s in a romantic setting in a flashback.”

The romantic scenes are primarily with Emerson’s real-life wife. Did he suggest her for the role? “No. I know the world is bound to think that, but actually, the producers came to me and said, ‘Would you mind if we offered a part to your wife?’ And I said, ‘Well, of course I wouldn’t mind. What is it?’ ‘It’s your love interest, but …’”

This is the reverse of the more common situation many actors face when they must act as if they’re married to someone they met on set earlier in the day. Emerson and Preston must play their scenes as if they’re just getting to know one another, and Emerson says Finch is not entirely confident here, “because she’s unknown, attractive. It turns out to be a bit of an acting stretch, this business of doing scenes with the person you wake up with every morning. You have to kind of divorce yourself from your familiarity with them, and see them as a fictional character.”

Comparing it to playing intimacy with someone he doesn’t know well, Emerson relates, “I think it’s more layered. I have to forget my real-life romantic connection in order to replace it with a fictional romantic connection.”

Acker’s character Root loves the Machine and respects Finch as its creator, yet has none of the ethics of either; in fact, she’s proven that she is arguably a sociopath and certainly a killer. How does Emerson see that relationship? “It’s a little fraught and a little worrisome. Because who has the upper hand in that conversation? It’s a little hard to tell. And what’s worse is, Mr. Finch doesn’t hate her as much as he should, probably. There’s a fascination. Isn’t that something? God knows where that will go.”

There is no ambivalence in Emerson’s attitude toward castmate Acker. “She’s a really strong actor. Some of the scenes are hard, because she’s so damned hypnotic. She’s doing such a very particular and powerful thing that you almost want to just stop talking and gaze into her eyes.”

He laughs when asked whether he’s ever had that effect on a fellow performer. “Not that I remember. There were people that were daunted by Benjamin Linus, but I don’t think anybody ever went up on their lines.”

Finch strives to remain behind the scenes, and he has a limp from a ferry explosion, but might he ever become a little more kickass? Emerson says he hopes not. “Finch doesn’t want to be, and I don’t want to be, either. I thought when I finally was playing an older man and a [partially disabled] man, I wouldn’t have to do any combat, but here I am. Even with a limp, I have to run up and down stairs, run for my life with a limp. And it’s exhausting.”

However, it’s no trouble to remember to limp. “The harder part is to leave the limping in flashback. It’s so automatic – I’m like Pavlov’s dog. When I hear ‘Action,’ I’m crippled.”

Speaking of dogs, Finch has adopted Bear, a highly intelligent Belgian Malinois. How is playing scenes opposite a canine? “He’s really a good dog,” Emerson enthuses. “I’m a dog lover, so I’ve never met a dog I didn’t like, but he’s a way bigger dog than my dog. And he has ideas of his own about what we’re supposed to be doing. It takes a little muscle to keep him in the shot if he wants to leave the shot. ‘I’m going over there. I see my trainer and I know he has a treat …’

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B00FEVZH8K” cloaking=”yes” layout=”top” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”buzmag-20″]Between the end of shooting on PERSON OF INTEREST’s third season and the beginning of work on Season Four, Emerson found time to do a program for PBS. “I took a few days in Boston after we wrapped to be the host of a science program, THE MYSTERY OF MATTER: SEARCH FOR THE ELEMENTS. It’s the history of the Periodic Table of the Elements. Which was fun, kind of a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to be one of those PBS hosts.”

Did Emerson actually know the science he was discussing? Some of it, he says. “I mean, what chemistry I could remember from high school. But it was enough to get me through the experiments, which I discovered I had to perform on camera when I got there.”

Nothing actually exploded, Emerson adds, “But I made some things go pop and a few things fizzed and a few things crackled and made lightning.” The special premiered on October 27 and November 3; check listings for repeats.

Is there anything else Emerson would like to say about where PERSON OF INTEREST may be going? “Just that I’m probably as mystified as the viewers are. I can’t wait to read that [next] script.”

By Abbie Bernstein