"Invading" Nathan Baesel's Territory

He's that cute, unlucky lawman Deputy Lewis Sirk in the popular sci-fi series "Invasion" on ABC. A Julliard-trained actor with tons of theater experience under his belt, Nathan Baesel has come to television with flair and empathy as a "victim" of an invasion by mystery aliens who like to replace our bodies with hybrids of their own in the spooky series. Poor Lewis, who was handicapped, living with only one arm, gets it back and then...well, "loses" the arm again. Pretty dramatic territory for an actor to tackle.

We spoke with Nathan and learned that, in addition to his portrayal of Lewis, he has taken on a very different character on the big screen as he plays a "charming slasher" in the horror/psychological thriller film Behind the Mask out soon. Check out our friendly and informative chat with this talented young actor about his character, fun on the set and future plans...

TeenTelevision: You have a massive theater background, including founding a theater in New York. Do you like to go back and forth from TV or films to theater and, if so, why?

Nathan: Working in theater is a creative experience unlike any other. Having a month to explore my character in rehearsals and then another couple of months to continue shaping him in performances is completely different than rehearsing for a few minutes and then getting in front of a camera and shooting a scene that will be set in stone, never changing. Plus, the interaction I can have with an audience is unique. When I look out from the stage and see hundreds of people looking back at me, its very powerful. Unfortunately theater doesn't help you support a family as well as film and TV acting.

TeenTelevision: Give me the history of getting the role of Deputy Lewis Sirk on "Invasion".

Nathan: I went in to audition with my left arm tucked inside my shirt and held behind my back. I was auditioning for a character who had lost an arm about a year ago. I thought, "Why are they even auditioning 2-armed actors for this?" When I got to the audition everyone auditioning had two arms and nobody was hiding their arms. I was really self-conscious. Fortunately I realized my character would be feeling exactly the same way. Having just recently lost his arm he'd still be adjusting so he'd probably be feeling just as awkward. I made it work for my instead of against me.

TeenTelevision: Great idea! Are you encouraged to develop the character or suggest storylines?

Nathan: Because Shaun Cassidy (the creator) and his writers are so talented I haven't felt like I had anything to offer regarding what happens to my character and when. Recently, however, I started writing a script for the show. It was more to beat the boredom of when I wasn't working than anything else. But having just finished it a couple days ago I'm astounded by how much I enjoyed the process and how good it ended up. Of course the final judge is Shaun, but I have access to writers, actors, and producers on the show who can help me get it into shape. I'd be thrilled if it became more that just an exercise but something I could put on Shaun's desk. We'll see.

TeenTelevision: What would you like to see happen to Lewis?

Nathan: Everything that I'd like to happen with Lewis has happened or is happening. As an actor, I like playing characters that have moments that are intense, intimate, and silly. I'm so lucky to be able to do all of that on a show that is so good. I'm basically a walking advertisement for why choosing a career in acting can sometimes pay off. At some point in the future though, I'd love to have a big action scene where I chase someone down and cuff them to show all those people who think amputees could never serve effectively as deputy sheriffs that not only they can, but they can do it well.

TeenTelevision: Yes, we'd like to see that too! Do the cast members only know as much as what's in the current script or are you let in on the eventual future of your character?

Nathan: I know very little of what will happen on the show. I have to pick up things here and there from rumor and deduction. The actors who play the main characters on the show probably know much more. But ultimately everything comes from the mind of Shaun Cassidy and he likes to keep things to himself.

TeenTelevision: Talk about the arm apparatus you have to wear to be a "one-armed man".

Nathan: The way we achieve the one arm effect is mostly by binding my arm behind my back with a tight girdle while a corset holds a prosthetic arm from my shoulder. Then we just throw my shirt on and it looks pretty good. While all this gear is on I can only face the camera and turn a little to one side before you can start seeing my arm behind my back. Every now and then we do a scene where I'll where a green sock over my arm and after we shoot the scene the visual effects guys erase my arm with computers.

TeenTelevision: Interesting. The show is pretty intense. Do you and Bill Fichtner and the rest of the cast just goof off between scenes or are you friends after work?

Nathan: Unfortunately, I don't get to mix with many of the cast members. A majority of my scenes are with the sheriff played by Bill. And this job takes up so much of his time that he's got very little left over. But I've been getting more scenes with Kira played by Alexis [Dziena] who is a lot of fun to hang out with on set. I'm sure we'll get together outside of the studio one of these days.

TeenTelevision: Among the cast members, who is the prankster and who is sort of the peacemaker or mother hen?

Nathan: It's funny how much goofing off there is just before the cameras roll and then the director says, "Action!" and everyone gets so serious. Bill and I are like Laurel and Hardy on the set. Eddie [Cibrian] is a goof too. Tyler [Levine] clowns around quite a bit too. Come to think of it, pretty much everyone is fun to goof with. I think the only mother hen on set would be the assistant director who has to coral all these clowns.

TeenTelevision: How do you interpret Lewis? Is he really very religious or just looking for a justification for cutting off his new arm?

Nathan: I'm very interested in how different people interpret Lewis. I come from a Christian background and those folks are concerned that he's representing "crazy" Christianity. While non-Christian friends of mine are concerned that a devout Christian is being represented on TV at all. In this highly political and controversial climate where so much fear and anger is fueled by what beliefs people have, practice, or attempt to impose on others, I guess I get kind of caught in the middle. I look at Lewis as a man who's trying his best to stay above water and whatever he can find that helps is a very good thing for him. I'm trying to play him as honestly as I can so that Christians and non-Christians alike are going to be able to identify with him regardless of his beliefs.

TeenTelevision: Did you watch sci fi or horror films growing up... like maybe Invasion of the Body Snatchers original or re-make? Or read any Science Fiction books?

Nathan: I watched Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original and remake) and my favorite moment is the end of the 70's remake where Donald Southerland points at the woman and starts screaming that alien scream. I borrowed the face he makes for a scene in the film Behind the Mask. If you watch the trailer closely you'll catch it. I love science fiction because of the way it employs the imagination. It shifts the way the audience thinks about the present and reframes it or imagines the future in a way that gives new context to the present.

TeenTelevision: Do you let your young son Nathaniel watch your show yet?

Nathan: I'd let Nate watch if he was interested, but he doesn't care that daddy's on TV. Now if I was in a bright purple dinosaur outfit he'd really be interested.

TeenTelevision: Talk about Behind the Mask. Your character is billed as a "charming slasher". That must be a fun acting challenge.

Nathan: The script for Behind the Mask was so good all I had to do was not screw up and it would turn out great. Fortunately I think I did better than not screwing up. I'm thrilled with how the performance turned out. The script takes place in a world where Freddy, Jason, and Mike Myers are all real people. My character has studied all of their moves and come up with a few of his own. Now he's ready to make a legend of himself and in doing so he's going to put all the others to shame.

A majority of the first part of the movie is a mockumentary so it was very realistic, almost improvised in its feel. That was fun to do simply because it was so loose that I was free to try anything I wanted without worrying about it turning out right. The last part of the film is a traditional slasher movie which was fun to do for the opposite reason. It was so stylized that I was able to develop a technique for acting on film that I hadn't been able to do previously. In all I think the character and the tone of the film is as funny as it is creepy. We really wanted to paint the picture of a guy who, despite his profession, is fun and quirky rather than dark and menacing. I think we achieved that balance pretty well.

TeenTelevision: Sounds really cool. On to some personal stuff.. What music do you listen to?

Nathan: I'm really into My Morning Jacket right now. Their "Z" is a great one to throw on a pair of headphones to and track it from beginning to end. I just got a package in the mail from the local NPR station KCRW, Santa Monica. My wife and I were so excited that we finally had some money that we could pledge in their last fundraising drive that we went way overboard (I guess out of gratitude for all the free programming we've enjoyed over the years). As a gift they sent us the new Kate Bush, Arctic Monkeys, Sergio Mendes, KT Tunstall, and The Elected albums. I've a feeling they're going to be my new favorite albums in the coming months. I've also been listening to "Miserere mei Deus" by Allegri in a constant loop. I have a recording of the Choir of King's College in Cambridge performing it and it is devastating.

TeenTelevision: So you have an eclectic musical taste. Do you sing or play an instrument?

Nathan: I played saxophone growing up but I never owned one. I always borrowed it from the school. I've been thinking about getting a cheap one on ebay. I love the sound of a saxophone. If I could play like Lester Young I'd quit acting and play clubs for the rest of my life. I love singing but apart from classes I took at Julliard, I don't have formal training. One of these days I'll do a musical. I'd love to do "West Side Story" some day and just sing, sing, sing!

TeenTelevision: You go, boy! Besides acting, what do you think you do really well and what do you do not so well?

Nathan: I really enjoy cooking. Its really a very artistic endeavor. I do a pretty decent job of taking ingredients and putting my own spin on something until I'm happy with the result. I'm horrible at following recipes though, just ask my wife. Maybe it's pride, but I have a really hard time preparing something from the directions without doing my own thing with it. I'm not allowed in the kitchen when Kim's cooking from a recipe.

TeenTelevision: Have you directed plays and do you have ambitions to direct and write TV or film?

Nathan: I directed a high school production of "The Odd Couple" that my sister was in. I had a great time. My former high school acting teacher gave me a thank you note with $300 for directing the show! I couldn't believe it. It was possible to do something I enjoyed doing so much and get paid for it? I think that was the first time I considered a career in theater. Like I said, I've written a script for "Invasion" which I'm thrilled about, but whether or not anything happens with it, I definitely want to stretch out creatively beyond acting and while I have access to really talented writers, actors, and producers I'm going to do what I can to learn from them.

TeenTelevision: Do you have anything lined up for the show's hiatus? Play or film?

Nathan: I'm trying to work out the dates so I can squeeze in a play during the summer to keep sharp. There's no exercise in acting like doing a Shakespeare play for three months.

TeenTelevision: Anything you would like to say to the fans out there?

Nathan:. I'll keep anyone who's interested updated on whatever projects I'm involved with on my blogsite: nbaesel.blogsome.com. It's also a good place to get a hold of me or ask questions about whatever fans of these projects have thoughts about. Behind the Mask is receiving its debut screening in Austin, TX at South by Southwest Film Festival on March 12th, 15th, and 18th at midnight. For more info check out my blog.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter