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Bratt
continued from page 2
episode recently which I believe will be
coming out some time in April.
KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How
difficult is it to switch from doing a TV role
to a big screen movie role? Which do you
prefer?
BB: I’d have to say that acting is act-
ing, and that you always want to con-
vey a sense of honesty and authenticity.
So, I approach both in a similar way.
For me, though, the great joy of doing
this film was that there was so much
gravitas to my role. In fact, I feel that I
do my best work when the stakes are a
lot higher, where I play the heavy, like
I did in La Mission, a movie my broth-
er directed.
KW: Your mother brought you to Alca-
traz as a child to participate in the occupa-
tion of the island by Native Americans.
Maybe you’d like to portray Dennis Means,
the leader of the American Indian Move-
ment.
BB: That idea has come up before. In fact,
what I’m doing. I call upon my training, my
research and my life experience. That’s the
good news about getting older. Your life
experience really informs the work that you
do in front of the camera, and even more so
onstage. That comfort level enables an actor
to be more at ease. Being a greater risk-
KW: The music maven Heather Coving-
ton question: What was the last song you
listened to?
BB: “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno
Mars.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown a lot more assured
about what I’m doing. I call upon my training, my
research and my life experience. That’s the good news
about getting older. Your life experience really informs
the work that you do
KB: Harriet has a follow-up: Is there
a remake of a classic you’d like to do with a
role for yourself in mind?
BB: I think every actor would like to be in
some version of The Godfather. So, if
they’re doing Godfather IV, sign me up.
[Laughs]
KW: Patricia asks: Is there a Latin icon
you would like to portray in a film?
BB: Not one that jumps out at me. That’s
a good question, Patricia, and one I’ve pon-
dered a lot because I’m always trying to be
proactive in bringing our stories to the fore,
and I’m lucky to have a built in writer/direc-
tor in my brother.
I even saw a script at one point. There was
a young, charismatic leader by the name of
Richard Oakes who spearheaded the initial
takeover of the island. He was a Mohawk
from New York. I always thought that his
would make an interesting story.
KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin
Williams says: How has acting changed for
you over the years and how have you man-
aged to mix comedy with drama so success-
fully?
BB: Good question. I think that I was
hungrier when I was younger, and it showed
in my work on some level. As I’ve gotten
older, I’ve grown a lot more assured about
taker comes from the experience of taking
on roles, and it shows.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is
your earliest childhood memory?
BB: I remember being twirled around in a
circle when I was about 3 by my dad who
was holding me while music played.
KW: What is your favorite dish to
cook?
BB: Pasta Bolognese. Cooking is
one of my favorite things to do at home
with my wife. I also make my own
homemade sausage with kale and
pasta.
KW: That’s great. So many celebri-
ties I interview say they never cook.
BB: I know. They’re probably single.
[LOL]
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is
your favorite clothes designer?
BB: Oh man, Armani’s hard to beat. Hugo
Boss makes some great stuff. Rag & Bone is
excellent for casual wear. Calvin Klein has
worked out very well for me, and so has
Levi’s. It’s tough to beat Levi’s!
KW: Is there a childhood friend you’d
like to reunite with?
BB: Yeah, there are a couple of them.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what
do you see?
BB: [LOL] I see a father, and a husband,
and someone who is very content.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson ques-
tion: What was the last book you read?
BB: The Round House by Louise Erdich.
KW: Thanks again for the time, Ben-
jamin, and best of luck with the film.
BB: Thank you, Kam.
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Page 8 The Seattle Skanner March 13, 2013