Wentworth Miller 101 : All You Need To Know

WM101 Exclusive: Interview w/ Wentworth Miller about Season 4 of Prison Break



In October, WM101 requested the chance to interview Wentworth, an opportunity not many get to have and one which no fan site has ever had the privilege of being granted. 20 questions about the new season of Prison Break could be asked and Wentworth would answer 10 of his choosing. For 5 hours, Cricket and I worked on the questions which were submitted from fellow Wentworthies and narrowed them down to ask in question-form and hopefully would be good enough for Wentworth to pick. Unfortunately, not all 20 were answered, but for those he did, we are most grateful for him taking the time from his busy schedule to answer them. These are his responses to our questions. DISCLAIMER: Please do not copy/paste this text onto any other website. The following interview is copyright to Wentworth Miller 101 and Prison Break 101 and are not privvy to be put on any other website. Please abide by this disclaimer as you may link the websites of WentworthMiller101.net and PrisonBreak101.net but you are not allowed to copy/paste this following interview text- in English or transcribed into another language. I have my staff working on translating this in other languages but until then, please abide by this disclaimer. Thank you for your understanding.


1. When you first read the script for Prison Break what was your initial reaction? Did you feel the part of "Michael Scofield" was too perplexed?
Do you mean too complex? Because yes, I've always thought Michael was a complex character. Even contradictory. But I've never found him particularly perplexing. And of course Michael the man is almost never perplexed. He may find himself in a moral dilemma from time to time but generally speaking, he runs like a Swiss watch.


2. Do you agree that the longer you are perceived as Michael the longer it will take for major audiences to see you as another character and you run the risk of being typecast?
Not necessarily. I think for some actors, being part of a show that runs for years can become a trap, because eventually they run out of cards to play. Eventually the audience starts to feel like they've seen everything that actor has to offer. I don't believe I'll have that problem. And that's because - much as I'm grateful for this opportunity - it sometimes feels like I've been asked to play the same card for the last four years. And naturally I'd like to believe I have more cards to play, that there's more I can offer a viewing audience. Of course, I'm sure that's what every actor in my position thinks. Time will tell.



3. Besides Linc and Sara who do you think Michael would trust with his life and why?
Hm. Slim pickings. I guess it would have to be Sucre. Michael has saved his old cellmate's life so many times - and visa versa - that I think they're now sort of permanently in each other's debt.


4. Now that Michael is reunited with Sara, do you think there should be more intimate moments shared between the two?
If you mean do I think we need more Michael-on-Sara action every episode then no, I don't. I'm glad so many people respond to their relationship but I don't think "Prison Break" is a story about a romance. I think "Prison Break" is a story with a romance. It's one thread among many. With so many characters and storylines and twists and turns and danger lurking around every corner, it seems only natural that Michael's moments with Sara should feel stolen and brief. Until the Company has been definitively handled one way or the other, anything more would be gratuitous. Then again, maybe gratuitous is exactly what some of our fans are in the mood for. But it's not really that kind of show. Pity.



5. Could it be, given the severe plot twists we have come to love on Prison Break, that Sara has been playing the boys all along and actually works for the Company and they needed someone 'on the inside'? And if it does become known that she's been working for the Company or has ties to them, do you think that Michael would keep his word to her or abandon his own wants and desires in an effort to save himself or his family?
I suppose anything's possible on "Prison Break," including a scenario in which Sara decides to come clean about her intimate ties to an organization that has ruthlessly and systematically destroyed Michael's life and the lives of everyone around him, and Michael, with tears running down his face, decides to put a bullet in her brain.



6. In general, how do you prepare for scenes that require emotional angst?
Every actor has their own unique process, and every actor sounds uniquely foolish when they try to explain it. It's a situation I try to avoid.



7. In your opinion, do you think that the writers limited certain emotional scenes more than others (i.e., the first couple seasons vs. when Michael learned of Sara's death, etc.)?
That's a complicated question with several answers. But I think it's safe to say that when it comes to portraying Michael's emotional life, the powers-that-be have always been a little... skittish. Part of the problem is the schizophrenic and contradictory role he plays in this particular universe. As the ostensible hero of the piece Michael is caring, empathetic and honest. Yet his actions - as dictated by the plot - are often cold, calculating and dishonest, frequently resulting in lives damaged or lost. The show cannot allow Michael to fully acknowledge and/or express the emotional and psychological consequences of those actions. If he ever did, Michael would have to accept that he's become a villain, his own version of Abruzzi or the General. And the audience would have to accept that as well, tipping the balance between good and evil and permanently upsetting the show's mythology.



8. Do you ever feel there is too much responsibility placed on Michael's shoulders and if so, who do you think should pick up the slack?
It'd be nice to think there was another character who could conceivably pick up the slack, but - aside from Mahone, who's definitely smart enough but too morally compromised to steer the ship - there's really no one. Sometimes I fantasize there's going to be this big reveal, and it's going to turn out that Michael and Lincoln have a long lost brother ("Burrowfield!"). He'll be younger. Smarter. Better-looking. Pure of heart. Someone who can go play hero while Michael takes a nap.


9. If given the opportunity to kill T-bag do you think Michael now has what it takes to get the job done?
The fact that Michael hasn't killed T-bag yet is, in my opinion, simply an oversight. It's a question of when, not if.


10. Do you think Michael, (if he was a real person) ever would reflect back on his life before prison and try to become who he once was?
Michael doesn't have time to dwell on what was. His focus is on what is, on the here and now. And part of that is avoidance. Part of him knows he can never go back so why waste time thinking about it? Besides, if Michael ever did take a moment to stop and consider everything that's been lost he'd probably spend it mourning those who've fallen by the wayside - Westmoreland, Tweener, Sara's father, etc. These are just a few of the people who might still be alive if Michael had never walked into that bank with two guns and a plan. Was it right and fair that so many died just to save one low-life con from the electric chair? Maybe. Maybe not. Michael's better off not dwelling on such questions, don't you think?

I want to thank Wentworth for granting this chance to interview him via communications which I hadn't tried before. I also wish to thank his agency which passed on the message and was so ever kind to grant this request. I have not altered or doctored any of the questions or answers- this interview is legit. I was fortunate enough to thank Wentworth in person when I and other Wentworthies were at the Paley Center for Media on the 27th of October in Los Angeles. :) I had to thank him so he knew I was appreciative of his kindness, generosity and efforts in helping make our day and moment knowing our voices were heard. Thank you for reading.



	Role: Chris Redfield In: Resident Evil 4 Status: Releasing September 10th 2010 IMDB Official Site

	Role: the Photographer In: the Mourning Portrait Status: Filming Late 2010 Locale: North Carolina Official Site Facebook

	Role: TBD *Also: Did the Screenplay In: Stoker Status: In Development Alias*: Ted Foulke


Since the Fall of 2005, WM101 has been actively serving the masses with info & updates on actor, Wentworth Miller. We respected his privacy so much that WM101 was the first site to not post paparazzi photos or anything that might go against our ethics. WM101 was also the first fan site to have been authorized an interview with him during his last season of Prison Break. We hold a solid fan base who believe in him and also get involved in helping the community as well! Our fans help make WM101 the best kept secret of fan sites online. Thank you and welcome to all! May we have many more years of serving you, our loyal public! - Angela Mae


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