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June 27, 2005
'West Wing' actor looks east
by Talya Halkin
Jerusalem Post
Jun. 27, 2005 7:49
Josh Malina, 39, who plays political consultant Will Bailey on the hit US TV series The West Wing, was here last week on a personal visit hosted by the Jewish federation. Malina spoke to The Jerusalem Post about his real-life role as a Jewish, pro-Israel actor on the set of an award-winning political drama.
What brought you on this visit?
Last time I was here was 11 years ago. I feel a connection to Israel, but I think it's just not so meaningful if you don't come. I'm not a big star, but I've started to get involved with the Jewish federation, and my pet peeve has become this: Hollywood is filled with big Jewish stars, so why don't they speak out about the State of Israel? It's silly that anybody cares what an actor thinks, but since people do, it would be nice if they did.
So how did a nice Jewish boy like you get to Hollywood?
When I got out of college, I wasn't sure what to do, and my mother, who is a good Jewish mother, said: "You should call Aaron Sorkin [director of The West Wing]." He's two years older than me, but he went to high school with my cousins, and I knew him a little bit. I was moving to New York, I called him, and we became poker buddies. Next thing I knew, he was asking me to audition for A Few Good Men on Broadway and he helped me get hired. We've been friends for 17 years, and he's given me a job in every single thing he's written.
Were you a fan of 'The West Wing' before you joined it? What attracted you to the show?
For me it was the fantasy of Sorkin's world, which is filled with idealistic, passionate, committed people working very hard. I mean, Bartlett [played by Martin Sheen] is your dream of what a great democratic president is like - a smart guy that really cares about everyone. On top of that, I'm just a big fan of Aaron's writing, which is smart and fast.
What do you think has made you a good 'Sorkin' actor?
The way he writes is musical. He knows how he wants it to sound, and I know what he's hearing when I read what he's written. Part of what makes you good Sorkin actor is facility with dialogue, which is very wordy. Aaron's writing is so good there is no need to embellish it, and if you take one word out the whole thing could fall apart.
Sorkin stopped writing for the show two years ago. How did that feel?
At first I thought that after he left that would be it for me, but John Wells has taken over and we have a whole staff of writers. I do miss my friend, but they've really kept the show true to what he created.
The sixth season, which has yet to be shown in Israel, begins with Middle East peace talks. What can you tell us about these upcoming episodes?
You guys will probably find it funny or silly or shake your heads. It is ultimately just a TV show, and maybe it's more fantasy than reality, but I give John Wells credit for it. He didn't think he would solve the problems in this region by writing two episodes that dealt with it, but it's good for America to have two hours of prime-time TV that deal with these issues in a substantive and balanced way.
Were there any debates about the political nature of these episodes?
John [Wells] told me there had never been bigger fights in the writers' room than when they were writing these episodes - they've all got their political opinions, and they really go in deep and discuss the issues.
How does it feel to be playing a character that isn't Jewish in such a fiercely political context?
When Aaron [Sorkin] first talked to me about this role, he told me a bit about it and then got very serious, stopped, and said: "I do have to tell you, the character is not going to be Jewish."
I said: "I don't care, I'm an actor."
Flash forward, I was talking to Wells about something else and told him I was going to speak to the Jewish federation, and we talked a bit about Israel. It was when he was writing the episodes about the Middle East, and next thing I know - I read the script, and it's like, "Will Bailey - a Zionist is born." John is more to the right than I am, but he's very pro-Israel.
Have there been any instances when you felt Josh Malina's real-life opinions were in conflict with those of Will Bailey?
We argue about issues sometimes on the set. I don't want to be too specific, but I've got into discussions about Israel.
If you were writing the script for next season, what would you like to see taking place in Israel?
I don't want to be one of those loud Americans who think they always have the solution. But I'd like to see peace, a two-state solution, and I pray that the disengagement in Gaza is successful and is able to be carried out in a way that isn't disastrous for the country.
People often describe the characters on 'The West Wing' as people who all have brilliant careers, but whose personal life is a total mess. Do you agree?
My reality is that it's all personal life. I don't go to Hollywood parties and premieres. I don't have the schmooze factor it behooves an actor to have, but it's not my most comfortable zone. My focus in life is trying to raise nice Jewish kids. I'm much more interested in being a good daddy than being a good actor - even though I hope I'm both.
So most evenings you're home making spaghetti?
Absolutely. I do almost all the cooking, for better or worse. I like cooking heavy Eastern European food such as cholent, stuff that sticks to your ribs. I make a lot of chicken soup, too. The truth is, all my recipes come from my mother.
Posted by Jo at June 27, 2005 07:38 AM