Wentworth Miller: 'confidence is the key'
As Prison Break releases on DVD, we find out how you can bust your way into leading man Wentworth Miller's heart.
What do you look for in a woman?
I think confidence is the key to so many things. You can talk about sense of humour and style but confidence lies at the root of all those attractive qualities. I believe it's about being comfortable in one's skin.
Would you like to date an actress?
What I would ideally like to find in a mate is someone who is appreciative of what it is to be an actor but is not an actor themselves, so they can hold me down and be the anchor while I spin like a top. Either that, or someone who works in the accounting department at a feature film company.
If you had to choose - blonde or brunette?
Um, I am into brunettes. For a long time I've had a crush on Angie Harman who used to be on Law & Order. She is a beautiful barracuda. [Laughs]
What's the best female offer you've had since starting on the show?
I haven't. People vary in their reactions to the different characters on the show. Robert Knepper (T-Bag) gets a lot of racy fan mail, actually. People find his character arousing. And Amaury Nolasco (Sucre) gets a lot of pats on the back and bear hugs as though he's everybody's best friend. People tend to be much more formal with me. I get a lot of polite handshakes.
Do you feel comfortable walking the red carpet?
A necessary part of the beast is doing publicity. I don't mind talking about the show. I am very proud to be a part of Prison Break but I do try to say no to as many invitations as possible when it comes to red carpet events, parties and premieres.
So what's going to happen on the show when it returns next season?
It's safe to say that eventually we get out but from there the show takes a very different turn and is about the brothers on the run. Michael in particular tries to elude the authorities and unravel the conspiracy to put his brother behind bars.
Will Michael succeed?
I hope so.
How do they put the tattoo on?
It's a very lengthy process. It's the most ambitious pro tattoo ever attempted for TV or film. It takes two people four or five hours to apply. They strip moisture off the skin by applying alcohol so it adheres properly. Then a layer of glue is applied before they fix the decals with waterproof sealant on top so it stays. It's made up of a series of details that fit together like pieces of a puzzle. There are about 24 pieces to cover my entire upper body and arms. Fortunately, we only have to do it once per episode.
If you don't tamper with it, it will deteriorate slightly but will last for up to two weeks. It's a bit like wearing fly-paper and it stains so you have to scrub it off at the end of the day with solvents.
What does it do to your skin?
It's incredibly dry but it has good exfoliating qualities. Although it can last for a while you don't want to wear it home because it makes you stick to the sheets.
Did you suggest getting a temporary tattoo that could come on and off?
Okay, the dirty little secret is that the tattoo is still evolving. It's design isn't set in stone. The tattoo tends to change based on changes to the production schedule and sometimes a plot will shift. There's a particular episode where Michael references a few names and if those names don't get cleared by the Fox legal department they actually have to change one of the names. So the tattoo is in a constant state of flux.
Do you feel like a bad *** with the tattoo?
[Laughs]. I need all the help I can get to feel like a bad ***. It feels like you are wearing a piece of art. It's extraordinary. On the rare occasions when I have worn it home I get some pretty strange reactions walking down the street. Grandmas tend to give me a wide berth and I will get people who actually have the full sleeves for real come up, thinking we have some kind of experience in common. They tend to look at me with a certain amount of contempt when they realise it's not the real deal and perhaps a bit of envy, too, because they realise my tattoo didn't hurt.
When people do recognise you, what are some of the stranger things they say?
Fortunately, my face-to-face interactions with the public have been very positive. By and large I hear, “I never miss an episode”, which is the highest compliment. I did go online and read some chat room about the show, which I don't do often and wouldn't recommend. It feels like reading someone's diary.
What did you read?
Someone posted a comment that read something like, “I just found out Wentworth is British. I guess that explains the crap American accent”. [Laughs] That's both untrue and unflattering. Both of my parents are American but they lived in England for a couple of years and I was born there, so I have dual citizenship. I was raised in Brooklyn, New York, but I have a special place in my heart for the UK.
Your co-star Dominic Purcell is Australian. Has he taught you anything about Australia?
I think he has been pretty Americanised. He doesn't have an accent on camera or off. He is someone I have a world of respect for. He takes his craft very seriously. It wasn't difficult at all to imagine him as an older brother that I might look up to, on many levels. He brings a certain kind of brooding intensity to the proceedings. I have been back and forth with friends about the difference between Australian men of my generation and American men of my generation and the difference seems to be maturity. Many of my contemporaries appear to be boys compared to the Australians.
What do you mean by that?
I think it's the reason why the Heath Ledgers of the world are doing so well in this business. Actors with such classical training are in demand. I really can't come up with the name of a young American actor who has performed as well as Heath did in Casanova.
What are your interests outside of acting?
I enjoy swimming, reading and naps. I am writing a screenplay or two of my own and in Chicago I try to go to a different restaurant every week. I spend a bit of time at The Art Institute Of Chicago because music, painting, movies and theatre can all contribute to the work of an actor. You never know where you are going to find influences. By and large, I try to keep my down time fairly low-key as the job itself can be so draining.
Do you have a work-out regime?
It's hard to establish an exercise regime given the hours we work. Plus, I made the decision that my character (Michael) wasn't going to be particularly well-built. The only thing he has going for him are his smarts, so in a way he's vulnerable 24/7. But while Dominic bears the brunt of being the big, muscle-bound action hero, Michael can continue to be the brains of the situation.
Do you watch the show on TV?
I don't particularly enjoy watching myself act but I often do because there is something to be learned about your performance – and not just what angles are best. It's a technical medium and one has to be aware of the camera. I will watch myself for educational purposes but I prefer to watch other people's work.
What about bloopers. Do you cringe when you see or make mistakes?
No. Luckily, there is that difference between theatre and film. In theatre you are walking a tightrope and if you fall, you hit the floor. If you are doing TV, the tightrope is already on the floor so if you fall, you step off and go again.
Do you have any acting role models?
I did get to work with Anthony Hopkins on The Human Stain. If I ever manage to accomplish a quarter of what he's achieved, I'll have had one hell of a career.
