Balthazar Getty
Balthazar Getty is no stranger to the big screen, having appeared in movies alongside Hollywood heavyweights including John Travolta and Val Kilmer. However, it’s his role on Brothers & Sisters for which he is currently winning rave reviews.
With the season three DVD about to be released, we chat to the man behind Thomas Walker on the award-winning family drama. What does Getty think of his character? How tough is it to see your private life all over the tabloids? And what’s in store for season three? Read on to find out…
What’s it like to work on a successful show like Brothers & Sisters alongside a highly talented cast including Sally Field and Calista Flockhart?
It’s great. Every actor likes to be challenged, so it’s wonderful to be cast alongside talented people. Any actor who says they are happy to coast along is probably not being honest. I like the way I have opportunity to push myself as an actor – and that happens when you’re working with a talented cast.
Is it difficult to work on a show with so many characters?
I'm quite happy to sit back for periods of time if I know that I have a character arc coming up, but there are a lot of stories to be told on Brothers & Sisters and a lot of characters to tell them. Obviously, there's the "A" storyline, which will usually focus on the girls. Then there's a "B" and a "C" storyline – and sometimes the "C" goes up to the "B".
Do you ever get frustrated when you’re not in the “A” storyline?
I was a little frustrated in the first year of the show. Personally, I didn't feel that I was being pushed enough, but this year's been amazing for me. I've been really, really happy. I've had loads of opportunities to push myself, which is why I got into acting.
How much input do you have into your character?
At the end of the day, the writers break the stories and it's their vision. But they also have to consider the actors because if the actor isn’t happy, then it's not good for anybody. Sometimes there will be meetings where you sit with the writers and the creators and they give you an overall idea of where your character is going – or you might throw an idea at them that they then take to their committee. It's definitely give and take, but it’s their arena and it’s their world. However, when it comes to my character in season three, I think we've come up with something that everybody is happy with.
What can you tell us about season three?
I’m not going to say what’s happening with my character, but I will tell you that there’s a lot of focus on the evolution of the company in season three. It has a lot of ups and downs, which is something I'm really excited about. There are a lot of exciting episodes concerning the power struggle over the company. It’s a really good season.
Do you enjoy working on the show?
I’ve had an amazing time working on the show and I’ve made some amazing friends for life. If you speak to any actor in the cast, I’m sure they will tell you that we all get along wonderfully. It’s the truth. We all care about each other and I honestly think we've made lifelong friends on this show. These people inspire us and they love us – and they’re also very honest.
How tough is it to film Brothers & Sisters?
The dramatic scenes can be emotional and draining – and then it’s always nice to tackle some of the lighter stuff to recharge your batteries. I guess there can be a lot of ups and downs. Emotionally, it's always hard to work on a show like this, but I’m not complaining.
Have you learned anything about yourself from working on the show?
You hear a lot of actors on TV shows saying it’s tough to keep you passion for acting alive when you’re on a long-running show, so I’ve learned that it’s really important to fully recharge your batteries during your time off. I’ve also learned that you can’t rest on your laurels. During the time off, it’s important to get excited about the work and to try to inject that passion back into it.
Is it difficult to work when your private life is being highlighted in the press?
Very much so. Everybody has a right to a certain level of privacy and everything doesn't always go smoothly in your private life. It’s hard if you have to share that with the world, but it comes with the territory. I think you just have to make the best out of the situation.
What’s next for you after Brothers & Sisters?
Eventually, I'd like to get back to making films. I've always seen this as a stepping-stone to get myself into a place where I can do the films that I want to do. I love the process of movies. I love the beginning, the middle and the end of that process. Television gives you a great amount of exposure and it also gives you an opportunity to work on your acting muscles because you can work on a show like this for years.
Do you prefer to work on television or in movies?
I’m not sure which one I prefer because they’re very different. When you get a movie script, you know where you're going with a character and you know the destination. It's easier to shape a character around that. But in television, you never really know where your character is going. When you go from script to script, anything can happen. You could be straight one week and then gay the next week. It's hard to play any back story when you don’t know the final outcome.
But it must be a wonderful feeling to be seen in millions of homes every week on a successful television show like Brothers & Sisters…
It is a great feeling. I've been around a long time and this show has given me the most exposure I've ever had in my career. Times have changed, though. When I started acting, there were TV people and there were movie people – and the movie people looked down their nose at the TV people. At some point it switched around. The material is getting better and better on television now. In fact, I think a good majority of the best writing and acting is on television at the moment.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of acting?
At the end of the day, acting is a lot of fun, but you also want to inspire people. I love the idea of somebody across the world watching your show and being inspired to become an actor or having a story inspire them to change their direction in life. If something positive can come out of your work and you can create a smile somewhere, then there's no better feeling than that. That’s why I’m an actor. I do this to move and entertain people – and to evoke emotion in them. I couldn’t be happier.
Brothers & Sisters Season Three is out now.
Read our interview with Brothers And Sisters star Rob Lowe
Check out our Balthazar Getty interview
See what Calista Flockhart had to say about the new season of Brothers And Sisters
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Balthazar Getty is no stranger to the big screen, having appeared in movies alongside Hollywood heavyweights including John Travolta and Val Kilmer. However, it’s his role on Brothers & Sisters for which he is currently winning rave reviews.
With the season three DVD about to be released, we chat to the man behind Thomas Walker on the award-winning family drama. What does Getty think of his character? How tough is it to see your private life all over the tabloids? And what’s in store for season three? Read on to find out…
What’s it like to work on a successful show like Brothers & Sisters alongside a highly talented cast including Sally Field and Calista Flockhart?
It’s great. Every actor likes to be challenged, so it’s wonderful to be cast alongside talented people. Any actor who says they are happy to coast along is probably not being honest. I like the way I have opportunity to push myself as an actor – and that happens when you’re working with a talented cast.
Is it difficult to work on a show with so many characters?
I'm quite happy to sit back for periods of time if I know that I have a character arc coming up, but there are a lot of stories to be told on Brothers & Sisters and a lot of characters to tell them. Obviously, there's the "A" storyline, which will usually focus on the girls. Then there's a "B" and a "C" storyline – and sometimes the "C" goes up to the "B".
Do you ever get frustrated when you’re not in the “A” storyline?
I was a little frustrated in the first year of the show. Personally, I didn't feel that I was being pushed enough, but this year's been amazing for me. I've been really, really happy. I've had loads of opportunities to push myself, which is why I got into acting.
How much input do you have into your character?
At the end of the day, the writers break the stories and it's their vision. But they also have to consider the actors because if the actor isn’t happy, then it's not good for anybody. Sometimes there will be meetings where you sit with the writers and the creators and they give you an overall idea of where your character is going – or you might throw an idea at them that they then take to their committee. It's definitely give and take, but it’s their arena and it’s their world. However, when it comes to my character in season three, I think we've come up with something that everybody is happy with.
What can you tell us about season three?
I’m not going to say what’s happening with my character, but I will tell you that there’s a lot of focus on the evolution of the company in season three. It has a lot of ups and downs, which is something I'm really excited about. There are a lot of exciting episodes concerning the power struggle over the company. It’s a really good season.
Do you enjoy working on the show?
I’ve had an amazing time working on the show and I’ve made some amazing friends for life. If you speak to any actor in the cast, I’m sure they will tell you that we all get along wonderfully. It’s the truth. We all care about each other and I honestly think we've made lifelong friends on this show. These people inspire us and they love us – and they’re also very honest.
How tough is it to film Brothers & Sisters?
The dramatic scenes can be emotional and draining – and then it’s always nice to tackle some of the lighter stuff to recharge your batteries. I guess there can be a lot of ups and downs. Emotionally, it's always hard to work on a show like this, but I’m not complaining.
Have you learned anything about yourself from working on the show?
You hear a lot of actors on TV shows saying it’s tough to keep you passion for acting alive when you’re on a long-running show, so I’ve learned that it’s really important to fully recharge your batteries during your time off. I’ve also learned that you can’t rest on your laurels. During the time off, it’s important to get excited about the work and to try to inject that passion back into it.
Is it difficult to work when your private life is being highlighted in the press?
Very much so. Everybody has a right to a certain level of privacy and everything doesn't always go smoothly in your private life. It’s hard if you have to share that with the world, but it comes with the territory. I think you just have to make the best out of the situation.