"Grimm" -- Pictured: Sasha Roiz as Captain Renard -- Photo by: Eric Ogden/NBC
In the NBC dark fantasy drama Grimm, Sasha Roiz plays the chief mortal antagonist (Captain Renard) in a cast of supernatural villains.
He’s also the kind of intricate actor that you love to hate onscreen and the type of guy who may be even more interesting off camera as Entertainment Heartbeat discovered while talking to Roiz this morning.
So, how does an actor prepare to be likable while working as the top bad guy on a show crowded with genuine monsters and their supernatural power?
“I’m certainly trying to strike that balance,” Roiz says, “It’s a character that’s not entirely bad, because as you discover who he is and his motives and his burdens and responsibilities I think you’ll start to understand and relate to him a little better, but certainly as of now he does seem pretty one-sided as to his motives, but tonight’s episode will be very revealing…but you’re going to discover a lot about him tonight (Friday, Nov. 18). He’s not a monster but he dwells in that world quite easily so you’ll get to see exactly who he is tonight.”
Roiz was impressed with the script but he also knew that this kind of fantasy concept had the potential to be either very good or very bad. “It’s not the kind of show that falls in the middle, it’s either going to be one or the other…it’s very watchable and it’s very unique as far as its approach and there’s that brand name of Grimm so people do recognize every other fairy tale, they’re probably surprised at how many characters they know or are going to discover.”
While some performers might enjoy the elaborate dress-up that Grimm demands, we wondered if Roiz was an actor not eager to spend hours in the make-up chair. “I can’t stand to put prosthetics on,” Roiz made clear. “I’ve done it a few times and I just don’t sit still so I’m not a great candidate for that…I mean the most I have to put on is that I have to gray my hair on the sides a little bit just to give me a distinguished, slightly older appearance but that’s all I have to endure and I’m thankful for it.”
There’s been much speculation as to where the thoughtful fairy tale would meander next. “We’re also going to infuse it with a lot more mythology,” Roiz teases with as much information that hasn’t been embargoed. “(with) the Grimm world and the creature world and Grimm’s responsibility for Grimm being our lead character…and of course his whole relationship will have to have to evolve in a certain way with his fiance as well as his partner and at some point he will have to reveal himself and so it will be a lot of interesting twists and turns as we continue in the series.”
Grimm is shot around Portland, Oregon with its lush, fairy tale-like forestry and Roiz takes advantage of all the outdoor splendors that the location has to offer. “It’s such a great place for outdoorsy people, there’s just so much to do out here from skiing to hiking; I went white water rafter last month and bike riding, it’s a great town for that.”
“I’m physically active, I’m just not the rugged camping guy, you know who goes to the woods for two weeks, that’s not me, you know, I like my cappuchinos a little too much.”
When Roiz was younger he roughed it, living out of a van with a touring rock band where he had success at both performing and recording. “I loved every minute of it except for that living and sleeping in the van part, but you know, that’s the stuff you can get away with when you’re younger. At this point I need a comfy bed.”
And who needs all that suffocating makeup when your natural acting can out-villain the most gruesome prosthetic-enhanced evil character on Grimm, of all places?
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