Have you ever wondered how actors prepare for intense roles? Jason Clarke, known for his portrayal of tough, morally complex characters, is here to tell us how his dark past roles helped shape his latest performance in Apple TV+'s "The Last Frontier." But here's where it gets controversial... Is being typecast a bad thing?
Clarke, a veteran character actor, stars as Frank Remnick, a U.S. Marshal in a remote Alaskan town. When a plane carrying dangerous criminals crashes in his territory, Frank finds himself at the center of a much larger, more sinister plot than he could have ever imagined. It's a role that, on the surface, seems right in Clarke's wheelhouse, given his history of playing cops, soldiers, and other no-nonsense figures. And, to his credit, he openly acknowledges the advantages that come with this typecasting.
In a recent interview, Clarke shared how he carries aspects of previous roles with him, allowing them to inform his current performances. Think about his intense verbal sparring with Cillian Murphy in "Oppenheimer" or the steely interrogation tactics he employed as a CIA operative in "Zero Dark Thirty." These seemingly disparate roles, Clarke argues, all contributed to the nuanced portrayal of Frank Remnick – a man of unwavering moral principles, even when those principles create friction in his personal life.
"It was inside me," Clarke explained. "You carry them all with you, and they sit inside you. There's a lot of my father in this, a sheep-shearing, hard-working man. There's the simplicity and the beauty of that, the decency of it. 'Zero Dark Thirty,' the interrogator, the scenes of interrogation in this, they all kind of add into it and that leads to 'Oppenheimer' — the ability to sit there and listen in an interrogation, the ability to needle a little bit to get something out, but you got to be friends, as well. All of them, they all kind of come into something else."
And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about mimicking actions; it's about internalizing the essence of those characters and drawing upon that accumulated experience.
But wait, there's more! Clarke's typecasting continues in the upcoming film "A House of Dynamite," where he plays – you guessed it – a military admiral. The film, directed by Kathryn Bigelow (with whom he previously worked on "Zero Dark Thirty"), explores the U.S. government's response to a looming nuclear threat, focusing on how power structures crumble under immense pressure. Clarke believes that his time spent embodying Frank Remnick in "The Last Frontier" provided the perfect foundation for his role in "A House of Dynamite."
Furthermore, Clarke emphasizes the importance of consulting with real-life professionals – admirals, police officers, soldiers – to ensure authenticity in his performances.
"And then, there's a lot of cop shows, a lot of military people. There really are. Kathryn Bigelow, to [cast me to] play an admiral in ['A House of Dynamite'], I was able to fly in there and just hit the ground running because I've worked with a lot of them, I've met a lot of them."
So, for those anticipating the release of "A House of Dynamite," expect another compelling performance from Clarke in a role he's uniquely qualified to play. In the meantime, you can catch new episodes of "The Last Frontier" streaming on Apple TV+ every Friday.
What do you think? Is being typecast a blessing or a curse for actors? Does it allow them to hone their skills and deliver more believable performances, or does it limit their range and creativity? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Could it be argued that Clarke's willingness to embrace these roles is actually a strategic choice, allowing him to build a specific brand and appeal to a particular audience? Let's discuss!
