Exclusive: D. B. Woodside Talks Fox’s LuciferPosted by Wilson Morales
February 8, 2016
Currently airing on Mondays at 9pm on Fox TV is the drama series “Lucifer,” which is based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint.
LUCIFER takes everything we think we know about the world’s greatest villain and flips it upside down. Bored and unhappy in Hell, LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR (Tom Ellis) abandons his throne and heads to the city of Angels looking for a heck of a good time.
At the same time, the angel AMENADIEL (DB Woodside), has been sent to Los Angeles by God to convince Lucifer to return to the underworld…can the Devil incarnate be tempted toward the side of Good, or will his original calling pull him back toward Evil?
For veteran actor D. B. Woodside, this role is quite different from the ones he’s had in the past. Best known for his portrayal of White House Chief of Staff (and later President) Wayne Palmer on the FOX action/drama series 24, Woodside also played bass singer Melvin Franklin in the NBC miniseries The Temptations, and Malcolm Franks in VH1’s Single Ladies, and most recently he played SEC Prosecutor Jeff Malone in the fourth season of USA’s Suits.
Woodside recently spoke with Blackfilm.com about his role and working with the cast.
How good does it feel to be back on TV?
D. B. Woodside: It feels good. It helps pay for my daughter’s way through college.
In playing the angel Amenadiel, what was the attraction to doing the series?
D. B. Woodside: I’m a big Marvel and DC comic guy and I have always been ever since I was a kid. Something about these supernatural characters and stories has always peeked my interest. Lucifer is this amazing dark comic, although the television show is very loosely based on it. The writers here have created their own mythology and what attracted me to the series was this role of Amenadiel. It was something so different than anything I had done before and quite honestly, it’s a character that’s closer to me than most people realize. I tend to be the actor that people love to put me in. They love to throw a suit and tie on me. This is a character so far from that world and he’s a very physical guy. He’s a warrior for God. He’s an archangel. He’s the one that God sends to Earth when God wants to enact wrath somewhere on the planet. He’s actually closer to my own personality and I wanted the chance to do that and show people what I can do.
Can you talk about wearing the wings on the show?
D. B. Woodside: That’s incredible. It’s all CGI. On set, I never see them. There’s a lot of trusting that I had to do with Len Wiseman, who directed the pilot. I’ve been a big fan of his with the “Underworld” mythology and Len is incredible to work for and with. I just trusted him when he told me that the wings would be huge and scary and fantastic. I just went with it and so happy that I did.
You’ve worked on numerous projects in the past with a big ensemble. How long did it take for this cast to start establishing a good chemistry with each other?
D. B. Woodside: What’s amazing about this show and I’m so happy to say but this cast is amazing. It took us no time. We genuinely like each other and we enjoy hanging out with each other. It’s filled with kind people from our executive producers to our directors to the actors and the fantastic crew up here in Vancouver and if feels blessed to be working with a talented and kind group of individuals.
When looking at roles to take on, what’s the common ingredient that you are looking for?
D. B. Woodside: For me, the common thing is always going to be truth. It’s always about finding that character’s truth. In the real world, there’s no such thing as good people and bad people. Every human being is the hero of their own life story. They never think that they are being bad. They just decide their thoughts and actions based on the information that they have based on the way they choose to live their life. For me, it’s always about finding that first. What is this particular character’s point of view? That is what attracts me first and that’s usually what I try to zero in so I can get to the truth of these characters.
What do you think is the draw to get folks to watch this series?
D. B. Woodside: Our lead is absolutely phenomenal. Tom Ellis is great in playing Lucifer. He plays the role in what I would call a very James Bond. He’s a British actor and they have allowed him to keep his accent and he has impeccable timing and an amazing sense of humor. I think people are going to be surprised at how much humor is in this show.
There’s been so much talk about the lack of diversity in the film world since the Oscar nominations, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with television. Would you agree?
D. B. Woodside: Yes. Hands down. I’ve been checking everything that’s been going on. I agree with Jada Pinkett Smith. I agree with Will Smith and I agree with the president of the Academy. This is not something that’s new for any of us. It’s a continuing struggle for us to be given the same opportunity as everybody else. I think television has gotten better. Right now, TV seems to be offering us more opportunities but if you are old enough to remember, we have been in this place before too. I’m not prepare to jump on the bandwagon and congratulating networks for finally giving opportunities to minorities. Speak to me in five years. Let me see if this is something that is not a fad but a reality. That we have entered a new place and the same opportunities that are offered to our white brothers and sisters will be offered to us brown and black people. I’m one of those people who are cautiously optimistic. I’m remember seeing all this about eight to ten years ago and then it dried up. Hopefully, it won’t dry up. Hopefully, we have entered into a new zone and new reality where we are given the same opportunity consistently.
