By Davina Morris
Fans of Sky One’s popular drama Prison Break will have been pleased when season three returned to Sky One last month. Following a hiatus of several weeks, countless viewers tuned in to see the drama unfold and to anxiously await the inevitable prison breakout from Panama’s frightening penitentiary, Sona. Prison bad-man, Lechero– played by Robert Wisdom– ruled over his fellow inmates with fear and reward. But it’s clear that he’s losing his grip. Wisdom– who also starred in Baltimore-based drama, The Wire, as well as in the films Barbershop 2: Back in Business, The Forgotten and the Oscar Award-winning Ray– spared time for a chat with Davina Morris.
Can you tell us what’s to come in future episodes?
Basically, there is a prison break out.
We should hope so! Can’t you tell us any more?
Lechero realised that his power base was eroding very quickly. He inserted himself as the top man in the prison and he takes that job very seriously because on the inside, it’s all about survival. He deals with things in a very black and white fashion. But when Michael (Wentworth Miller) came in, that`s when things turned grey!
Lechero realised that he needed to get out and Michael was going to be his ride. So the escape is what will take us to the end of the season. I know a little more but I can`t tell you!
Why was this season broken up into two parts?
Basically, the writer’s strike was coming and it didn`t look like we were gonna finish the 22 episodes that we had planned to shoot. We had 13 scripts finished so [US network] Fox came up with the marketing idea to break it up with a season finale at episode eight, followed by a break and then the last five episodes to end the season. I think fans are gonna enjoy it.
What’s it like working with Prison Break’s leading man, Wentworth Miller?
Oh, Wentworth’s great. He’s got a really great mind and he’s very smart. I admire the way he plays his character. There are other big, flashy characters, and he has to create a character that is really a minimalist, and that’s a hard thing to do. It takes a lot of patience. All the cast is great, but there are so many guys! I don’t get to work with too many ladies, which is a shame!
Do you enjoy your role as Major Howard ‘Bunny’ Colvin in The Wire?
Oh I love the character. I think he`s an important character to see in society right now; someone who`s extending himself to try and help solve the problems in the inner city with ideas of hope. And for fans of The Wire, the next season is gonna be fantastic! With Prison Break, you can pretty much guess what`s gonna happen. With The Wire, you have no idea. And when it happens, it’s like getting hit by a bus going 50 miles an hour. It’s a real slammer.
It sounds like you prefer The Wire to Prison Break…
I enjoyed shooting both shows, but I was a fan of The Wire before I joined the cast. Prison Break is fantastic, but if I had to choose, my heart is with The Wire.
Is it correct that you used to live in England?
Yeah, I lived in England from 1985-1993. I was the curator at [London’s famous arts venue] the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts). I lived in north London and I had a great time in the UK. I also learned a lot from a lot of the old English actors. I learned that acting is just something you do; it’s a job. Those guys weren’t caught up with all the hype and excitement that younger actors in LA can get caught up with.
What do you do in your spare time?
I play a lot of music. I go to Morocco every summer and jam with North African musicians. I love playing congas and Cuban music and I love dancing. So I have my own world outside of the acting world. I go to parties every so often– but not too often, coz it’s like Chris Rock said: you don’t wanna go out and be the oldest n****r in the club!
Prison Break is on every Monday at 10pm on Sky One
