Bold Bailey

Lanka location for top TV series :

Ishara Jayawardane

Charming, spirited and frank are three terms which come to mind when you encounter Covert Affairs’ lead actor Eion Bailey. The talented artiste is known to get along famously with others due to his open and friendly nature. An interview with the Daily News led to an enthusiastic discussion where the actor revealed his ideas on movies and his dream to act alongside Charlize Theron one day. Following are excerpts from the interview with the artiste during his brief stay in Sri Lanka

Q: What are you working on these days?

A: I am engaged in shooting for a spy series called Covert Affairs. It revolves around a story about two teams: the CIA and the spies. I portray the role of a spy

and my storyline takes place mostly in Sri Lanka. The season finale concludes in Sri Lanka. They filmed most of the scenes in Toronto, Canada, where they converted the background to look like Sri Lanka.

I had to come here to engage in extra shooting to pull off the project in a convincing manner. Some scenes need to be shot in Sri Lanka as you cannot duplicate them anywhere else. One such example is walking through the crowd during a Perehara.

My stay here is for a week and I’ve been filming with Chandran Rutnam. I have been having a great time, getting to know him and this country which is stunningly beautiful. I love it here. I’ve travelled all over the island from Kandy to Unawatuna, Sigiriya, Trincomalee and Tangalle. It has been a great experience.

Q: Sri Lanka is the setting for Allan Krocker’s Covert Affairs season finale When the Levee Breaks. Comment.

A: The story is about a woman who is recruited by the CIA. She is a spy with connections all over the world. While in Sri Lanka she falls in love with my character. Our affair come to a halt once I leave the beach bungalow in the middle of the night leaving her a note saying; “the truth is complicated, I’m sorry but I’m out of here”. She doesn’t see me for two years but still wishes we were together. Later I approach her again to right some wrongs and our relationship builds up again.

I’ve turned into a rogue which means I am causing a lot of trouble for the CIA. Piper Perabo plays the female lead. The TV show is screened worldwide but the story unfolds in Sri Lanka.

I have enjoyed the shooting very much because it provided a whole new experience for me. After all it is not everyday that I get to run through the market or walk amidst the glamorous Pherehara. There are 13 episodes in one season.

This means 13 stories and six of them are partly based in Sri Lanka.

However the finale chapter of the season includes scenes which are shot in Sri lanka. The crew had been to countries like Venezuela, Switzerland and a few other places but this is the first time they’ve sent an actor abroad to shoot in foreign soil. This had never happened for a tele series. Actors are only sent abroad mostly for movies.

Q: How many films have you acted in?

A: Probably 12 or 14. I’ve acted in many more television series.

Q: Why did you take up acting as a career?

A: I love to express my perspectives on humanity. It doesn’t matter whether the character is a spy, an alcoholic, the editor of a magazine, a journalist, a homeless person, a rebel or a politician.

I really enjoy taking on the challenge of how I would portray the behaviour of these characters under certain circumstances.

The opportunity to get into another’s shoes fascinates me. I have taken part in plays in high school and that motivated me. I helped to turn the theatre concept in my hometown into something fun and cool so that everyone can relax and enjoy it.

Q: Tell us a bit about your family background.

A: My father is a pilot. He had worked as a naval fighter pilot as well as for the airlines.

My mother is in the country music business. I have two sisters and a brother. We are from California.

Q: What is the highlight of your career?

A: It is a movie based on World War II called Band of Brothers. We filmed it in England.

It is a patriotic film about American Soldiers who had an outstanding victory in the battlefield. We shot some exceptional war scenes.

It is our duty to live up to these great men and honour them for their achievements.

Q: What is your advice to aspiring actors?

A: ‘Fortune favours the bold’. It is a very appropriate anecdote for actors. That is the key to excell in the field.

You can study for years, engage in various training techniques but in every story that I have heard of someone getting their big break, it was when they had to force their way and take others by surprise.

They did not take no for an answer and took on the risks. Finally their hard work pays off with the response to the project.