NBC’s new dramatic series Blindspot premiered on September 21, 2015 as one of the highest rated (and best reviewed) new shows of the fall season. Created by Martin Gero, Blindspot stars Jaimie Alexander as a woman found naked in Times Square covered in tattoos. She has no memory of how she got there or why her body is covered with new tattoos, but she does have an FBI agent’s name tattooed prominently on her back.
Sullivan Stapleton co-stars as Kurt Weller, the FBI agent whose name is on Jane Doe’s back and who, because of this connection, is assigned to help Jane recover her memory.
Blindspot airs on Monday nights at 10pm ET/PT and in support of the show’s first season, Stapleton took part in a conference call to discuss his character, the appeal of the series, playing an FBI agent, and working with Jaimie Alexander.
Sullivan Stapleton Q&A
How much are we going to find out about your character and about his backstory over the course of the season?
Sullivan Stapleton: “Well, you know, we’ll find that a lot that gets lost in how focused he is on his job and trying to help solve the case of who Jane Doe is.”
What was the appeal of becoming involved in this particular series?
Sullivan Stapleton: “This is an awesome story and it’s obviously been created by [Martin] Gero who’s a great man. The premise for the show sort of excited me to actually see where this will go throughout the season. And, also, it’s shot in New York, and the people who created it and the NBC and Warner Brothers family – it was an easy ship to jump on board.”
Agent Weller seems like a very complex character to play.
Sullivan Stapleton: “Yes, it is and obviously you [will] find out more about Kurt as we go on. But yes, it’s interesting to find out what drives him to become an FBI agent and then also what is his connection between these two people, Kurt Weller and Jane Doe. So yes, it’s a great start.”
We’ve seen so many FBI characters on TV and often they’re kind of cookie-cutter characters. Can you speak to what you like about this character and how he’s different from so many FBI agents we’ve seen on television?
Sullivan Stapleton: “Yes, that is what I love about this character of Kurt. It’s not, as you said, the cookie-cutter FBI agent and it’s not just each case procedural. We get to explore his past and his connection between himself and Jane Doe. You see the drive that makes this man who he is. You know, he is a very layered man, very focused at work but yet you do see some of the emotional characteristics of him, you know?”
How does Kurt feel about Jane? He’s been very good to her but he must be a little suspicious of some of the interesting things that she says.
Sullivan Stapleton: “Well, I think at first we are quite suspicious as to why the FBI was directly linked to this case, this target, and as to what the connection is, and why his name was tattooed on her back. And then through obviously the investigation and the tests they’ve put her through, he realizes that she’s telling the truth. And so therefore I think we do see that sort of almost caring nature of him and the fact that he does sympathize or empathize with the fact that she’s lost and obviously understands that it would be quite hard to lose your identity and who you are or where you’re from.”
Do you see him getting more suspicious of her as he starts to realize that she’s got all these skills?
Sullivan Stapleton: “No, I don’t know about suspicion. I think that just opens up the door to actually really trying to find out who she is or how she understands the different aspects of the world we’re in. You know, she understands weapons and fighting. I think that just sort of becomes more intriguing for them as they’re finding stuff out.”
What characteristics do you like about Agent Weller compared to your other roles?
Sullivan Stapleton: “Well, actually Kurt is a pretty honest and straight-up guy. He’s obviously very focused at his job, and for good reasons. Something happened in his past that I think drives him to sort of try to make the world a better place by, I guess, chasing criminals [and] solving cases which in turn saves people’s lives. So I think I like the fact that he’s got a big heart and that’s how he lives his life. He’s got things to do. He seems to come from a very positive place.”
Can you talk about what it’s like working with Jaimie Alexander?
Sullivan Stapleton: “She’s awesome. She’s an awesome girl to work with and she’s good at her job. I think sort of working with that every day and working with that aspect, it just makes work easier. Jaimie and the rest of the cast, we all just get along really well. We sort of do our best to try and make the show the best that we possibly can.”
Did you meet with any FBI agents to learn more about your character?
Sullivan Stapleton: “Yes, I did. I met up with a couple of agents that we just talked about how they approach work and what it was. It was an honor to meet the men who do this for real, and to hear some of the stories they told me it was really eye-opening and exciting.”
In what ways would you say you’re similar to Kurt, if at all?
Sullivan Stapleton: “Yes, I would say I’m similar. I think we’re both very focused to our work and I guess even though Kurt rights the wrongs in the world, I guess I’d do the same. If something’s not right, I’ll fight against it so it’s similar in that sense. And then also the camaraderie between obviously Kurt and the other agents, that again is very similar to myself, working with a great crew that we’re working with and my fellow actors that I’m working with.”
