Harry Lennix stars as Harold Cooper on the NBC hit series, “The Blacklist.” The show stars James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington, an ex-government agent who is the FBI’s most wanted fugitive, and now working with them to bring down a terrorist that was presumed dead. The show has proven successful that NBC already issued a season two renewal. We spoke with Lennix regarding the fact NBC is standing behind the series:
“It’s a load off, I can tell you. (laughs) In this business, there is no such thing as job security. You never know how these things go. The fact that NBC expressed confidence in the show means a lot to us. I know professionally, it means the world, and personally, it means a great deal. We can go on and continue to relax about that aspect while we continue to do hard work so that the show remains entertaining.”
Cooper, as the head of the FBI, is not wanting to trust Reddington, especially since he is a known fugitive. We spoke with Lennix on Cooper’s feelings about working with Reddington, and a possible tease in tonight’s new episode:
“Cooper doesn’t want to trush Reddington. I think Cooper would prefer someone else, like a ‘Dudley Do-Right.” (laughs) Unfortunately, that’s the way it is. Bad people know where all the other bad people are. To a certain extent, it’s proven that when you lie down with dogs, you get fleas. There is a little bit of skepticism to be spread around here, and it’s well-placed. On a relevant scale, it is better to apprehend people whose primary interests are to disrupt, destroy, and to kill citizens in the United States and abroad. We don’t want that to happen, and sometimes you have to make a choice between the lesser of two evils. Cooper, I think, keeps his personal feelings out of it. It isn’t a matter of what he wants, but a matter of what his job is. His job (Assistant Director of Counterterrism) is to keep America safe as can be in this modern age. In tonight’s episode, however, you will see some light shed on how Cooper feels in regards to Reddington.”
Also an accomplished film actor, Lennix has been seen in such films as “The Matrix: Reloaded” and “Ray.” He recently was seen in the “Man of Steel” movie as General Swanwick. The actor spoke on what it was like to work on the film:
“It was a great thrill. Superman has always been my favorite superhero. To be standing next to this guy in a cape, who believes in the Truth, Justice, and the American Way, I have to say that was one of the thrills of my life. I look forward to being a part of the next segment(s) of it. I loved the part I played.”
We spoke more with Harry Lennix about “The Blacklist” and “Man of Steel” in the full podcast, which you can download and stream below.
Follow Harry Lennix on Twitter: @HarryJLennix.
“The Blacklist” airs Monday nights at 10/9c on NBC.
