Normally, it takes numerous auditions for producers to cast one of the leading roles in their television show. When the producers of Lost cast the role of Michael (a father trying to connect with his estranged son, Walt, only to have him kidnapped), they immediately knew Harold Perrineau was the perfect choice to portray this complex character. "Harold was the only actor we brought to the network for Michael," executive producer Damon Lindelof says. "He brings such intense dignity to everything he does. We thought that trait - a sense of honor - was needed since Michael was such a terrible father at first."
   Perrineau delivered a particularly moving and memorable performance in this season's second episode during a flashback scene in which Michael had to say goodbye to his son. Perrineau prepared for that intense scene by bottling up his emotions until the cameras rolled. "It took a lot of hours of finding what someone might feel in that particular position, as well as what I might feel in that particular position," Perrineau explains. "It's a really wacky acting thing to do. You actually make yourself feel that bad for hours before, but you keep holding it down until it's actually time to start [shooting the scene]."
   These types of poignant performances come as no surprise to Lindelof, who says the acting skills that won Perrineau his role still shine through in every episode. "I believe he's just as genius now as he was when he was first cast," Lindeolf says. "The character, however, has grown and become much more nuanced. What might have been originally construed as a little 'one-note' - at least in our writing of it - became a fully-fleshed out character who is now extremely sympathetic, all of which we credit to Harold's performance.... Read the full story here. Permanent Link | 4:21 AM