Wentworth Miller - Farewell by Anne Bronte

Farewell

 

Farewell to thee! but not farewell

To all my fondest thoughts of thee:

Within my heart they still shall dwell;

And they shall cheer and comfort me.

O, beautiful, and full of grace!

If thou hadst never met mine eye,

I had not dreamed a living face

Could fancied charms so far outvie.

If I may ne'er behold again

That form and face so dear to me,

Nor hear thy voice, still would I fain

Preserve, for aye, their memory.

That voice, the magic of whose tone

Can wake an echo in my breast,

Creating feelings that, alone,

Can make my tranced spirit blest.

That laughing eye, whose sunny beam

My memory would not cherish less; -

And oh, that smile! whose joyous gleam

Nor mortal language can express.

Adieu, but let me cherish, still,

The hope with which I cannot part.

Contempt may wound, and coldness chill,

But still it lingers in my heart.

And who can tell but Heaven, at last,

May answer all my thousand prayers,

And bid the future pay the past

With joy for anguish, smiles for tears?

~ Anne Bronte ~

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Wentworth Miller - Fame and Recognition.

Went’s character Michael Scofield also had the amazing tattoo all over his body.  This of course added to the ingeniousness of the character he portrayed.  It also had the female audience glued to their TV sets every week. [She Laughs].  In interviews Went had to explain how the tattoos were applied and how he felt about wearing them.

Went was asked in an interview if any of the tattoos he had on the show were real.  He said ““ No. It's really not my thing, but it is a treat to become someone who's 50 percent tattooed. The whole pleasure of being an actor is trying out things you don't have to take home with you at night. “ and  “I haven’t been working out in a while, I appreciate that it the tattoo adds shading and contours where there are none.”

(Yeah right Went tell us another one, you’re perfectly shaped in every way.)

Went also had this to say about working out “I made a decision not to work out because I'm lazy and also, the character is not a superhero. I didn't want him to be a buff guy with Jackie Chan moves because the point is he's smarter than your average Joe.”

In 2006 Went Won the People’s Choice Award in the category “For favourite New Television Drama.”  He was nominated by the Academy of Science fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA for a Saturn Award in the category “Best Actor on Television”.  He was also nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the Category TV – Choice Actor. Went also received a nomination for a Golden Globe Award in the Category “Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama.”

Before Went earned himself a nomination for the Golden Globes he said that it would be wonderful to earn an award “Show me an actor who has not had his Oscar fantasy and I will show you a liar’. Even if he did not get any awards, acting is an essential part of life for him in itself. ‘You have to love what you do, and you have to need it like you need air. And there's nothing else that would give me the same degree of satisfaction as acting, which is why I can't walk away from it. The road has been what it's been and it's taken me as long as it's taken to get here and I don't regret a second. It doesn't get any better than this."

Now with a regular role and a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a TV drama, Went said this about being snagged for a Golden Globe Nomination with a sly grin on his face "It's like winning the lottery."

“One of the most gratifying things about being on a TV show is that people are inviting you into their homes every week,” he says. “They’ve made time for you in their busy lives and schedules. That’s the highest compliment.”

In 2006 Went was also a presenter for the Teen Choice Awards.

Went was a presenter at the 2006 Emmy Awards alongside Evangaline Lilly.

At long last Went was receiving the recognition he justly deserved for his hard work, dedication to his craft and for his amazing acting abilities.

He also had to attend all the functions and parties that went with the show.

The filming of Season Two began on June 15, 2006 in Dallas, Texas due to a close proximity of rural and urban settings. Executive producer Matt Olmstead stated that the filming location was changed from Chicago in the first season to Dallas in the second season because the characters were on the run. Many locations were needed to represent various American towns, which Dallas provided, whereas locations within Chicago took several hours to travel between. Olmstead noted, "It really came down to a financial thing." Other locations that were considered for filming were New Mexico, Arizona and Louisiana. Dallas was chosen because of its "resourcefulness, cost effectiveness and variety with regard to activities available for the crew", which was considered to be a major component for the final decision.  Filming took place in Dallas for nine to ten months, where 20 of the 22 episodes were shot. The series was expected to bring $50 million into the city of Dallas.  For the final three episodes of season two, filming took place in Pensacola, Florida to represent Panama. Filming for each episode took place over eight days, which contributed approximately $1.4 million to the local economy.

In my research I found this interview with Went and I found Went’s answers quite amusing.  He has such a wonderful sense of humor and has a fabulous way of describing situations that have happened to him with his fans.

In an interview with Earl Dittman he asked Went the following questions:

What do most fans usually say to you?

“It was always a positive experience. The fans are so respectful of the show, and it’s a real pleasure talking to them. What they were basically telling me, throughout the time the show was running, is that when they don’t miss an episode they’re making time for you, your story, your work and my life every week. I always considered that the highest compliment.”

How did the success of Prison Break help you out with the ladies — off the screen?

“It was a double-edged sword. Obviously, I had a calling card that works quite well in certain situations. [Laughs] I did have some strange experiences, though.”

What type of experiences, for instance?

“Well, once, I was at the mall, and a woman came up to me, very politely and very respectfully, and she wanted to take my picture, and she had her camera cell phone as they all do. She wanted to take the picture herself and so she kind of sidled up to me, and I put my arm around her and she held up her phone, but couldn’t take the picture because it was shaking like a maraca. She was that nervous, and I could feel her vibrating next to me and it was starting to make me nervous. Then, she had to ask a complete stranger to take the picture for her, and as soon the picture was taken – as soon as she had my image in camera – she stopped looking at me. She continued interacting with me, but she only looked at the image on her camera. She said good-bye to the image on her camera.”

(I thought this was very funny because I could almost picture myself in this dear lady’s position.  I've a feeling that been around Went can be very unnerving.  I love the way Went said he picked up her nervousness and he even began to get nervous himself.  Isn’t he cute?)

 

That must’ve been weird?

 “It really was. I can probably write an essay about the disconnection between perception of image and reality. But it was a very strange moment to stand there and realize that someone – who five seconds ago wanted nothing more than to acknowledge your work – now very much wanted the experience to be over with, because it was almost as though she couldn’t handle the real me standing there.”

(It’s your amazing presence and charm Went that has people behaving strangely.)

How stressful is it for you to be recognized all the time and to have people know who you are and to think they know things about you?

“It’s part of the business. We wanted people to watch the show. And, you want to have a large fan base, and that’s also what I saw when it comes to doing publicity, PR and getting the word out. We were talking about this on set one time, me and Dominic (Purcell), and what we determined is that they don’t pay us to act. They pay us to act as diplomats and ambassadors and politicians and publicists and all those other things that go along with being an actor on a successful TV show.”

Does the lack of privacy ever irritate or bother you?

“You know what, the fans are so respectful that they come up and ask for an autograph or a picture. The interaction is usually done and over with in about five minutes.”

Did you get, or still get, a lot of romantic emails or letters?

“I’ve gotten a few romantic letters, absolutely, which is flattering. But I also know that they have feelings, if you want to call them that, for the character that I played on TV.”

(Went I could never confuse you with your character Michael, thank goodness, [She laughs] but I can see how people could be caught up with this brave and selfless character.  He was certainly endearing, very much like you are in reality).

Did actual prison inmates, who were still incarcerated, ever send write to you?

“Yeah, I got a few letter from inmates. Apparently, a Prison Break headshot would get you a pack of smokes. [Laughs] But, the truth is that in a number of state pens they were not allowed to watch the show, because they might get encouraged to imitate it, I guess.”

Being a diplomat of sorts, as you mentioned, for the show, have you always felt a responsibility to act a particular way in your public life – like not getting into legal trouble and not being able to let loose in public?

“Well, you don’t want to embarrass yourself. So, you always might think twice about picking your nose in public.”

(Can you imagine Went doing that in public? [She laughs] I don’t think so. It must be such a strain to have the “The Evil Eye” always watching every move you make.)

 “Picking my nose in public? [Laughs] Sometimes, sometimes there is a small sacrifice in terms of anonymity and privacy, but you never know what you’re going to be asked to sacrifice until it’s already been sacrificed. There were so many pros to this job, so many perks and so many doors that it opened for me that I really can’t complain.”

(Poor Went the sacrifices he has to make. [She laughs again]).

Looking back, what did fans usually want to know about the series?

“In the first couple of seasons, they always wanted to know about my relationship to Dr. Sara. Everybody would always want to know what the deal was between Michael and Dr. Sara.”

What do you usually tell them?

“There was only so much that I could tell them. What I would say, and this is after they first escaped, is ‘While Michael is now literally free, physically free, I think that his mind and heart are back at the prison.’ If you remember, in the last two episodes of the first season, he lost both a surrogate father figure in the Warden Westmorland and fatally, perhaps, compromised his love interest. So, I’d say, ‘Mentally and emotionally, he’s still very much a prisoner.”

Throughout the series, you took several cross-country journeys. Early on, what were some of the more interesting things that you saw on your initial treks across North America?

“I stopped off in Santa Fe – which is a beautiful part of the country – and, apparently, where hippies go to die.” [Laughs]

Are you a big souvenir-buying guy? Did you pick-up a lot of nick-knacks at every new location shoot during the series run?

“No, my house would be packed with them by now if I had.”

To do a show as physically challenging as Prison Break, I imagine you had to be in good shape. Did you have a regular work-out routine?

 “My work-out routine usually involved eating less. [Laughs] That was tough when we were shooting the first season in Chicago. If you are trying to eat less, Chicago is a dangerous place to be, because the food was so good and the portions were so large, and it was difficult to establish and exercise routine while working five days a week, fourteen hours a day. When we moved to Dallas for the second season, I had a little more free time, because there are so many different storylines, and Michael wasn’t in every scene driving the plot forward. So, I actually hit the pool every once in a while, which was nice.”

Are you an avid swimmer?

“I am. I am.”

You can read the complete interview here.

http://www.drivenmag.com/2009/07/21/interview-wentworth-miller-on-prison-break-the-final-break/

Here’s another link for an interview Went did with Dish that I enjoyed reading.

 http://dishmag.com/issue60/celebrity/935/dish-speaks-with-prison-break-s-wentworth-miller-/

Well this is where I’ll leave you.

Until then it’s… goodbye from Went and me! 

Speak to you all soon.

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Sonnet 14 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for love’s sake only. Do not say

“I love her for her smile—her look—her way

Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought

That falls in well with mine, and certes brought

A sense of pleasant ease on such a day”—

For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may

Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,

May be unwrought so. Neither love me for

Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry,—

A creature might forget to weep, who bore

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!

But love me for love’s sake, that evermore

Thou may’st love on, through love’s eternity.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning~

I miss you Went!

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Wentworth Miller - Shines!



Went left LA and moved to Millenium Park, in Chicago to be near to the filming of the pilot for Prison Break.

He was asked in an interview if he enjoyed living in Chicago his reply was “L.A. has been my home for the last ten years. I've come to like it a lot. But it's very much about the entertainment industry, and it can be a little incestuous. That's what I liked most about working in Chicago -- not everyone I met was somehow connected with the business. Not everyone had a stack of head shots in the backseat of their car. Not everyone was working on a script."

When the first two episodes of Prison Break were finally aired on Fox August 29th 2005 his popularity went through the roof. Critics once again – in large number – were singing his praises stating that he was well cast in the show and that this would be his long deserved breakthrough role. The viewer ratings were high; the highest Fox had had since 1998. Meanwhile in contrast to this critics were cutting to pieces the film Stealth for which he did voice over work. A few critics criticised his work but there were minor criticisms in which they compared his voice to HAL from Space Odyssey 2001 which in the wider scheme of things is a strange compliment because that was what he was aiming for.

All in all things seem to be on the up and up but will this be the overdue breakout role that he has been working so hard for?  It sure was but all the while Went stayed objective about the media hype surrounding the show.  He had been down that road before and he was going to take the whole media circus with a pinch of salt. In fact he appreciated the fact that he was ‘tucked away in Joliet, Illinois’ away from the media glare. He was fully aware that they could pour their hearts and souls into the project and in the end it wasn’t up to them what time the show airs or who they were up against or if an American mayor could be bothered to tune in and watch.  Due to this Went decided to be committed to the project but not attached.

It was hard to ignore the amount of queries and criticisms levelled at the show such as its longevity. Went noticed this also at press conferences and commented that people would look at the title of the show and assume that it was about two guys jumping over a wall.  How many episodes would that take? Miffed by this mentality he also mentioned that the executive producer was intelligent and had mapped out the whole story of Prison Break into the second season.

Believability was another issue that a large number of audience members and some critics also had with the story. Once again like with The Human Stain the believability of the characters and the story would be brought into question. The major question was can Prison Break survive this leap of faith / believability? Will they be able to keep audiences tuned in and faithful enough to follow the characters journeys? Went being who he is was enough to guarantee a large number of women and men tuning in just to gaze at the ‘pretty’ regardless of whether they enjoyed the story or not, but was that going to be enough to ensure the survival of the show?

Went  described Prison Break as follows: “It's a comic book at the end of the day and I think it's a lot of fun. There's a lot of pay off to buckling up and taking that roller coaster ride with Michael.” Went said “It's called Prison Break, it's about prison, but it's really about family, I think, underneath that it's about how far one man is willing to go to save a loved one.” He also stated that “Prison Break is so far-fetched, I had to make viewers believe that Michael is capable of making the impossible possible. They've created a universe in which every character exists in a gray scale. No one is black or white, good or evil. Michael's a good man that sometimes has to do bad things to get the job done and that's a lot of fun to explore. Each episode is going to have a number of puzzles for viewers to solve, and there are six or seven different subplots swirling around. It's really going to be something that rewards the attentive and patient viewer.”

At press conferences he would be asked about his background and his character on the show and his role in Joan of Arcadia to which he would say that it was strangely poetic that he would end up moving from playing a satanic type character on Joan of Arcadia to playing a ghost on the exact same network and in the exact same time slot. Before auditioning for the role on Joan he told the producers that if Prison Break were to be commissioned he would not be able to reprise his role. The producers of Joan did not seem to mind. They seemed to have bigger fish to fry. He thought it was unfortunate that Joan was cancelled and when asked he said that he was not responsible for the cancellation of Joan of Arcadia.

Went commented on his “Prison Break” character:  “Michael Scofield is someone everyone can relate to, but nobody would want to be in his shoes.  He's an extraordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. I don't think there's anybody who would be crazy enough to attempt what he's trying to do but the one thing I can relate to is the feeling of love and loyalty for a family member.”

On the similarities with his character to Michael Scofield he replied “We have some overlaps, there are some characteristics that we have in common, I do have respect for discipline and organization and follow-through but I think my character is those parts of me taken to an extreme.”

Went was asked if he would do what Michael Scofield did for his family, his reply was “I do have siblings and I think I would lay down my life for them but I don't think I could pull off something like Michael's attempting to pull off I just don't have the mathematical scientific savvy.”

Meanwhile Prison Break had Went’s fans building in numbers and proclaiming love for him. They wanted to find out where he lives, did he have a girlfriend. Where he worked.  To this day his fans still stalk him. Some have already met him.  (Aren’t they the lucky ones? [she pouts])  His fans think he is cute, shy, courteous and hot. Others who live too far away fantasise about him from a distance, wanting to marry him and have his babies.  Pet fights broke out on the official Fox discussion forum (all in good fun of course) between women who wanted to date him saying “forget it bitch he’s mine!”

Went had this to say about discussion forums:  “I did go online to read some chat room comments about the show, which I wouldn’t recommend.  It’s like reading someone’s diary.”

He also spoke about people posting as him on ‘Myspace’ : I have people calling my agent asking which Myspace page is mine and there are about a dozen and the fact is I've never been on Myspace. People posing as me is a little unsettling, a little frightening... it disturbs me on a profound level.”



Went travelled almost all over the world as a representative for Prison Break.  (Unfortunately, he never made it to a country called South Africa much to my disappointment.)  He did International TV interviews, TV Ads, attended Press Conferences, Publicity Shoots and Commercial Shoots.  Even though Went was caught up in a whirlwind of work and stress he always remained poised, calm, professional and polite at all times.  At the interviews and press conferences he spoke eloquently and with precision, intelligently and politely, never fumbling for words.  He was accommodating to everyone, especially to his fans who had travelled many thousands of miles to see him and to get his autograph.  He always greeted his fans with a wave and a beautiful smile and allowed them to take photos and videos of him with them.  Went’s politeness and grace afforded him the respect and affection he well deserves from all of his fans all over the world.

(Went is a class of his own.)

Went said this about his fans “I always enjoy running into someone who appreciates the show Prison Break It means a lot to me.”

Went also had this to say about fame “Many people hesitate before talking to an actor, but my character has received a lot of mail (and some of them using steamy language.) My character has had more success than I have had (laughs). When I am walking down the street, women ask me for my autograph, a kiss and take pictures with their cell phones.”

He said this too  “Robert Knepper [T-Bag] gets a lot of racy fan mail, actually. People find his character arousing.. and Amaury Nolasco [Sucre] gets a lot of pats on the back and bear hugs, as though he’s everybody’s best friend. People tend to be much more formal with me, so I get a lot of polite handshakes from fans of the show.”

In an interview Went said this about Michael’s appeal “I think the character I play on Prison Break is potentially sexy.”

In interviews he was asked all sorts of personal questions such as what was his personality like etc to which he answered….

I’m "a fairly boring person. I go to the library, I do a lot of reading, and I eat at Subway. When I need some boxers I go to the Gap. I'm literally behind bars five days out of seven," When he had the time he would "as the cliché would have it, (write short stories and) a script”. Or go out to dinner with friends. Asked whether he would in the future do a comedy he believes that he is not funny and if he was considered as such it would be unintentional.

Went also describes himself in another interview “I'm kind of a dork. I don't have much game. I'm not particularly comfortable in bars or clubs. I much prefer being home playing Scrabble, having dinner with a couple friends, going to see a movie, or losing a whole weekend to Season 14 of Law and Order or The Simpsons.”

“I'm a private person, but that implies that I'm sitting on a mountain of secrets. The fact is, I'm a fairly quiet person. I have to laugh internally when I'm asked in interviews what nightspots I like to hit. I just don't have answers for those questions. So sometimes I make them up.”

“I enjoy swimming, reading and naps. I am writing a screenplay or two of my own and in Chicago I try to go to a different restaurant every week. I spend a bit of time at The Art Institute Of Chicago because music, painting, movies and theatre can all contribute to the work of an actor. You never know where you are going to find influences. By and large, I try to keep my down time fairly low-key as the job itself can be so draining.”

As Went keeps his private life very private there have been so many speculations about his girlfriends.  He was once asked if he was ever tempted to take advantage of his status with one of the sun-tanned lovelies queuing up for him.

He shrugged and spread his hands out on his knees, “Right now, my work comes first,” he said, speaking slowly and thoughtfully. “I’m a workaholic, which is the sad truth of it. I did manage to go on a couple of dates over the past year, but I’m happiest when I’m on set, so I really need to get all of that out of my system before I can turn my attention to more personal matters. I try to lead a low-key life. And sometimes you just want to go to Chilli’s and have a margarita and some chicken fajitas, and not have the experience wind up on a website somewhere. It’s a little bit strange, all that sex-symbol stuff. The fact is I look the same as I’ve looked for the past 10 or 15 years.  My eyes aren’t suddenly a more compelling shade of green. People go on about the ‘brooding look’ a lot, but usually I’m just squinting because my eyes are sensitive.”

(Went I beg to differ with you.  Your eyes are a compelling shade of green and you’re unaware of how that brooding look of yours has hearts racing.  I'm sorry to hear about your sensitive eyes but your squint is really appealing.[she laughs])

Went also had this to say about his love life since becoming an actor “I feel at a disadvantage - people think they know you. I was disappointed when I realized they were more interested in talking to Michael Scofield. If that's what they're attracted to, that's not what I have to offer.”

Went described his ideal woman as “Um, I am into brunettes. For a long time, I’ve had a crush on Angie Harmon, who used to be on Law & Order. She’s a beautiful barracuda. [Laughs]  and “I believe that confidence is the key to many things. One can talk about a sense of humour or style but the most attractive aspect of a woman is her confidence; that she feels comfortable in her own skin. Ideally, I would like to find a woman that understands what it is like to be with an actor without being an actress herself. I want a woman who keeps my feet on the ground and holds my hand while I am off going around in circles. Like somebody who works in the accounting department of a film company.” (laughs).”

Went was asked what was the most romantic thing he ever did he replied  “This one time I had a girlfriend that was out of the country a lot. So I gave her a watch and set it to ‘my time’ so wherever we were, we’d always be on the same time. I thought that was pretty romantic.”

(What a romantic man Went is.)

Went on whether he is a gentleman:  “Yeah, I'd like to think I am. I really try hard to make a girl feel comfortable and I treat her like a lady, and if I see a woman carrying a lot of groceries, I will always stop to help her out.”

(What a pity Went’s never around when I need help with my groceries.)

Went:  “I broke my nose in gym when a ball hit me. I took a girl to her debutante ball the next week wearing a tux and a big, honking bandage. Not the romantic night she had in mind.”

At a party for the Fox network an unassuming Went appeared unaware that he was the network’s newest sex symbol.

"An actor wants to be respected for his work. Everything else is second," he said. "If the whole hunk thing opens doors for me, gets me to a director I have not worked with before, then I am certainly willing to go along for that ride.”

Went (on walking the red carpet):  “That’s a necessary part of the beast, doing publicity. I don’t mind talking about the show. I’m very proud of it, but I do try to say no to as many invitations as possible when it comes to red carpet events, parties and premieres."

I thought I'd end my blog with Went's delightful laugh. Goodbye everyone speak to you soon!

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Wentworth Miller - Remembrance by Emily Bronte

Went enjoys the works of the Bronte sisters.

Cold in the earth—and the deep snow piled above thee,

Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!

Have I forgot, my only Love, to love thee,

Severed at last by Time's all-severing wave?

Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover

Over the mountains, on that northern shore,

Resting their wings where heath and fern-leaves cover

That noble heart for ever, ever more?

Cold in the earth, and fifteen wild Decembers

From those brown hills have melted into spring:

Faithful indeed is the spirit that remembers

After such years of change and suffering!

Sweet Love of youth, forgive if I forget thee,

While the world's tide is bearing me along:

Sterner desires and other hopes beset me,

Hopes which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong!

No later light has lightened up my heaven;

No second morn has ever shone for me:

All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given,

All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.

But when the days of golden dreams had perished,

And even Despair was powerless to destroy,

Then did I learn how existence could be cherished,

Strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy;

Then did I check the tears of useless passion,

Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine;

Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten

Down to that tomb already more than mine.

And even yet I dare not let it languish,

Dare not indulge in Memory's rapturous pain;

Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish,

How could I seek the empty world again?

 

`Emily Bronte`

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