Podcast
Office Ladies
Claire mentioned a book by Andy Green, which contained a quote from James Spader about his role as Robert California. Spader explained that the writers were initially unsure about how to portray Robert, but ultimately embraced the eccentric and enigmatic nature of the character.
the characters on the show were constantly treating my character like this sort of enigmatic guy who they couldn't quite figure out. And I realized partway in that the writers couldn't quite figure hi...
— Episode: Angry Andy with Claire Scanlon
Episode: Angry Andy with Claire Scanlon
Claire mentioned a book by Andy Green, which contained a quote from James Spader about his role as Robert California. Spader explained that the writers were initially unsure about how to portray Robert, but ultimately embraced the eccentric and enigmatic nature of the character.
the characters on the show were constantly treating my character like this sort of enigmatic guy who they couldn't quite figure out. And I realized partway in that the writers couldn't quite figure him out either. I mean, the same relationship that the other characters had with Robert, the writers had with him as well. But I feel that worked to my advantage. They wrote some really strange eccentric stuff that I loved goofing around with. Now, whether it was successful in terms of the greater context of the whole show, I don't know. That wasn't my concern. My concern was to try and play this guy and commit to him. And to me, he was just this very strange, totally eccentric, enigmatic guy. And I think that really comes out in his performance. And it's what I remember of him. He's one of those actors and you find them a lot in the theater. The words that the playwright has written are the law. And it's your job as the actor to figure out how to make it work. And you make it work.