Benjamin Bratt Talks About The Cleaner on A&E
Story of Extreme Interventionist Warren Boyd Tackles Substance Abuse
Jul 23, 2009
The A&E series The Cleaner, starring Benjamin Bratt, is a show that tells the story of a substance abuse interventionist with a mission to help people with addictions to get clean and help them get started on the road to recovery. Benjamin Bratt, as William Banks, portrays the real life extreme interventionist, Warren Boyd, with brooding intensity suitable for the serious drama about a disease that destroys lives. Benjamin Bratt recently took part in a conference call interview question and answer session. This articles contains excerpts of the interview with actor Benjamin Bratt.
Bratt talked about his portrayal of a real life personality and the series, which is in its second season on A&E.
Benjamin Bratt Talks About Portraying Warren Boyd
Question: How to you get inside the head of Warren Boyd?
Benjamin Bratt: It really didn't take too much research. As soon as you meet Warren Boyd it gives immediate insight into how to play him. Warren Boyd is a motor head, he's buffed, he wears black t-shirts, jeans, black boots and rides a Harley. All kidding aside, there is a lot of subtlety to who Warren is and to what he does. There is an aura of gravitas to him and a little bit of mystery.
I think that is part of what made him appealing for me to play, because I don't have any of that.The Cleaner is About Substance Abuse
Question: Obviously Warren Boyd has a lot of experience with addictions. Have you had any personal experience with people close to you having substance abuse problems.
Benjamin Bratt: Well, the subject matter is all too close. I have an extended family and a wide circle of friends...so I have very tragic stories in my own personal experience. The problem is ever present in my mind, but what drew me to the project was how it was rendered.
I have never seen a one-hour fictional drama that explores substance abuse and a second chance as its central focus. Substance abuse is a subject with life and death stakes. Before now it has been a topic that has been considered taboo. People were not really willing to talk about substance abuse openly ten years ago, so the timing was really right.
The project really resonates with folks who tune in because of the prevalence of substance abuse, which affects all of us whether we have direct contact with substance or not.
Cast of The Cleaner
- Benjamin Bratt as William Banks
- Amy Price-Francis as Melissa Banks
- Grace Park as Akani Cuesta
- Esteban Powell as Arnie Swenton
- Warren Boyd Co Executive Producer
- Jonathan Prince Executive Producer / Co-Creator / Show Runner
- Robert Munic Executive Producer / Co-Creator / Writer
- David Hollander Executive Producer / Writer
The Cleaner is an A&E series that is currently in its second season. The Cleaners airs on Tuesday nights at 10 PM ET.
Interview with Grace Park of The Cleaner
The Cleaner on A&E a series about Intervention
Interview with Warren Boyd who inspired The Cleaner on A&E
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