An Interview with ‘Hightown’ Actor James Badge Dale

James Badge Dale is an accomplished actor with multiple film and television roles under his belt, and currently he stars as Ray Abruzzo on the STARZ series Hightown, and in anticipation of its second season we here at Nerds That Geek were able to sit down with James to discuss acting and his polarizing character on the show.
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John Betancourt: What was it that got you into acting?

James Badge Dale: Oh man. That’s a big bold question!

John Betancourt: I’m going there!

James Badge Dale: How do I make that short? -pause- There was a moment I was I was doing theater in college and I was standing on stage and I’d been playing hockey and it just it dawned on me I was like, “I think I can do this and not get punched in the face.” You know, it was it was kind of the same thrill of being on stage. And this this electric feeling of, you know, you're just kind of riding that that razor's edge right there. And, you know, I came up in a family of actors, but that was that that moment was the moment I fell in love. I remember very specifically.

John Betancourt: What was it that attracted you to the role of Ray?

James Badge Dale: I didn't like Ray. That's what attracted me to him. You know, this has come up a few times today where people have been asking me; “I heard you didn't like, Ray?” Yeah, I didn't like Ray. I read. I read Hightown. I was like, well, this is the best script I've read. And I also don't want to play this character because he's an asshole. And then I went to bed that night, and I couldn't stop thinking about Ray. And you know, what you look for as an actor are things that challenge you. Things that you can play with, I don't like easy jobs, I want hard jobs, I want difficulties. I want challenges, I want risks. I want also want to relate in some sort of way. And I'm not a perfect person in any sort of way. So, in all these cracks and fissures in Ray’s personality, I saw an opportunity. And, you know, it just it just keeps becoming an extension of that. And this is a type of show where I think we continue to grow, we continue to change, the writing continues to challenge the characters. And that's what makes it fun to show up to work every day.

John Betancourt: So, in keeping in line with that, since you mentioned Ray is an a-hole, how do you get into the mindset of playing someone that can be so rotten?

James Badge Dale: Oh, man, um, you know, Ray doesn't know he's rotten. Ray thinks he's doing the right thing. You know, I think it's in those moments of, you know, when we don't know we're being selfish sometimes when we're being selfish. And it's not ‘till afterwards we look back and go okay, man, maybe I maybe I owe an apology. Or maybe I need to change my behavior. You know, there have been moments where I've showed up on set. And I've thought to myself, “I don't know how to do this.” Especially when you're working with people you really like, you know, so I love the people I work with, and Ray has not been good to some of these characters. But hopefully the other actors know that I'm not Ray.

John Betancourt: Do you think Ray is someone that can be redeemed?

James Badge Dale: I believe so. I always have to believe that you know? You have to keep running towards that and that's the thing, that's the challenge. Like, I want to redeem Ray. I need to Ray to be better. You know, for me as a human being I'm looking for Ray to get better, and maybe he doesn’t. That's where life goes too sometimes. You know, life… the universe is chaotic, man. And sometimes things happen that we don't like, and we didn't plan it to go that way. But that's just the way it is. And it's how you deal with those things. And you know, it's a necessary part of the job.

John Betancourt: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work on Hightown?

James Badge Dale: I'm proud of the overall. I'm proud of the ensemble, I'm proud of this group we have. I'm proud of the tone and culture that we have on set. It’s a vibrant, playful, creative atmosphere that's safe. And in that safety, it allows everyone to bring their instincts. You know, there's that idea of “we hired you because of you, bring you” and everyone's just pouring themselves into it. And it's cool, man, it's a real thrill and I've got a lot of gratitude, you know, so, we have, a fun set to work on. Come by and check it out.

John Betancourt: I would love to. If that’s an official invitation, I will be there! So, without spoiling, what are you looking forward to the fans experiencing in season two?

James Badge Dale: Oh yeah, well, this this season is such a roller coaster ride. You know, I gotta be careful about what I can say. I think it's kind of Shakespearean. I think it's an epic. It really rides that line between being a comedy or a tragedy. And sometimes both at the same time. All these characters are a lot fuller than they were in the first season, the stakes are higher. And the story moves at a fairly breakneck pace. And there's a lot of unexpected twists here.

John Betancourt: Before we go, is there anything else you want to tell the fans out there?

James Badge Dale: What else do I want to tell? Oh, man, check out Hightown on October 17. It's, it's a labor of love for all of us. And we hope you enjoy it.

This interview was lightly edited for clarity.

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