IN CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTOPHER GORHAM
interview by JANA LETONJA
photography LILLIE HAND
With a career spanning acclaimed dramas, comedies, and everything in between, Christopher Gorham continues to prove his versatility as one of television’s most compelling actors. From leading roles on ‘Covert Affairs’ and Netflix’s ‘Insatiable’ to his turn in the streamer’s hit legal drama ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’, he has consistently delivered dynamic performances. On the big screen, he recently embodied legendary talk show host Johnny Carson in Regina King’s Oscar-nominated ‘One Night in Miami’. This fall marks an especially busy season for Christopher as he takes on a recurring role in CBS’ ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’, premiering on 16th October , a series regular role in CBS’ ‘Sheriff Country’, debuting on 17th October, and a key part in Hulu/Disney+’s ambitious Korean spy drama ‘Tempest’.
You’re juggling three major projects this fall, ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’, ‘Sheriff Country’, and ‘Tempest’. How do you balance such a packed slate?
I filmed ‘Tempest’ in Seoul last August, so no conflict there. However, ‘Sheriff Country’ and ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ are happening simultaneously which does limit how often I can complicate Mandy’s life in Medford. Most of my time is tied up complicating Mickey’s life in Edgewater. I’m so grateful that CBS has been supportive of both projects, and to the production teams on both shows for carving out time for me to fly between sets in Toronto and Los Angeles.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ gives you the chance to step into a comedy space. How does the energy of that show differ from your other current projects?
Pinch me. I’m living the dream right now. I get to work on a wickedly well-written, fun, soapy drama with a brilliantly talented cast on one coast, and then work on a wickedly well-written, funny, traditional sitcom with a brilliantly talented cast in front of a live audience on the other coast, sometimes in the same week. The energies are completely different, and I love them both. I can’t wait for audiences to see what we’ve been doing on ‘Sheriff Country’.
What drew you to ‘Sheriff Country’, and how would you describe your character’s role in this new CBS drama?
I’d heard great things about Tony and Joan as writers and producers, and I’m a fan of what they’ve created with Max on ‘Fire Country’. I’m from a small-ish town, Fresno, CA, so I think that may be part of the reason I was drawn to Edgewater, the fictional town of both ‘Fire Country’ and ‘Sheriff Country’. Of course, I’ve admired Morena’s career since ‘Homeland’, so I was excited about the opportunity to work with her. She lives up to her billing.
And ‘Tempest’ brings you into the world of a Korean spy drama. How was the experience of working on an international, cross-cultural project like that?
Working on ‘Tempest’ was a fantastic adventure. I’m a fan of Korean film and television and was so impressed with the talented filmmakers in front of and behind the camera over there. I told our DP that I haven’t looked that cool in a decade. Gang Dong-won couldn’t have been more welcoming and collaborative. I adored our director, Kim Hee-won, and I think the show turned out really well.
Fans loved your work in ‘Covert Affairs’. How did that series shape you as an actor, especially in action-heavy roles?
‘Covert Affairs’ will always have a special place in my heart. Auggie required more research and care than any role I’d tackled before, or since, frankly. I felt a responsibility to portray his disability as accurately as we could within the constraints of series television and I’m proud of what we made.
Looking back, what has been the most transformative role of your career so far?
‘Ugly Betty’ was the job that really changed things for a while there. That was the only time in my career where I had to consider where we were going to eat dinner because the paparazzi would ambush us if the restaurant was too accessible. It was wild.
What excites you most about storytelling in television right now, particularly with so much genre-blending happening?
I’m afraid you’ll think I’m just a simple kid from the Central Valley, but I’m excited about my return to a traditional network drama. I’m excited about a show that you can count on week to week, a show with 20+ episodes per season with characters you like, who make mistakes, but also make you laugh, characters you’d want to invite over for a BB and a beer, a show with a mystery you’ll help solve by the end of the hour and a new season you’ll only have to wait a few months for, instead of years. I’m excited about ‘Sheriff Country’.
Do you prefer sinking into a long-running character over multiple seasons, or the challenge of stepping into a single, transformative role for a film?
Honestly, I prefer the former. I love the family feeling we get working on a project and I’d rather keep that family together as long as possible.
What kind of role would push you outside your comfort zone at this stage in your career?
I’d love to get back to the stage at some point. I think that would be scary in all the best ways.
You’re a father of three. How do your kids influence the kinds of roles you take, if at all?
They’ve influenced every decision, indirectly of course. My family is the most important thing in my life, so trying to find that healthy work and life balance has played a massive role in my career. I’m awfully lucky to have found such an incredible partner in my wife, Anel. None of this would have been possible without her.
When you’re not filming, how do you like to recharge?
I love being home with my wife and kids. We’re all together while I’m filming ‘Sheriff Country’, and it’s such a wonderful luxury.
Looking ahead, what would be a dream project or role for you?
Sorry to sound like a broken record, but I’m living it now. I couldn’t be happier working on ‘Sheriff Country’ with this wonderful cast and our amazing writers and crew, and I get to go play with the rock stars at ‘Georgie & Mandy’. Like I said, pinch me.
