Blair Underwood is joining the cast as the mysterious and much-anticipated Simon Elder, the billionaire nemesis to Donald Sutherland’s patriarch Tripp Darling and one of the top suspects in Nick (Peter Krause)’s search to find his father’s killer. Underwood dished to us about joining the show and (appropriately) having money, being sexy and getting dirty.
How many episodes are you signed on for?
As long as the show is rolling!
So are you a fan of the show so far, pre-Simon Elder?
Oh yeah, I’ve been involved since right before they started shooting the second episode, so I’ve been watching it and kind of seeing how Simon Elder fits into the whole scheme of things. It’s great fun.
Do you feel less pressure that this isn’t just the Blair Underwood show?
Oh yeah, the last time I did a series—”LAX”—it was with Heather Locklear, just the two of us. But it’s nice to do an ensemble, which I’ve done before. Even Peter Krause, who’s the lead of the show…we all benefit from having a strong ensemble cast of terrific, amazing actors.
Amazing actors…
That really was the biggest draw for me. When I heard Donald Sutherland’s name, Jill Clayburgh, Billy Baldwin and Peter Krause, who I enjoyed so much on “Six Feet Under.” And people always mention those names because we know those names, but the younger cast too…just great characters.
Will this cut into you being on “The New Adventures of Old Christine”?
You know what? I just shot three episodes for them.
Yea! I just love that show, and you on it and, of course, Julia Louis-Dreyfus…
Listen, we could just talk the rest of the interview about her. She is one of those people that has that whole package: funny and adorable, but also very sexy. She’s so self-effacing. She’s great…love her.
And when does your new HBO show “In Treatment” start? Man, you’re busy…
The end of January. I truly have been spoiled, and I don’t take it for granted. I was shooting “In Treatment,” which is very heavy, in terms of the workload and the character—it’s about people in therapy, for God’s sake! But we were shooting that show on Stage 25 at Paramount, and the week I finished “In Treatment,” I went right next door and started shooting “Dirty Sexy Money,” which shoots on Stages 23 and 24. Literally right next door.
Sounds like it was meant to be. You’ve got the “Sexy” down pat, and your character obviously has a lot of “Money”—tell us what’s “Dirty” about Simon Elder.
Ooh…I don’t know if it’s possible to have billions of dollars and not get at least a little dirty. I can’t say too much, but you know he was born and raised in Russia. There are some long-standing family ties between my family and the Darling family that are going to come to light, and some of his “dirtiness” will come into play.
This show has that really addictive soap opera element to it—any similarities to your days on “One Life to Live”?
I love those elements about this, but it’s such a different dynamic. What I do appreciate about “Dirty Sexy Money” is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Who else from the cast, besides Peter Krause, will you be acting alongside?
Donald Sutherland. Simon really is the nemesis, the archenemy. Everything else is a means to an end.
So will the whole family get to meet Simon Elder? Or have they already?
Oh, we’re meeting each other. We definitely have some face time.
Knowing what you know about the character, do you think Simon Elder is capable of murder?
Let me say this: I think anyone on that show, anyone, is capable of murder. I think we’re capable of being completely righteous and absolutely devious and evil. Anybody can be capable of doing that, including Simon. And including Tripp Darling.
So anybody’s the bad guy?
The great thing is that there are no bad guys on the show. The bad guy would be the love of money and the corruption that money brings you. You’ll look at Simon, the more you get to know him, and you’ll say, “Wait a minute—he could be a good guy.” And then another split-second, you’ll say, “Well, maybe not.” Same thing with Tripp Darling. Up until now he’s been this father figure, and now we’re starting to see some gray. He’s starting to trip, he’s tripping—Tripp Darling.
We know you can’t tell us what it really stands for, but when you read the script, with this mysterious letter “C” that’s somehow tied to you, what did you want the “C” to stand for?
Cash. [Laughs]
“Dirty Sexy Money” airs Wednesday nights at 10 p.m./9c on ABC.
