The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio
The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio |
| Owain Yeoman finds opportunities in LA Posted: 05 Aug 2011 04:08 AM PDT Owain Yeoman is the Welshman living it up in Los Angeles. OWAIN Yeoman, from the hit TV series The Mentalist, joins a growing number of foreign actors who play American characters on American TV. There's British actor Hugh Laurie as the grumpy Dr House, Anna Torv and John Noble, both from Australia, in the series Fringe, English heartthrob Ed Westwick in Gossip Girl, Australian star Alex O'Loughlin in Hawaii Five-0 and Yeoman's colleague in The Mentalist, Simon Baker who hails from Australia. So convincing is Yeoman's American accent in The Mentalist that when the British actor speaks in real life, fans are often taken aback by his British accent. "When I come back to London for meetings, people go, 'Oh, you're Welsh?' I still find that weird," the actor said at an interview in London recently. At this point of the interview, Yeoman felt the need to teach the journalists present the correct way to pronounce his name. "If you can imagine a glass of wine and put an 'O' in front of it. I guess it's the perfect alcoholic's name! 'Oh, wine!' That's the best way to pronounce my name!" Yeoman studied theatre at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and started his career acting in England. It wasn't his intention to move to the United States but most of the job offers seem to come from Los Angeles. "A lot of work was either trickling down from New York or from LA, and because I do want to work in film and TV, LA is a bit of a Mecca for that. So, I'll go wherever the work is," Yeoman said. He has since relocated to Los Angeles where The Mentalist is shot nine and a half months a year. "The weather is nice out there and people have straight teeth," he said, half joking. "I have a great job that's doing well in the mainstream and I'm just enjoying that." When the TV series debuted in the US three years ago, no one could have predicted its success. The Mentalist is a light-hearted, crime solving series which sees former psychic Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) assisting a group of agents from the California Bureau of Investigation in their cases. The show clocked in a healthy 16 million viewers on a weekly basis. Yeoman has a theory for the success of The Mentalist. He explained: "At that time a lot of serialised shows like Lost were successful. The audience had to apply their minds when watching these shows. The Mentalist, in essence, is quite a simple show and it harkens back to series like Murder She Wrote and Colombo. Those shows were on a very simple level but compelling." With the success of the series, Yeoman is not resting on his laurels. He knows how fickle the industry is. "I'm petrified every time I'm in front of a camera. I don't think there's a day that goes by where I'm not waiting for a knock on my door and they go, 'I'm sorry, I didn't want the Welsh actor'." In order to stay ahead of the acting game, Yeoman continues to take acting lessons. Brought up by a mother who was a teacher and a father who was a research scientist, Yeoman knows the importance of training and continual education. However, he does find it disheartening that many actors in Hollywood are not trained. Instead, they turn up in La La Land and try their hand at acting because of their looks. "There's no justice in this business!" Yeoman lamented. "However, I still believe what my dad told me, 'Good luck is the right opportunity meeting the right preparation'." His days at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts in London are serving him well. The acting methods he was taught in class have allowed him to break down a script and the character he is playing to fully understand the scenes he is playing. "I guess if you didn't have that training, you'd probably be floundering." In The Mentalist, Yeoman plays the character of Wayne Rigsby, one of the four agents from the California Bureau of Investigation who is tasked to work with the eccentric Patrick Jane. Other members in the team include Rigsby's immediate superior Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney), his good friend Kimball Cho (Tim Kang) and Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti, who can be seen all of 10 seconds in Captain America: The First Avenger) whom he has a crush on. The Rigsby-Van Pelt storyline – will-they-won't-they-hook-up? – plays on for two seasons in The Mentalist (Season Three begins in September Stateside). The push-pull relationship between the two characters was a conscious decision on Yeoman's part, as he wanted his character to be as close to reality as possible. "The (Rigsby) character was initially conceived to be a bit of a flashy type cop, the kind who slid across the hood of cars and always got the girls," he explained. "And I didn't feel it was reflective of real life. I thought it would be much more interesting to have a guy who could get the girl but just found it very difficult to articulate that. So, Rigsby is established as being slightly emotionally dyslexic." Starring in a series with an ensemble cast can be either good or bad. You either get divas on set (we're looking at you Desperate Housewives) or, in the case of The Mentalist, everyone gets along. "There's a great family dynamic and that's led by example by Simon. Also, we all feel that we are lucky to be able to be working in a time when the job market is very recessed and very depressed," the 33-year-old actor said. Yeoman added that people are often surprised when they spot the cast members having dinner together outside work. Perhaps that's a rare scenario in Hollywood. To hear Yeoman say it, the actor really does love his co-stars. He described Righetti as "easy going", Baker as "an absolute joy" and Kang as "a brother to me". With such a happy environment on set, no wonder Yeoman is having the time of his life in Los Angeles. While most people he knows dislike the town as they find the people living there to be either fake or brash, Yeoman likes their direct attitude. "It has become kind of trendy to dislike LA but for me, I see opportunity here. And when people say to me, 'But isn't it fake in LA?', well, the last time I checked there's fake people in London and New York. I mean just stop hanging out with fake people; it's that simple to me." In Los Angeles, if he's not hanging out with his cast members, Yeoman can be found in the company of other British actors like Ioan Gruffudd and Matthew Rhys. They get together to watch Welsh rugby games. Yeoman does have an issue with Los Angeles – he finds everyone there a health freak. "In LA, everyone is so healthy. They're all in bed by midnight and then they're up at 6am doing Pilates." The healthy living has kind of rubbed off on him. In Los Angeles, Yeoman employs a personal trainer who works out with him almost daily. All the working out has also paid off for him, especially when he had to pose topless for a special Peta (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals) ad in 2009. "I worked out really hard for the ad," Yeoman remembered. The ad campaign, in which Yeoman showed off his pecs and abs, was an effort on Peta's part to highlight the cruel treatment of animals that are raised and killed for food. It goes in line with what Yeoman, a vegetarian, believes in. "It's a cause I'm very passionate about and going to the gym a bit extra to save the lives of animals isn't a big thing for me," Yeoman said. The success of The Mentalist has also brought more acting opportunities for Yeoman. However, he is very selective on the projects he is offered. It has been his mission as an actor to always try and do different projects. The last thing he wants is to be pigeonholed. Looking at his resume, Yeoman has played a variety of roles in different genre. In the short-lived TV comedy series, Kitchen Confidential (based on celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's book), Yeoman played a sous chef; in the pilot of the sci-fi series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, he was the cyborg villain; in another short-lived TV drama, The Nine, Yeoman played a robber while in the HBO series Generation Kill, he took on the role of a marine. "People see you and they go, 'Oh he's the cop in that show, he can do cop'. So I'm now conscious with the projects I pick during hiatus (of The Mentalist) to make sure I don't do cop. I want to do something different. A fireman, perhaps," he deadpanned. The encore presentation of The Mentalist Season 2 airs Tuesdays at 11pm on WarnerTV (HyppTV Ch 162). 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| Posted: 05 Aug 2011 03:56 AM PDT Time to declare your love on air! YOU get double the love and twice the fun when you tune in to Red FM's Late Night Love Songs with the charming Mynn and bubbly Linora every Sunday to Friday from 10pm to 1am. Playing a variety of love songs as well as listeners' favourites, this delightful duo keeps you in good company through those late nights. You can also send in your song requests and dedications to a loved one on Red FM's Threesome. Put in your request for three of your favourite love songs and make a dedication over the most romantic show on the radio. Share your memorable moments with Mynn and Linora and win dinner vouchers as well as movie passes for two persons all this week and next week. Self-professed softies and romantics at heart, the lasses are passionate and determined in bringing a different take to the show with their double act. Mynn said: "Receiving the various dedications is still one of my favourite parts of the show. My heart just melts at reading out the dedications. We feel privileged to be able to connect our listeners to that special someone in their lives; may they be a partner, a friend or a family member." Linora added: "We also loved the interaction with our listeners on air, Facebook and Twitter. They give us constant feedback on what they want to hear and suggestions on what to play. It's such a fun show to do, especially when the callers scream with joy at winning a prize. Now that's beautiful music to our ears!" You can call Mynn and Linora at 03-7728 1049 with your song requests and dedications. For more details on the current contests running on Red FM's Late Night Love Songs, log on to www.red.fm. Join the Red FM Malaysia Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/redfm.my) and follow us on Twitter (@iloveredfm) for the latest updates. Red FM is owned and operated by The Star. Red FM's station frequencies: Taiping, Kedah, Perlis and Pulau Langkawi: 98.1 FM; George Town and Seberang Perai: 107.6 FM; Ipoh, Perak: 106.4 FM; Klang Valley, Negri Sembilan & Tapah: 104.9 FM; Kuantan, Pahang: 91.6 FM; Batu Pahat and Malacca: 98.9 FM; Johor Baru and Singapore: 92.8 FM. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Work out with Jillian Michaels Posted: 05 Aug 2011 03:50 AM PDT For some workout pointers, check out Jillian Michaels' Workout Series. LOOKING at her now, who would believe that Jillian Michaels was once an overweight teenager. The personal trainer from Los Angeles who is widely known for her appearances on The Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian now has a new series on Li, Life Inspired, which shows you the most effective way to stay fit. There are not many women in your line of work. What made you decide to become a trainer? I was an overweight kid and martial arts transformed me psychologically as well as physically. It's from that experience that I developed a passion for utilising fitness to transform every aspect of people's health and lives. It was reported that you have a fear of running a marathon. Do you mind telling us why? I hate running, but the thought of running 26 miles in a shot is terrifying to me. It feels like the kind of thing you start, that is excruciating, and seems to have no end. With that said, I hope at one point in my life to conquer it and run the LA marathon. What do you think is the best time of the day to workout? Honestly, whenever you can fit it in. So many of us are pressed for time so whenever you can workout is the right time. That said, make sure you don't work out on an empty stomach. Try to eat a little something about an hour before you train. What are your biggest difficulties in encouraging people to train or losing weight? Where do you get the inspiration for your motivational techniques? My style and approach is a hybrid of tough love from my martial arts background and self exploration from years of therapy (my mother was a therapist and had me in therapy since age five). I think the hardest part for most people is the belief in their ability to accomplish the task at hand. That's one of the reasons fitness can be so transformational. It proves to people how strong they really are and what their potential is. What sort of exercises and goals do you focus on in your new series, Jillian Michaels' Workout Series? I incorporate a lot of body weight training like squats, lunges, push-ups, etc. I also work with HIIT (high intensity interval training) like jumping jacks and mountain climbers. And I do all my workouts in a circuit training style (no rest in between exercises). My goal is to help people get as lean as possible as fast as possible in a healthy way. As a professional trainer, what is your biggest guilty pleasure? Do things like dessert ever tempt you anymore? I incorporate 200 calories of a treat food into my diet every day. It can range from a glass of wine to a scoop of ice cream, but no matter what I have it's always organic and natural. For example, I'll have organic dark chocolate, but not a Snickers bar. Have you ever struggled with your weight? How did you make the decision to change? Absolutely. I was an overweight teenager, from childhood into my early teen years, about age 14. My mother had the insight to get me into martial arts. That was the catalyst for me to make that transformation into health and wellness, using it as a means to change my life. But it's consistently a struggle and I'm sure it will be until the day I die. Every day you wake up and you make a commitment: Are you going to be self-destructive or are you going to commit yourself to positive change? Martial arts was really the beginning for me of core training. Also, martial arts helped me understand the importance of intensity in my training – of focus, discipline, using my body weight as resistance like push-ups, pull-ups, squats. Intervals, bursts of energy. The ability to overcome pain. It's pretty much the foundation of my (fitness philosophy). When you're short on time in the gym, what are your go-to moves? How much time is enough spent on cardio, and what is a good ratio of cardio vs strength training? I always like to use moves that I call hybrid or combination lifts, which work multiple muscle groups at a time. A lunge with a bicep curl. Or rows in a plank position. A squat and a press. Anything with upper and lower body in it is a great way to go. Cardio is the bread and butter of weight loss. You could do hours upon hours – we have contestants that do four hours a day of cardio. But I never let them do more than four hours of strength a week. That would be overtraining – your muscles never have a chance to heal. I would say no more four to five hours of resistance training a week. Two times a week is ideal (for a single muscle group.) If you don't have weight to lose, make sure you're balancing out your cardio with calories (if someone told me she was doing two hours of cardio a day, I'd say make sure you're taking in an extra 500 calories.) But if you have a lot of weigh to lose, you can do as much cardio as you want. It's not realistic at all, but it is possible. So what do you tell people who know all about healthy living but can't actually get up from the couch or make time for it? The action begins when you take the steps. Then you are saying, 'I'm worth it'. Saying 'I can't' is where the craziness comes from. Yes, you are strong. Yes, you are powerful. Yes, you are capable. Whenever you put that energy into the universe, it will all fall in place. So you'd say that people shouldn't do all the emotional, self-esteem work first and then start working out? I think you should write down what you want for your life, bring intention to your motivation. That way you can ask yourself, 'Do I want the donut or do I want to look good at my high school reunion?' I am not a believer in willpower but you can ask yourself those kinds of questions. But then, you've got to put it into action. The fear of success is directly related to the fear of failure. You'll ask yourself, 'What will I do next? What will be expected of me next? Will I be able to live up to it?' It is the same as fearing you will fail. The truth of success is that successful people fail all the time. You just have to get back up and try again. It's about getting stronger and more comfortable with yourself. It's about knowing you can withstand the failure. That's what fitness is about, too. It is about knowing you're strong enough to move on from failure. There's never a moment when I'm lifting a weight or doing a push-up when I'm like 'I love this!' But I think about why I do it. We're a constant work in progress. There's not a finish line. You have to be patient with yourself. It is about making small changes and one day, you wake up and your 50, 80, 180 pounds down. Life is not 50 pounds from now. Life is RIGHT NOW. You are HERE. – Life Inspired Jillian Michaels' Workout Series premieres on Li (Astro channel 706) tomorrow at 8am. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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