Its just the structure of it thats very different.
With this, its not like youre telling a story.
Its like youre creating a whole other world, that moves in every direction.
The story just keeps getting more and more twisted and complicated.
Thats the main difference, for me.
I walk away from the end of the season, and I have absolutely no idea what to expect.
Image via HBO
What attracted you to this show and the role of Agent Nelson Van Alden?
SHANNON: I guess it all started with being invited, in the first place.
It was a nice invitation.
It was just a good combination there.
I was pretty shocked when they said, No, we want you to play the law enforcement official.
That was a real 180 for me.
Its not what I typically have been asked to do, so I was excited about that.
Ultimately, its probably more interesting now.
Its almost Shakespearean, in the dimensions of the character.
Image via HBO
They keep making it more and more interesting, so Im really lucky.
SHANNON: Well, its hard to say outright what happens without ruining it.
Theres half a season left.
This is the second young man whose life he has endangered and, ultimately, taken.
With Sebso, he ignored it or denied it or didnt process it at all.
But, this time, its a double whammy.
But, this agent is a good agent who actually is probably more virtuous than Van Alden.
I think thats what makes it even harder for him to bear.
Once the kid is there, its a whole new ball game.
So, hes got to figure out what to do with that kid.
This season, the actual morality of Van Aldens crusade has settled down a little bit.
The focus is not as much on his own personal beliefs about Prohibition.
Van Alden really tried in Season 1.
His supervisor wouldnt let him do it.
Sebso screwed him over.
Honestly, right now, Van Alden can really give a flying rats butt about alcohol.
I think hes a lot more concerned about this baby that he has, and his wife.
I believe that Van Alden really loves Rose.
I think thats why the first episode was Rose coming to visit him in Atlantic City.
Rose finds out about Lucy.
Thats what hes shooting for.
Hes very frightened for himself and his soul.
SHANNON: Theres no distance, really.
I dont think that really works, at least for me.
But, Im never presenting it through any sort of lens.
Im just trying to be as direct and honest as I can.
What are the major similarities between you and Agent Van Alden?
Ive felt guilt like that.
I think thats something that anybody can identify with.
Thats what Van Alden represents.
I think Van Alden started out with very good intentions.
He wasnt a corrupt person.
How would you describe the overall experience of being on this set?
SHANNON: I love the directors.
Thats one of the nice things.
He directed four episodes last year, in Season 1, and four episodes, in Season 2.
It would be different if it was just a different director coming, in every week.
Its nice to develop a relationship like that.
Alan Coulter did Episodes 7 and 11, in both seasons.
Its just nice because you really get to go a little deeper into things.
You have a history with the directors.
What is the shooting schedule like, for this show?
SHANNON: It takes about seven months to make a season.
Unlike most shows, its actually an easy schedule because there are a lot of characters on the show.
Has Van Alden become a favorite character of yours?
SHANNON: I get pretty attached to the majority of the characters I play.
I cant help myself.
But, with Van Alden, I always look forward to seeing whats going to be next.
Thats a very different experience than anything else Ive done.
But, I do have a lot of sympathy for him.
I think Van Alden has a very hard life, and I feel for him.
A lot of people will stop me and say, Oh, I watchedBoardwalk Empire.
I love the show.
Youre good on it, but I hate your character.
Hes such as asshole.
And, I like to say, Why do you think hes a bad guy?
Why does everybody hate this guy?
Is it so hard to understand what happened to him, or is he too opaque?
When I look at him, he makes me really sad.
Have there ever been any times where you disagreed with the route the character was headed?
I didnt want to do it.
I didnt want to believe that Van Alden would fall apart that quickly.
I saw it coming, but I didnt think it would be in the first season.
To realize that I was just going to end up being another corrupt person myself was hard.
But, when I look back on the season, as a whole, its great writing.
Terry Winter and the writing staff have so much to keep track of.
You have to trust them because theyre some of the best writers in the business.
Youve cant become all myopic about your own storyline.
Youve got to trust it because its like conducting an orchestra.
Atlantic City is as much of a character as any of the actual people on the show.
She could feel it.
Its just something that you could feel when youre there.
And, Van Alden tried to fight it, but its like some sort of virus, really.
Do you ever see Van Alden questioning his faith, in this pop in of environment?
SHANNON: Oh, I think he already has.
But then, the next time he comes back to the river, his beliefs have been reinvigorated.
I think he wants to keep his faith, but Im sure he questions it, all the time.
Particularly after this most recent episode, its going to be even more difficult, considering all that transpires.
There needs to be a constant yearning to get back to that place of righteousness.
If he just becomes another thug, the show doesnt really need that.
There are plenty of thugs.
But, I could be totally wrong.
He might wind up being that.
In Episode 1 of next season, I could blow away 10 dudes.
Thats the thing about it.
SHANNON: I think what Van Alden really needs right now is some sort of guidance.
Hes not leading Van Alden anywhere.
And, these new agents that hes working with are very young and not much help.
Van Alden could really actually use someone to inspire him and instruct him, somehow.
I think more than anything, hes just lost.
I dont know if he really even thinks about Nucky Thompson much anymore.
So, to have a character on there whos not really tied into that is kind of unusual.
But, I dont think he thinks about going after Nucky Thompson anymore.
I think hes thinking about all these other things.
SHANNON: It was a pleasant surprise, but it wasnt a huge surprise.
Its a little different than online grid television.
I can tell because they tell me theyre watching it.
So, it wasnt a huge surprise.
They dont seem to be quite as neurotic as the networks seem to be.
Networks just dont want to waste a single penny on anything.
The second they think something is not going to be insanely popular, they just kill it.
SHANNON: Ive always been happy just to be working.
I enjoyed living in Chicago and doing plays for little or no money.
I never actually thought that I would leave Chicago, originally.
I didnt want to.
To get to this point, kind of surreptitiously, is really incredibly fortunate for me.
I got this without even necessarily chasing after it.
I just kept doing work that I believed in, and it led me to this place.
You make one wrong move and it’s possible for you to find yourself back in obscurity.
Its not something Im really paying a lot of attention to.
Im not looking at my star meter, or seeing how many people are talking about me.
I just keep working on things I like, and hope for the best.
I hope people enjoy them.
Are you prepared for the onslaught withMan of Steel?
SHANNON: Honestly, no.
Im not prepared for that, in any way, shape or form.
It gives me shivers.
Ill do the best I can.
Its funny because it used to just be that you do the work and the work spoke for itself.
Youve got to go around, stirring up the pot, as it were.
You cant tell anybody anything about it.
The only thing you should say is that its really great.
So, its really great, Im having such a great time, and everybody is great.
But, I cant tell you anything else, so that gets a little frustrating after awhile.
Is there anything that you’re able to say aboutMan of Steel?
Its like saying that Im not supposed to talk about the Pledge of Allegiance.
Its kind of silly.
People come and take pictures on the set, and they leak them out on the internet.
When I sign the picture, I say, This isnt what it looks like.
Whoever thought that they cracked the case is way off.
I still have so much left to do.
Most of my stuff is in November, so I havent really done that much.
Ive done a few little scenes, but the majority of what Im doing is yet to come.
SHANNON: Lets see, Ive got the two films out right now Take ShelterandMachine Gun Preacher.
Im really excited about people seeingTake Shelterbecause I think thats pretty good.Machine Gun Preacheris all right, too.
I did a movie calledPremium Rushwith Joseph Gordon Levitt, which I think is coming out next summer.
They did a big series about him on HBO.
Its a great script, and I hope it happens, but Im just not sure right now.
