May 2002

Superb Lex Life

Ian Spelling talks to Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum about playing the bald and beautiful Lex Luthor.

Everyone told Michael Rosenbaum that Smallville would be a hit, but after years in the business the actor new better than to buy into it. " I guess I'd done so many shows and a few movies where people said, 'This is going to be a hit,' that I took it with a grain of salt," explains Rosenbaum. "I put it aside and just thought, 'Oh great, they like it.' But after being in a lot of failures I thought to myself, 'Why get my hopes up?' But when I saw the Smallville pilot, when I went in to do some looping for the show, I felt blown away. I said to myself, 'This is a hit.' I called my friend Dave and my family members and I said, 'This is a hit, mark my words.' I just knew it. I thought it was a quality show."

But the actor's been around Hollywood long enough to know that doesn't guarantee success. "Would it catch on and hold on and have continued success? I didn't know about that. I thought if the writers could maintain the quality and the writing, that it would be successful. And we were blessed with that. Yesterday I got a copy of Mad Magazine and Tom, Kristin and I are on the cover. I'm Lex Luthor as Alfred E Neuman. Then I thought, 'Now I've made it.' That's what it took for me."

Rosenbaum's portrayal of the young Lex Luthor has had a lot to do with the show's success; as much as the fans love the fledgling relationship between Clark Kent and Lana Lang, there's more dramatic heat to be found in the unlikely bond between Lex and Clark. Ever since Clark saved him from the jaws of death Lex has been trying to work out how his friend did it, and while there's nothing malicious about his curiosity yet, we all know the pair are destined to become mortal enemies. Adding an extra layer of tension to their friendship is the contrast between Lex's relationship with his manipulative father Lionel, and Clark's warm bond with his adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent. It is clear that Lex envies Clark his parents, which shows that he is at least a shrewd judge of character.

"I absolutely agree with that," Rosenbaum says. "In fact, I've said it a lot, that Lex is a great judge of character, especially with Clark. Even though everyone else sees Clark as this awkward teenager with problems, Lex sees past that. He sees something special in Clark. I think that's why their friendship is so strong. They both look at each other and they both have their problems and their secrets that they can't really talk about, even with each other. Being in his father's shadow, Lex just knows what's good and bad. His father basically disowns him in a way. He moves to Metropolis and leaves Lex to handle this factory in the middle of nowhere. I don't think Lex has a lot of respect for his father. He spends a lot time alone reading books. The few people in this world that meet and like, you get them right away. Lex is a good judge of character and he got Clark right away."

So would what would Lex make of himself then? "The best quote I ever heard anyone say about Lex is that he's the most ambiguous character on TV. That was the best compliment anyone could ever give me. You never know what he's doing and what his motives are and where he's going. I call the writers-Al [Gough] and Miles [Millar]-every week. 'Hey, it's Rosenbaum again. Isn't this moment a little too evil or too perceptive?' And they'll say 'Yes, you're right' or 'No, because at the end it shows that he actually meant well.' Just when you think Lex knows Clark's secret, something happens. They're taking it at a certain pace. Inevitably I know Lex will be evil. How many years from now, I don't know. But as of now I have to take it at a certain pace. I don't want to show too much yet. If you give it all away in the first season it will get kind of boring."

The actor points one episode, which hints at dark secrets in Lex's past as a particular favourite so far. Zero revisits a dark page in Lex's life, taking viewers back to a tragic event at a place called Club Zero. "Lex is always trying to hide Club Zero and what happened there comes back to haunt him," Rosenbaum says. "Somebody was killed in Club Zero and we don't really know who did it. Was it my fault or the fault of the girl I was with? Corin Nemec plays the guy who was killed. I guess you could say he's come back to life. This guy was kind of a flashy womaniser who was engaged to this really kind little sweetheart, Amanda. I suppose we were acquaintances, he and I. He tells her that he's out for the weekend on business and I bring her to Club Zero. But he's there, too, with another woman. I'm just friends with her, but she sees him and she flips out. He pulls a knife on me and he stabs me, and then gets shot and dies. Like I said, you don't now who did it. . I honestly can't tell you because I, as an actor have my feelings, but the writers haven't even told me. They pretty much said, 'Hey, what do you think happen?' I like that. I'll say to myself, 'I think this or that,' and that's what I'll hold onto for myself. It was an interesting episode. I got tortured and it was a crazy, little twisted story."

If Rosenbaum ever needs a reminder of what Luthor will one day become, he's got one right at hand every time he takes a break from the Smallville set to moonlight on the Justice League cartoon series. When he records his voiceover dialogue as Wally West, aka The Flash, he usually works opposite Kevin Conroy's Batman, George Newborn's portrayal of Clark Kent, and Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor.

"I guess it is ironic, but it just happened so quickly that I never even looked at it that way," says the actor. "For me, it was work. Now that I'm doing Smallville and Justice League I go, 'Wow, it's a pretty big coincidence.' And both shows are successes. I like doing the voice work, but Smallville and my movies are more important for me because you can actually see me. I like to do a lot of different roles."

Anyone seeking Rosenbaum in different roles need look no further than his latest films Poolhall Junkies and Sorority Boys. Independent feature Poolhall Junkies casts Rosenbaum as a musician in danger of following in the footsteps of his pool hustler brother, while college comedy Sorority Boys finds Rosenbaum decked out in women's clothes. "My character's name is Adam when I'm a guy and Adina when I become a woman," Rosenbaum explains. "There are three guys, Harlan Williams, Barry Watson and I, who get framed for embezzling money for a fraternity. We have nowhere to live. We've been kicked out of our place. We're sleeping in a car and starving. We have to prove our innocence. So we decide to join a sorority and go undercover. The only sorority that will take us is the DOGS (home to all the girls perceived to be the least attractive on campus). My character can't believe this. I at least want to be in a pretty sorority. Slowly but surely we find out what it's like to be women and the hardships they go through. And we gain a brand new respect for them. It's a raunchy, stupid, fun, brainless cross between Animal House and Bosom Buddies."

Rosenbaum plans to spend his upcoming off-season back in the United States - Smallville shoots in Vancouver, British Columbia - where he hopes to act in a small film that he co-wrote with a pal. If that doesn't work out, he notes, there are a couple of other feature projects he's considering. Asked what, in a perfect world, Smallville will do for his career, Rosenbaum responds instantly. "It will show the industry and the world, 'Hey, who's this guy?" he says. "I've got some chops and maybe Smallville will gain me a little respect in the industry and give me the opportunities to do the things I really want to do in the world and in my career, and give me chances and opportunities. That's why I'm doing it. I thought it would be a good opportunity. And so far, so good. To me, it's magical because of the cast. We get along so well. It's interesting for people to know because I've done a lot of movies and shows and sometimes there are egos. I've never worked with anyone like Tom Welling, in terms of eagerness and ambition, abut there's no ego. We go on set and we try to get the best out of each other. We play with each other between takes. It's just a joy. The cast and crew are like family. We're constantly making jokes and the set is a wonderful place to be. It's important for a good show that the people get along, and we do. So, like I said, so far, so good."