Born in Canberra, Australia, and raised in Sydney, Alex O’Loughlin’s thick Aussie accent is nowhere to be heard on “Hawaii Five-0,” where he plays the lead character Steve McGarrett. “I heard that some people thought I was American,” said the 34-year-old actor during a break from shooting in Honolulu. “I take that as a great compliment. I try to be as authentic as I can for each role that I take. But once I’m done shooting, I sound like me again. I can’t hide it.” “Hawaii Five-0″ airs Mondays on CBS.
Q What is your favorite vacation destination?
A Tulum, Mexico, because it’s magic. There’s a yoga retreat at the Maya Tulum Resort (rrresorts.com/maya_tulum) that’s really great. I just love that part of Mexico. But Mexico is such a wonderful country in general. I love going out to Chichen Itza and climbing the pyramids and seeing the ancient ruins. The food is amazing, too. The ceviche there was some of the best I ever ate. [READ THE REST HERE]
Aussie actor loves Mexico’s history
Alex O’Loughlin says ’5-0′ is going swimmingly
The lantern jaw. The steely eyes. The no-nonsense approach.
Jack Lord played those attributes in the original “Hawaii Five-O.” Now, says Alex O’Loughlin, the update’s new Steve McGarrett, it’d be wrong to copy them.
“My Steve McGarrett is stoic in a lot of ways. He’s a military guy. It took a lot of dedication and perseverance to get to something like the Navy Seals…but he’s an interesting character study.”
The new version supplies plenty of back story — something the old one didn’t. “I found a lot of layers to this guy,” O’Loughlin says. “I had a lot to work with — stuff about his father, about his family, about the level of training that he’s done.”
That made him more than a facilitator and a real reason for O’Loughlin to predict success for the series. Indeed, “Hawaii Five-O” is one of the few new dramas to find a solid audience. It’s also O’Loughlin’s first hit — after tries with “Moonlight” and last year’s “Three Rivers.”
“If this one doesn’t work, I’m going to go away and look at films or go back to community theater,” the Australian says with a laugh. CBS executives, however, were determined to find O’Loughlin a property that worked. “Five-O” draws on his physicality; its past suggested some kind of tune-in. [READ THE REST HERE]
By Hayley on December 03, 2010 under Hawaii Five-0, Interviews • 0 comments
Grace Lee interviews Hawaii Five-0′s Alex O’Loughlin
Have you been watching the new Hawaii Five-0 lately? If so, you’ve probably seen Alex O’Loughlin’s abs.
But working out isn’t the only thing he does when he’s away from the cameras. I got the chance to talk with him about his new role, and his new life here in Hawaii.
Kicking in doors to find an assassin. It’s just a regular day on the job for lieutenant commander Steve McGarrett.
Shoot out with a trained killer? No problem for this star of Hawaii Five-0.
Alex O’Loughlin’s character is an intense ex-Navy seal who is perfect.
By Hayley on November 23, 2010 under Interviews • 0 comments
‘Five-0′ stars find their new jobs exhausting
Ever since the first scene in July, when the stars of “Hawaii Five-0″ raced into the spotlight with tire-squealing action, the pace of production has been brutal.
The first season of any show, even one with a pedigree like CBS Television’s “Five-0,” challenges everyone involved to learn their parts, their places and the personalities they are bringing to life. There’s a lot to do and barely enough time to do it — every episode, five to six days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day.
“Television is very exhausting,” said Alex O’Loughlin, who stars as the show’s dynamic leader, Steve McGarrett. “You kind of forfeit your life to work in TV.”
But now the show is halfway through the season, which will include a pair of bonus episodes next spring, bringing the season total to 24. The principal cast members — O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park — have found their marks and decided what they like about the network’s biggest hit of the season.
They’re passionate about the show but they’re tired. Up close, during time off so they could meet with a group international press gathered recently in Waikiki, they seem beat.
“With this show the work just keeps coming,” said the 34-year-old O’Loughlin. “It just doesn’t stop, and so you kind of do it and it’s gone and you’re on to the next thing. But it never goes away. [READ THE REST HERE]
By Hayley on November 21, 2010 under Alex, Hawaii Five-0, Interviews • 0 comments
Alex on The Ellen Show
By Hayley on September 21, 2010 under Interviews, Video • 0 comments
O’Loughlin: ‘New McGarrett is different’
Hawaii Five-0 star Alex O’Loughlin has insisted that his character Steve McGarrett is very different to the version played by Jack Lord.
Lord starred as the original McGarrett in the first version of the show from 1968 to 1980.
“[In] the old show, Jack Lord’s character was more sort of brooding,” O’Loughlin told Chicago Now. “He was more sort of stylised, as was the style of the day just all around. Everyone’s acting was different, everyone was different. So we’re going for much more naturalism and [there] are a few fundamental differences.”
He added: “I think [viewers are] going to be surprised at how sort of ruthless my McGarrett is. But also I think they’re going to be surprised at how thoroughly they enjoy the show on every level. Because I really do believe this show delivers character, crime and comedy in perfect balance.”
The actor also revealed that viewers will learn a lot of the new McGarrett’s back story in the pilot episode.
“[With] Jack Lord’s character, you didn’t really get much back story,” he claimed. “So we know more about [the new version]. He’s a good deal younger, a good deal more energetic [and] a good deal more aggressive.”
Hawaii Five-0 premieres this Monday at 9/10c on CBS. [Source]
By Hayley on September 17, 2010 under Hawaii Five-0, Interviews • 0 comments
Alex O’Loughlin talks ‘Five-0,’ Hawaii and going shirtless
Alex O’Loughlin hopes his third shot at TV success, “Hawaii Five-0,” is a charm. In fact, he might try anything to make it happen.
“Anything that helps–just keep it on the air,” the Aussie actor joked about the buzz generated by talk of his many shirtless scenes. “I’ll get the whole kit off if you do that.”
“Hawaii Five-0,” the reboot of the 1960s police drama, premieres at 9 p.m. Monday on CBS with O’Loughlin creating a much more physical–and sexier–Steve McGarrett than Jack Lord did in the original.
The new McGarrett is a Navy Seal who, after his father is murdered by baddie Victor Hesse (James Marsters), makes a deal with the governor to run an elite police task force designed to stop international terrorists, human traffikers and gun smugglers on the island.
He enlists the aid of former cop Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), Kelly’s newbie officer niece, Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park), as well as Danny “Danno” Williams (Scott Caan), who isn’t real happy about being teamed with McGarrett.
It’s an action-packed, gorgeously shot drama that, after his CBS’ series “Moonlight” and “Three Rivers” failed to catch fire, should finally give O’Loughlin a hit.
“Basically, if this one doesn’t go the distance, then I’m dumbfounded,” he said. [READ THE REST HERE]