Spotlight On Actor Donny Boaz
Hollywood based Actor Donny Boaz has been on the rise and his now gone to air in the upcoming History Channel mini series “SIX” directed by Lesli Linka Glatter (Showtime “Homeland”). Inspired by real missions, “SIX” follows members of Navy SEAL Team Six, modern American warriors, whose covert mission to eliminate a Taliban leader in Afghanistan goes awry when they uncover a U.S citizen working with terrorists. We got to speak to this very handsome man and quiet excited on his new series SIX .
1. What made you want to become a actor and how did it all start off?
Truth is, growing up I never had any aspirations of being in the entertainment business. I grew up in a small town in Texas and Hollywood was only this place that lived in the movies. All I cared about as a young man was sports. While playing football and running track in college, I was picked up as a model and that lead to my first opportunity to be an actor. My very first film was a military biopic called “Saving Jessica Lynch” in which I portrayed PFC Patrick Miller.
2. Who has been your main influence so far acquiring skills and know how leaning more on the acting side ?
There was an actor I met early in my career, Drew Waters. Drew had a similar journey transitioning from modeling to acting and I saw him having great success and I did what I could to follow in his footsteps.
I’ve come up with a saying in how to make the right choices and decisions for certain roles, W.W.C.B.D. What Would Christian Bale Do? I respect his work and think he’s a phenomenal actor. Meeting Matthew McConaughey early my career and picking that mans brain was a great influence.
Over the years I’ve become a student of film and I feel that I learn from all that I watch.
3. You have been in a lot of TV series since 2003 and had some great guest roles what was some of your favourite ones and who stands out more so as to actors you worked with to being good to work with.
The very first tv show I ever booked was Friday Night Lights in 2007. Last month I booked my 22nd tv show, Chicago Justice, and I think I was just as excited. There are a lot of no’s in this business, it still feels good to get those yeses.
My favorite TV show that I booked prior to ‘Six’ would have to be ‘Dallas.’ It was not only special to me to book this iconic show, but also because I’m from Dallas and what started as a one time guest star ended up turning into a 10 episode arch.
When you get the opportunity to work with accomplished actors, I’ve learned to shut up and listen, you will definitely learn something new.
I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of great and talented actors over the years such as Nate Parker, Forest Whitaker, Nicholas Cage, Jessica Alba, Martin Landau, Mandy Moore, Carl Weathers, Colin Hanks, Jon Voight, etc. Some of my favorite actors to work with and I really enjoyed working with them are Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon, Aaron Eckhart, Bradley Whitfield, Jon Gries and Val Kilmer.
4. With the release of the new mini series SIX to go to air in January 2017, can you tell us on how you prepared for this role and who you play and what was it like to work with the director Lesll Linda Glatter?
‘Six’ premiered last night and I think it is something truly special.
To prepare for “Six” we were put through SEAL training. A very small, abbreviated form of SEAL training and yet still the hardest thing I’ve ever done. SEAL training made football 2 and 3 a days in Texas triple digit heat seem easy. And yet I couldn’t be more thankful for it. Our training took six strangers, beat them up, tore them down, built them back up and delivered six brothers to represent the worlds greatest warriors in our show which has been the greatest honor of my career.
Buck, whom I portray in “Six,” is the Texas proud, gun loving, Heavy Weapons Specialist of the team.
For 2 years Buck has been the new guy of the squad: Aka- bottom of the totem poll met with constant hazing. In episode 1 we meet Chase, the next new guy. Therefore, it is now Bucks job to make sure Chase is ready physically and mentally for the mission and his brothers on the battlefield.
I couldn’t be more thankful for Lesli Linka Glatter, the director of episodes one and two and one of the producers of ‘Six.’ Lesli is amazing. Lesli is not only one of the greatest directors I’ve worked with but she has paved the way for a lot of other female directors in the business. I am forever grateful to Lesli for her choosing me and allowing me to be a part of this very special show.
5. What else do you have coming up in 2017 to go to air and other projects to do?
Since wrapping “Six” I’ve been blessed to keep working. I’ve worked on three features and had two guest star appearances on tv shows. I just wrapped “Chicago Justice” in Chicago last week. Next feature is lined up in May and of course hoping for “Six” to be picked up for season 2.
6. What have been the highlights for you in 2016?
Six’ is definitely THE highlight of my 2016.
7. What do you do when you not working and what are you faviourte places to go to?
If I’m not working I’m usually playing sports of some kind. On the weekend I pretty much live in the sand playing beach volleyball. In LA Sunday night is bowling league, Monday night is kickball league and Thursday night is softball league. Sports help me keep my sanity while not on set.
I’m also see a lot of movies. I pretty much see everything that hits the theatre. I love being a student of film.
8. If given a choice to work on a film and can select 5 top actors and director who would you choose?
I can only choose 5? Wow. That’s tough. Actors: Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington, Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo Dicaprio and because she’s always been my Hollywood crush, Kate Beckinsale.
Why is Robert Downey Jr, Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy and Rachel McAdams not on my list? You only gave me 5. Lol.
Directors: I’m a big fan of the actors that have become some of the best directors in the business. Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Jon Favreau, Denzel Washington. I’ve never seen one bad film these men have directed.
Of course who doesn’t want to work Spielberg, Scorsese, Tarantino, James Cameron and Woody Allen? It’d be an honor to work with these greats.
9. What is your ideal place to call home?
I’ve always said my all in all end all place would be a lake house in Austin, Texas. I’ve been all over the world, Texas will always be my home. But of course I need my beach house in LA and and winter home in Breckinridge. I had better keep working if I plan on affording all of that.
Truth: I’m my happiest on set. I feel I get antsy if too much time has gone by and I’ve not created something. I plan on doing this job til the wheels fall off. It’s impossible to do this job and just be in one place.
10, If you can have 3 wishes that were to help the world be a better place what would they be?
3 wishes to make the world a better place: I wish I could just wish for world peace and it’d come to pass, but it won’t. I don’t want to politicize this answer, but the truth is to make the world a better place, it does start with policy. I believe if you fixed three things in America alone, it’d make the world a better place.
1. Get rid of the federal reserve/central banking system.
2. Fix the American prison system. 4% of the worlds population and 25% of the worlds prisoners doesn’t sound like a free country.
3. Get rid of lobbying. We will never do what is for the betterment of mankind as long as it’s legal to bribe politicians.
SIX: Creed
http://www.history.com/shows/six/videos/six-creed?playlist_slug=six-season-1-preview-list
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