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Known for his diverse roles in shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24, Suits and Lucifer, D.B. Woodside, 53, stars in the new Netflix action-thriller series The Night Agent, as Secret Service agent Eric Monks. The Yale-trained actor talks about his professional role models, New York roots and keeping fit after 50.
Was it challenging for you to play a Secret Service agent?
It was a challenge in all the best ways. I have a lot of respect for those men and women, and after being given the opportunity to do a deeper dive into what they do and what they believe and their personalities, it really made me fall in love with them a lot more. I had the opportunity to speak with one or two [former] Secret Service agents about their training and who these people are. So yes, it was definitely challenging, but it was a challenge that I embraced and that I loved. I’m better for it.
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You’ve acted in comedy, drama, action and even supernatural projects. Is there a genre you prefer?
There is one thing I do like better than the others, and I think it just comes from my training. I was fortunate enough to go to the Yale School of Drama [now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale]. I love playing complex men, complicated characters. I think that’s a better reflection of our lives and of our times. I really enjoy embracing those men who are struggling with life, struggling with those big questions that we all toss around. So definitely drama — gritty, realistic — those are my favorite types of people to play.
Many actors never go to acting school. What are they missing?
When you study the craft of it, you learn how to adapt to each role. It gives you longevity. It builds character. The safety that you encounter at a school is that you’re not going to be fired, and so you get to find your voice. You get to figure out what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are. People who don’t take it as seriously as it should be can get pigeonholed into certain types of roles, and they don’t have the knowledge to break out of that rut that they’re in. They don’t have the experience to adapt and to change and to become many different people throughout the span of a career. Anyone who has the courage to jump into this world — at the end of the day — I wish them nothing but success. But if someone’s asking me what I think is the best road to success, I’m always going to advise them to go to a university where you can make bold choices and where you can fail upward and find your voice in the process.
Which actors inspired you?
At the top of my list is Daniel Day-Lewis. I followed his career. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to take my craft as seriously as he takes his. Another one of those actors would be Denzel Washington. He was groundbreaking in so many ways. He’s incredibly gifted, represents himself very well and is someone that I also try to model my career after — someone who I looked up to. I love how seriously he takes his craft.
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