Jimmy Smits

Emmanuel Itier: What is Jane Austen is about for you, and how is she relevant in today´s society as a writer, as a social commentator?

Jimmy Smits: She is about articulating what relationships are about and how complex it is to have a good relationship. She´s fascinated by what relationships are all about, and of course this is a current matter in our society. Our books are more popular today because of this.

EI: Do you think it´s indeed harder to have a relationship today, and isn´t it ironic since we have all the perfect tools to be in touch with each other, to be connected?

JS: It´s hard to connect with someone else because you have to be true and honest. And this is hard because you never know who you have in front of you. So it takes time to establish a solid relationship. In this age of Blackberries and technology that urges us to have a connection, it has never been so important. Everybody is after a relationship, but it’s hard to get one and even harder to keep one.

EI: Were you part of a club when you were young, and are you part of a club today, whatever club it is? Also, what did such a club help you reveal to yourself?

JS: For me, it came through sports in the beginning, and then of course it was being part of a drama club. And sure it does help you find yourself and figure out what you want to do in life.

EI: What was, for you, the real challenge with doing this character?

JS: Of course I wanted to work with Robin (Swicord) because she is such a great screenwriter, and here you have somebody moving into another place in her life and career as a director, and I really enjoyed the various meetings we had. Her vision seemed very clear, and the role was very clear and attractive to me. It´s interesting talking to different people–how they perceive that guy and the mistake he made. He mis-stepped his relationship. And the challenge is how to make this guy, who could just be perceived on one level–but how to find the humanity in him. Because he has a story too and a reason why, after 20 years, he is leaving his wife. It´s not about trying to feel justification or compassion for him, but to find out what in his world made him do what he did.

EI: Was there some type of realization, when you shot the movie, about your role or Jane Austen?

JS: What was a pleasant surprise is how Robin created an environment that was perfect for us to create, explore and perform. There was such an ease between all of us on the set, and it comes across–especially in all the book club scenes. I was also happily surprised to click perfectly as actors and on a social level with my “wife” in the movie, Amy Brenneman. There was a real joy back and forth between us to play in this movie.

EI: You and I have been around the block in terms of dealing with relationships and women for a while. Does a movie like this give you a better understanding about women and how to handle a relationship with women?

JS: Ah! I really think it does. I think that even if a movie like this can be perceived as a chick flick, you will get something out of it as a guy if you go check it out. More than anything, it´s about communicative needs that people have, and because of, in part, all the gadgets we have, like cell phones and e-mails, and the false comfort not to really have to be into a personal level with other people. But I think you need a deeper connection with another person of the opposite sex to get them and understand their needs.

EI: It seems to me that you have always made a conscious move to not get pigeonholed and jump from one political TV show to another type of TV show, like Cane or a sensitive movie like this one. Am I right, or is there another reason?

JS: It´s conscious indeed, but you also have to put it in the perimeters of the reality of this business. There are very few people in this business who get to choose every single thing they want to be in. The choices I made are about various reasons: the type of material it is, have I done this before, who I am working with, what would I gain in terms of being a better actor… I try not to repeat myself over and over, and it´s not easy to do because people tend to want to see you always in the same type of role.

EI: Do you think that the industry, the environment, is more inclusive about the variety of cultures and ethnicities available in America? Has the industry changed?

JS: Ten years ago, I always thought that it was about five different guys or girls in every decade and not too many more people being able to get into the game, but the door is opened a lot wider today. There is room for more inclusions of women’s voices or Latino voices. In terms of Latinos, the population numbers show that they want that–they want shows that include them as a culture.

EI: It seems also it´s about the entire face of America changing in terms of culture, language, color… isn´t it?

JS: Yes, it is indeed. We are in a place where you can see an Obama or Clinton take the main job in Washington, and therefore it´s a clear sign about a new direction for America. It´s really happening!

EI: You are also involved with lots of charities. Where does this come from, especially in an industry where most people like to shy away from the public eye and the philanthropic world?

JS: Well, don´t get me wrong. I like to run and shy away, and hide from the public eye. But I think it has to do with my upbringing and my mother’s background–because of her religion and telling us that if you get blessings, you should give back blessings to other people. That´s where it comes from.

EI: What is the book that has had the most influence in your life?

JS: It´s Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas. And it resonated in me because of the similar background the author and I shared. Being from New York and from a tough neighborhood, it was great to open a book like this one and realize I was not the only person who felt this way. It was very important to me. And then, of course, I got exposed to classic literature in high school, and the plays of Shakespeare opened a new world full of fascination to me.

EI: What about producing and your involvement with Cane?

JS: Well, yes. With Cane, I discovered a new face about the business. It´s that as a producer, you don´t get lots of sleep! Especially when you´re acting as well, so it´s a logistic issue. But it´s great to be involved in the creative process and the development. It´s very satisfying to me.

EI: What do you think will surprise people with Cane?

JS: Even though it has a primarily Latino cast, maybe people could think it´s about and for a Latino crowd, but it´s not. It´s about a family that has the same hopes, inspirations and pains as any other family in America. So this will be surprising, and they will be able to identify with the show no matter what their cultural background is. It´s about what makes the show great on a dramatic level, even though there will be something unique, because you look at it through such an exotic, cultural lens. Also, because the show is playing at 10:00pm, we´re able to push the limit about what we can say and show. It´s a show that I believe has a real edge. We don´t have the kind of latitude you get on cable, but we pushed the boundaries as much as we could…