Many crave the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but
Boston Legal star
Christian Clemenson says the lifestyle is not always what it's cracked up to be. He should know, as his current television gig requires him to work 12-hour days that begin at six in the morning.
"That is not an easy life," Clemenson, who portrays Jerry Espenson on
Boston Legal, told
Voice of America's Mike O'Sullivan. "And yes, there are these few moments, and they are only one a year where suddenly it seems glamorous where you get to dress up in a tuxedo and smile on a red carpet, but that is unusual. Most of our work is really, really difficult."
Clemenson's celebrity status is also the result of many years of hard work in the industry. After completing a master's degree at the Yale School of Drama, Clemenson headed to New York, where he landed work in television and on Broadway. He then went to Los Angeles, where he continued to audition.
"That's sort of the life of a character actor in Los Angeles," he explained. "For someone like me, you begin slowly. And you audition and audition and audition. I remember I was looking at a diary I kept when I first came out here, and the number of auditions I went out on, and nothing happened."
Things started to pick up for Christian Clemenson around the mid-80s, landing roles in several television series and films. In 2005, he began appearing in
Boston Legal in a recurring capacity. Last year, he was promoted to series regular.
Now, Clemenson is easily one of the most recognizable faces on television. However, he claims that fame has never been a primary motivation for him. Rather, it is the opportunity to do what he loves most: acting.
"I come to work and I create something special," he told O'Sullivan. "And I go home at night, and I have this tremendous sense of satisfaction. I know I'm lucky."
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Voice of America
(Image Courtesy of ABC)