Interviews Conducted by Robert J. Beck

On the 13th of July 2009 LotsofInterviews.com conducted an interview with William Mapother about his role as Ethan on Lost. We talk about how he got into acting, getting his role on Lost, where Ethan stood morally, if his character is coming back to the show and his work with the Screen Actors Guild.

How was it you got into acting?

I started later than most. I'd been focusing on writing,
but when I was 30, I tried an acting class in NYC and
loved it. The next year I returned to LA and went to a two-year acting school and have been fortunate to be (mostly) working ever since.

How did you get your part as Ethan on Lost?

My agent submitted me, along with my scenes from a movie ('Mean Creek') I was cut out of. JJ Abrams really liked my work in 'In the Bedroom' and they offered it to me on the morning the show's first episode premiered on TV.

Where do you think Ethan stood morally?

In full support, in good conscience, of his group and its beliefs (which we still don't fully understand). Some audience members write him off as crazy, but he was a surgeon, and he was very careful with Claire when we saw him with her. We never saw him initiate violence against anyone, as we've seen Sawyer kill two people in cold blood.
 
Is playing someone who is morally ambiguous such as Ethan more fun than playing a good guy?

Often it is, but it's difficult to generalize. So much depends on the material.
 
Did you know there were plans to return your character to the show when you left?

There were guesses, but I didn't know and no one made any promises. That was so early in the show that I don't even think the producers knew..

Would you like to return in the final series?

Absolutely! I'm a huge fan of the show.

You are an active member of the Screen Actors Guild, what makes you want to be so active in the organisation?

The Guild is the only way actors can protect themselves, and that is becoming harder and harder, especially as content moves to the Internet. Also, I'd like to repay previous generations who fought for my rights by fighting for the rights of the next couple generations.