Being Human: Sam Huntington talks about Being Human and Face Off

Recently Sam Huntington sat down for a digital press conference call to discuss his upcoming appearance on Syfy’s Face Off as well as Being Human. I was so excited because these are two of my favorite shows. I must say Sam was wonderful to talk to and he never disappoints.

Moderator: It’s great to hear that you’re going to be on Face Off. Can you describe what role you take and what advice you gave to the contestants?

Sam Huntington: Yes, I mean it’s all so specific. I had a lot of fun watching, I judge a Foundation Challenge which is the first challenge of the episode. It basically grants immunity to one of the contestants and unfortunately puts a couple in the bottom. I obviously play a werewolf on television, and have worn a tremendous amount of effects makeup in the past and not just Being Human, but on previous work that I’ve done. So yes, so it was a really cool experience. Not as an actor, but yourself judging something that I felt pretty close to.

Moderator: Out of the cast of Being Human, you probably have the most elaborate makeup. Was it nice to finally get some company now that Kristen has to go through what you go through? Did you give her any advice?

Sam Huntington: That’s a fantastic question. Yes, it was lovely. She handled it really well. My words of wisdom and advice were get ready because this really sucks. And luckily, because of what I went through last year, which was hellish, and other aspects, with the increase of the CG, I don’t think she had to endure too much crazy stuff. So yes, it was really nice to have her as well as other werewolves.

Moderator: Can you talk about the new werewolves we’re going to see this season, and how they are obviously different from Josh?

Sam Huntington: Yes, I don’t know if I can tell you exactly what they are. What I can say is they represent a real threat to Josh and not so much physically, but more socially. And who they are is also a threat to the people that Josh loves. So like I don’t really want to give you more than that because it is like thinking about the episode now where they’re introduced, it is kind of a reveal in the episode. What I can promise you is that they’re really bad ass and cool.

Moderator: In an episode of Face Off, one of the models almost passed out during the makeup process. Can you talk about what the hardest or weirdest experience you’ve had during some sort of makeup?

Sam Huntington: Yes, last season. Last year I had a day when I worked a full 12 hour day on first unit which was just me – oh I think it was a couple scenes with Kristen Hager. Then I had to sit in the makeup chair for five and a half hours, get all my stuff on and then shoot for another like six hours after that. So it turned out to be like almost a 24 hour day, it was like a 21 hour day. I slept for four hours and then I woke up and went to work again for 18 hours.

So yes, that was one of the days that made me really sick last year. I got really sick a couple times last year just because I was so exhausted. It can be intense.

Moderator: Can you talk about that a little bit about how the transformation effects have become more streamlined and more CG?

Sam Huntington: Yes, I think, last year they kind of came to the realization that they couldn’t afford to lose me for six hours on end during the work day, one; and, two, that was lucky for me because it damn near killed me every time they did it. So they decided to supplement the FX makeup more this season with CG. The good news is it means less time in the makeup chair for me and I think it really looks bad ass.It looks really good.

Moderator: There are a bunch of new characters this season on Being Human. How has that affected the dynamic of the big three, and the dynamics of the setting in general?

Sam Huntington: That’s a fantastic question. Yes, there are a lot of new characters this year which I think broadens and makes the show more rich. But at the same time, it means that Sam and Meaghan and I, didn’t get to spend as much time with each other this year.

And the funny this is it didn’t change the dynamic between the three of us at all. In fact, what it did was when we did get to work together, we were like school girls. It was ridiculous and it made the silliness and stupidity on set, it brought it to levels that were just inappropriate. We love each other like siblings. I mean, it’s truly the closest I’ve ever been with my cast mates for sure.

Moderator: Can you talk about Josh and Nora’s relationship and maybe what you have enjoyed most about playing it out with Kristen Hager on screen?

Sam Huntington: Well, Kristen Hager is for all intensive purposes the fourth roommate. She is as much part of the show as any of us I think and is such a brilliant actress. So I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet. My scene partners are so brilliant, Sam, Meaghan and Kristen.

The cool thing is I have a deep connection with Kristen. So when we are in these scenes that are so heavy and so relatable, I mean they’re real relationship issues and, between the miscarriage and, a pregnancy that’s probably way too soon in a relationship. These are things that I think people can probably relate to, and Kristen and I take that into everything that we do.

Moderator: Did you always want to work in this industry while you were growing up or did you have other professions in mind?

Sam Huntington: Always wanted to be an actor or director — always. I knew so probably by the time I was 7. And then I started, my mom had a children’s theater company, acting classes for kids and they would put on little shows. My mom went on to become a really talented playwright and wrote a bunch of wonderful, original pieces that I became a part of. I pretty much knew at that point that not only did I love acting, but I was decent at it and I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.

Moderator: Would you ever be interested like directing for Being Human?

Sam Huntington: Yes, If they’d let me, I’d do it now. But you know what, we are extremely lucky to have such talented directors on the show. People who inspire me and people who help and challenge me – Adam Kane, one of our executive producers, is one of the more talented directors I’ve ever worked with. So that being said, I would absolutely love to direct an episode of Being Human.

Moderator: If you had to choose in real life, would you rather be a ghost or werewolf or a vampire?

Sam Huntington: Werewolf. Hands down, yes there’s no question. A vampire, you’re dead and you have a blood lust. You have to drink blood, it’s like an addiction. So you have this monkey on your back always. Ghosts, you’re non-corporeal. So you can’t eat, you can’t have sex, you can’t do anything that’s fun. You can float around, you can spy on people. .But a werewolf, you’re just basically a dude until you turn into a bad ass. And that’s – I’m sorry, it’s just the most obvious answer ever.

Moderator: Our next questions are from Lisa with NiceGirlsTV.com.

Lisa: Hi Sam.

Sam Huntington: Lisa! You sound like such a nice girl.

Lisa: I am a very nice girl.

Sam Huntington: Oh that’s good, you sound so nice.

Lisa: Thanks. Well hopefully you’ll still feel that way after I ask my questions (laughing).

Sam Huntington: Oh great, yes oh boy.

Lisa: No, I’m just kidding. Are there any moments this season, that you can speak of, that were really challenging for you as an actor either physically or emotionally?

Sam Huntington: Oh my gosh, yes. That’s one of the things that’s so great about making the show, is I’m challenged everyday. I go to work everyday and really work, I really do my best to bring the kind of beautiful writing that we’re given to life in a natural way.

We really fight against camp on this show and it starts in the writer’s room. So luckily by the time it gets to us, it’s beautiful material. But it’s really my job to make it as natural as possible so that the viewers will feel like these people are human beings and fighting a very human fight. I had many moments this year where I walked to set and I was scared that I wasn’t going to be able to do what I wanted to do with the scene, and what the scene deserved. And luckily, I think most of the time I was able to achieve what I set out to do, but I’m always questioning myself and trying to better myself as an actor and that’s what’s kind of fun about this show.

Lisa: If you could have any actor guest star on Being Human, who would it be and what role would they play?

Sam Huntington: I like to work with my friends. I have a lot of very talented friends. There’s so many wonderful – so many of my heroes I would love to have on the show Jeff Bridges, Tom Hanks. I highly doubt that they would want to come and be on the show. Maybe if they watched it, they would.

But yes, realistically I really enjoy working with my friends and this year I got to have one of my very good friends on the show in a really integral, awesome role. And so my dream kind of came true, you know. He’s an actor you’ll definitely know and recognize, a Montreal Local, and he plays someone from Josh’s past who comes back in a really interesting way.

Lisa: Well, that’s awesome. I can’t wait to see the rest of the season.

Sam Huntington: I can’t wait for you to see it.

Lisa: Thank you so much for taking time to speak with me today.

Sam Huntington: Of course, thank you Lisa.

Being Human airs Monday nights at 9/8c on Syfy. Also be sure to catch Sam on Face Off Wednesday, February 8 at 10:00.