INTERVJU / INTERVIEW
September, and Baker insists that he nev- er grew bored of the character that he played for seven years, because he never experienced him in the same way. - He changed together with me. Initial- ly cynical and wounded, later – as he con- cluded some chapters in his life – he be- came warmer and more willing to once again trust people. I think the same ap- plies to us in the real world – we all pass through such transitions. Despite there being dozens of crime series on televi- sion, the DNA of The Mentalist is differ- ent. It’s not just a story about solving crime. We dealt with psychology and hu- man nature, but also the lies we tell oth- ers and ourselves. Audiences loved Pat- rick because, although he was brilliant, he was also vulnerable. And that balance of strength and weakness is something I’d always wanted to play. The character of Patrick Jane earned him nominations for both Golden Globes and Emmy Awards, but Baker says that form- ing a connection with the audience was more important than any award. People still approach him today to tell him how Patrick helped them get through difficult times, which the actor says is an achieve- ment that can’t be compared to anything. Born in Tasmania, Baker grew up in the Australian state of New South Wales. His career began in soap operas and small- er television projects, and prior to depart- ing for America he worked in everything from TV commercials to theatre. - There was no Instagram, TikTok etc. Popularnost bez iskustva je kao kuća bez temelja. Može izgledati lepo, ali ne traje Popularity without experience is like a house without foundations. It might look nice, but it won’t endure
back then. If you wanted to be an actor, you had to do small roles for years, study, fall and get back up. Young actors today have platforms that provide them with overnight visibility. But visibility and du- rability aren’t the same. Popularity with- out foundations only lasts as long as the next viral clip. You don’t condemn new media, but you do believe that acting still requires dedication and patience as a craft? - Yes. Perhaps that’s an antiquated view, but I think it’s important to learn how to lose a role, to be told ‘no’, and to carry on. That builds resilience. Acting is a mara- thon, not a sprint. You learn patience and to handle failures and rejections – and that shapes you. Can you identify yourself in Patrick? - Well, I hope I’m not a con artist (laughs), but, yes, a part of me exists in him. I like to observe people and I like to “catch” small tells in their behaviour. Per- haps that’s an abnormality of the pro- fession – as actors and detectives share that obsession with the details. The dif- ference is that I’m not as obsessed with a single mission – I like to have multiple waves that I can “ride” (laughs). When it comes to this experience, I’m definitely most grateful for the fact that television teaches you discipline. It teaches you to get up every morning, to be ready and to give your all. As an aside, are you an avid surfer off set? - Surfing teaches me the same thing as acting: that you can’t control everything. The sea has its own rhythm, and all you do is choose how to respond to it. I al- so enjoy photography and travelling, and
I’m particularly inspired by places that are a long way from mass tourism. When I’m not working, I like to disappear for a while. That’s my reset. The best holi- day is when you’re a complete stranger to everyone around you. That restores my energy. Most people today associate you with The Mentalist, but many also remember you from the hit film The Devil Wears Prada, in which you portrayed fashion photographer Christian Thompson... - That was an amazing experience – work- ing with such a team and watching how Meryl Streep created a character in re- al time. I can’t reveal much about the se- quel… other than that I’d love to return, provided the story is right. Fashion, in- trigue and humour – that’s tough to re- sist. You’ve built your career working simultaneously in film and on television shows. Could you describe one of these loves as being greater than the other? - Television is today more courageous than it was 20 years ago. When I was starting out, film was the pinnacle, and you did TV until getting an opportuni- ty to work in film. Nowadays, some of the best stories and most profound roles are found on television. Audiences ex- pect more, and authors are more willing to give that to them. But the genre, for- mat, and even the type of media, don’t play a decisive role in what you will offer. You are a key player. The most important thing to understand is that you can’t plan everything. You can prepare to the best of your ability, but life will always bring surprises. And the best is hidden precise- ly in those surprises.
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