Going against 'nature'

MANILA, Philippines -“It is not appropriate to fight against your nature — to fight what you are.”

That’s Mark Pellegrino speaking and explaining why his character Bishop wants to bring Aidan (played by Sam Witwer) back to the Goth life of a vampire in Being Human. The AXN Beyond TV series premieres Feb. 2 at 9 p.m.

Aidan, the 200-plus-year-old soldier-turned-beast craves to live a normal human life. Bishop, leader of the vampire legion roaming around Boston, cannot and will not understand Aidan’s change of heart.

Aidan and Bishop’s internal conflict makes Being Human interesting to watch and palatable to self-confessed suckers for vampire stories and mythology. According to Mark, Bishop brought up Aidan from infancy. That’s one way to appreciate Bishop and Aidan’s story. Bishop is not the typical dark character who brings terror and danger. Adding spice to the story are Josh (Sam Huntington) and Sally (Meaghan Rath).

Josh used to be a medical student whose life changed when a werewolf pounced on him and he became one himself. Sally, on the other hand, looked forward to wedded bliss until she met an accident which thrust her into another plane of existence. Fast forward to the present. Aidan, Josh and Sally cross their paths and live an ordinary life.

Mark in some scenes from AXN Beyond’s Being Human premiering Feb. 2 at 9 p.m.Foundation

“It’s different,” says Mark of Being Human as compared to True Blood and the Twilight saga. “It is about the essential human problems, overcoming your flaws and issues to (becoming) happy.”

Being Human, says Mark, has a love angle but it is not that romantic. It heightens emotions but it is not a soap opera. “(It’s about) human issues in the supernatural environment,” adds Mark. Watch Being Human to find out what it could offer.

Mark did not go through the usual series of auditions for the Bishop role. It simply landed on his lap. The show’s executives offered it to him and he said “yes in a heartbeat.”

The actor has appeared in films The Big Lebowski, Lethal Weapon 3, Mulholland Dr., Capote, National Treasure and The Number 23. His acting mettle was also seen in TV shows like Dexter, ER, The X-Files, NYPD Blue, The Practice, The Unit, Criminal Minds, Prison Break, Grey’s Anatomy, Ghost Whisperer, CSI, Lost, Supernatural and The Mentalist.

When TV and movie projects are few and far in between, one will see Mark teaching students at Playhouse West and holding seminars at Acting Studio in Los Angeles.

“(Theater) is the original holy place for an actor,” Mark replies when asked why he keeps on returning to theater in spite of years working on the small and big screen. “(It helps me) to keep my craft… (I can) sit away, rust and die waiting for the job. (Theater) can make me sharp.”

He adds the theater allows him to gather the right ideas to work on and to contemplate the right values. “It is very valuable in every actor’s career,” says Mark.

How’s the working relationship on the set?

“We (actors) have an amazing chemistry,” Mark answers. “We’re friends. We discuss (the mythology of vampires) like a family. I enjoy every single moment working with them.”

Yes, they may be hostile to each other on cam but Mark, the two Sams and Meaghan are friends off cam. That’s being human in the actor’s perspective.

Asked why people adore vampires despite their dark side and killer instinct, Mark says this is because we love the idea of vampires meeting mortals and the danger it entails.

It seems vampires spell danger anytime, anywhere.