By Andrew Cristi
Take a little bit of Elvis, and a little bit of Dolph Lundgren, and blend it together with a Russian twist and out comes Alex Sparrow- a triple threat poised to take over Hollywood as the next can-do renaissance man of every art. Already an international superstar boasting over three million followers on social media, the Russian native is bringing his legions of fans to the United States as he continues to tackle the world of acting, music, and dance- and with an enormous calling for Russian’s in entertainment right now, and his uncanny resemblance to the iconic actor that played Victor Drago, we here at Wingman Magazine could easily see Sparrow becoming a huge action star!
With shows and movies like “Homeland,” “The Americans,” the new “Creed” sequel, and the new show by Matthew Weiner “The Romanoffs,” being all the rage, Hollywood seems to have been painted red- and with the media hungry for more authentic Russian performances, studios are looking for real Russian actors that can deliver– and Sparrow does so in spades. But, while the compelling talent’s broad smile and classic good looks have won him tons of fans and scored him many roles that portray him in a heroic light, the quickly rising star swears that he would much rather play the bad guy- which makes his juicy new role on the riveting drama “UnReal” perfect for him.
With mastermind Sarah Gertrude Shapiro behind it, “UnReal” is without a doubt television’s best source for fully-fleshed out rich characters- and while the show is certainly part of Lifetime’s “Fempire,” the series is not just for women. Well-crafted through and through, the tongue-in-cheek series is brilliant and often-times hilarious, offering up intricately woven storylines, insightful allegory on society, and pitch-perfect performances at all times- and Sparrow and his character fit right into the fold.
As one of the new male contestants on “Everlasting,” the show within a show on “UnReal” that seems to mimic “The Bachelor” (or, in this case, “The Bachelorette,”) Sparrow plays “Alexi Petrov,” the wild one of the bunch who out of all the contestants is perhaps most capable at dealing with the manipulative personalities going on behind the scenes. Alexi is not there to find love or win the competition- he is there to forward his own agenda of fame and fortune at any cost, and the extreme sociopathic opportunistic personality is so unabashedly maniacal that it is so unfamiliar to real life that it makes for his performance to be all the more riveting. What “UnReal” does so much better than every other show is introduce characters that are fully thought out when it comes to their psychological dossiers- even if the character is only introduced for a few episodes, offering up unique characters whose morals exist in many shades of grey and their actions rarely complimentary in their trajectory toward obtaining their goals. …But, that’s real life, particularly when dealing with the complicated human psyche. Good or bad, Alexi’s character is driven by addiction and narcissism- two very real diseases, and Sparrow is portraying them in the highly accurate way that “UnReal” seems dedicated to psychological authenticity.
More importantly; this is not an easy character to play, and given the small amount of time given to allow the audience to understand the character, it makes the actor particularly challenged- and Sparrow makes it seem effortless. This character is extraordinarily unique- a character that most actors, and even most audiences would never understand, and frankly might even fear taking on. To watch a man use his sexuality for his own agenda is something most scripted programming has really shied away from. Jude Law and Matt Damon delved into these waters with “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” Martin Wallstrom did it more recently on “Mr. Robot,” and Chris Meloni famously gave one of the best performances of all time playing one of these kinds of characters on “Oz.” Other than that, men in media who dare to get with another guy on screen have been forced into three categories; gay, straight, or maybe bi- and usually the roles they play completely center around their sexuality. But, like the character’s just mentioned, Sparrow’s Alexi is about so much more than his sexuality- which is really just a very small fragment of who this character is. Alexi’s storyline has nothing to do with his sexuality- it has to do with his manipulation, and the fact that he will use whatever and whoever he has accessible to him in order to get what he wants, and that’s what makes him interesting.
Luckily for Sparrow, he is given two phenomenal actors to constantly play off of- and he has fantastic chemistry with both of them! (Hey, “UnReal,” can we suggest more screen-time with Alexi, Rachel, and Jay? Maybe the three of them should get together?) Already featured in our pages, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman is a star to watch out for- and we’ve been longing for him to turn to the dark side on the show for quite some time, and we couldn’t be happier that Sparrow’s sadistic character is luring him down that path. As Jay is staring at their pictures they took together with both delight and disgust, the audience watches as Jay comes into his own on this show- and Bowyer-Chapman, as an actor, finally gets the material he deserves. As far as Appleby goes, this girl could have chemistry with a paper bag- and the best scene of the season thus far was watching her concoct a fight between Sparrow’s character and the other guys. They are perfect catalysts for one another and play into each other very well, proving that perfect English is highly unnecessary when it comes to perfect acting as they orchestrate a flawless scene by exchanging outstanding eye contact. Sparrow is also quick to praise Appleby’s directing abilities as he calls her “an actor’s director,” confirming that she was always in tune with how comfortable he was on set and how it might affect his enormous fan base.
And make no mistake- that is very important to the beloved Russian star. A smash sensation overseas, while Sparrow is glad to be taking on such a complex character, he wants his fans and his country to know that he still loves them and he will still be the same guy they have been so loyal to- he just hopes to bring some of that talent into Hollywood. Thrilled to be embracing new opportunities, the multi-talented star is all smiles as he talks about putting out new music that channels the 50’s doo-wop vibe, and dreams about what might be ahead for him acting-wise. A terrific actor who can dance, sing, and bears a striking resemblance to Dolph Lundgren? Oh yeah- we’re definitely ready to see more of this guy! To find out what Sparrow had to say about “UnReal,” his music, the differences between shooting in Russia and shooting America, and idolizing Dolph, read below!
WINGMAN: Your character on “UnReal” is really unique in the fact that we see a male who uses his sexual whiles to get what he wants with both men and women. This is a character whose sexuality is purely opportunistic and this is very rare in male characters in entertainment. Talk about that.
ALEX SPARROW: This character is honestly so different from myself, so he was really such a challenge to play and understand how far he would literally go. That kind of character is a gift and a challenge for any actor- he has so much going on; violent sexuality and addiction on every level, he’s a true addict. It was hard to wrap my head around because everything my character was doing I had never experienced in my life, so, that was both special for me and difficult- I’ve never seen this kind of person up close. This is a person who is literally trying to stop himself from being somebody and sabotaging himself with drugs and alcohol, and that’s really very far from who I am, so that’s not easy to play or easy to understand, but it is fulfilling. As far as the nature of the character- you used a fantastic word; opportunistic. That’s exactly right; he uses whatever is accessible to him to get everything he wants. He’s a chameleon and he is changing in every scene to fit what he needs to be for the people around him in order to get ahead. He can fake tears, whatever- and he doesn’t really care about the feelings of others, he just knows what he wants. You are quite perceptive and it seems you see much more than others because really, that is very much the nature of this character and exactly what makes him so interesting. When we get to the end of the season, more twists arise and audiences who might have thought my character was one way will be very surprised. That’s really what’s great about the role and about the show- no one can say these characters are good or bad, they’re outstandingly rich and that’s very cool to play.
WINGMAN: You have an amazing creator, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro- who is brilliant, as well as many phenomenal people in your cast. We’ve had the talented Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman in this magazine, and you also have great chemistry with Shiri Appleby- who also directs! You are truly surrounded by incredible people here.
SPARROW: It’s very comfortable to work with them- and not only as actors. As you mentioned, Shiri is also a really great director. In the episode where I dance, Shiri was our director, and I was dancing on stage and she really understood what it took for an actor to get so far from themselves. She is truly an actor’s director that understands what it means for an actor to get inside the darkest zones of their personalities. She was so careful with me and always making sure I felt comfortable. In all honesty, in the episode where my character kissed Jay, in my country there were fans that replied with anger from this. But, really, this is a role that is obviously just a character- and like I said before, there are still more twists that will reveal more about Alexi to come that will leave fans surprised about who he really is. But, I think in any profession- especially acting- you have to give it your all and be able to go beyond yourself, and I hope fans remember that I’m playing a role. It’s acting.
WINGMAN: That said, you are an international superstar. What are some of the differences between working in Russia as to working here in the United States?
SPARROW: I’ve worked many places- Italy, all of Europe really. One thing that’s amazing is how on schedule everything happens here. Everyone is always ready! The professionalism is fantastic. I was very impressed with how on time everyone is. There’s never any confusion with the set-up. I’ve done a lot of filming, but Hollywood is next level. They are very prepared and professional. From the actor, to the director, to the crew, it’s a well-oiled machine that is functioning perfectly.
WINGMAN: When it comes to American programs, Russians do have a tendency to be portrayed as the villains and we have unfortunately seen a lot of anti-Russian rhetoric recently- there are obviously plenty of great Russian-American people also. Do you think it would be positive to show more good natured Russian protagonists and heroes?
SPARROW: [Chuckles a bit] Actually, I’ve actually played a lot of heroic characters. I’m used to playing nice guys- the guy with the good smile. And, you know what? [Laughs] It’s not as much fun! It’s really interesting for actors to explain to an audience why bad guys are relatable and why your heart should break for them. The romantic lead is not necessarily a role I would turn down, and I really value all those roles I’ve played, but nothing can beat this Alexi character from “UnReal.” He is one of the greatest characters I’ve ever played- he’s pretty special. He’s just so different and interesting.
WINGMAN: We are entering a time where we are seeing a lot of Russian characters back on TV and in film. “Creed” is even having a sequel and they are having the return of Victor Drago with his son. Is that the kind of role you’d be interested in playing?
SPARROW: You know, the first thing I heard in Hollywood is that I look a lot like Victor Drago; Dolph Lundgren.
WINGMAN: [Cracking up] You look SO much like Doplph Lundgren!
SPARROW: That’s a huge dream of mine- to work with him. Maybe it will happen- I really hope so, but, at least I hope to one day meet him and tell him what a fan I am because he is truly a legend.
WINGMAN: You also have a booming music career. Describe your sound and your musical influences.
SPARROW: Everything I do now musically as far as influences go I get from Elvis Presley. My mother introduced him to me, and I’ll always remember his work from when I was a child- I’ve been a huge fan ever since. I really work hard to get his vibe into my music. Two years ago it finally worked, and now I’m going to release a new album that mixes the sound of the 50’s with the modern sound and I believe it will really be a hit for people who love both contemporary music as well as classic rock and roll. I love that kind of music- [Starts making a beat] “Shoo-wop, Shoo-wop,” and anyone who loves that style will love it to. April 1st I just released a package of three music videos, so fans can check that out.
WINGMAN: After “UnReal” you will be in high demand! What other types of roles would you like to play and who else would you love to work with?
SPARROW: Besides Dolph Lundgren? [Laughs] There’s so many Hollywood actor’s that I’m such a fan of; Leonardo DiCaprio is amazing. Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep- I’m not sure I could ever get a chance to work with her, but just to hold her hand and say “Thank You,” would be great. And then work with her, of course! [Cracks up] I don’t know! All the people on “UnReal” say that after this season, I should get a lot of jobs! [Chuckles again] I love to work and I love my profession, and I’m ready to go deep into my characters. So, I’ll be putting out more music and hopefully taking on more roles- and I’ll be having a lot of fun.
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And we’re ready to have a whole lot of fun watching what Sparrow brings to the table- musically and on the big screen. And of course, hopefully, alongside Dolph Lundgren! Hey, we can dream, right?
“UnReal” continues on Monday nights at 10/9c on Lifetime.
Mike McCarthy