Fanbolt.com has a fun little interview with actor Nestor Carbonell, aka the ageless Richard Alpert. Carbonell talks about his journey on the show, the “Jesus wig” he wore in one episode and never will again, and how he feels about the pending end of the show.
When asked about how it feels to be more than just a character on the show — to be an actual part of the mythology — he replies:
It’s a thrill. Like I said, I started out as a guest. I never knew my part was going to grow beyond what it did. When I was told, “OK, you’re going to be on the island now.” I go, “Really? In what capacity; in what way?” When I was handed the episode where I didn’t age at all, I go, “That has to be answered at some point.” To be part of one of the properties of the island, in a sense, or either the island has had an effect on me either through Jacob or the magic qualities of the island. It’s great, it’s a thrill. It’s a weird thing as an actor to play because I want to be human, but in the same token, you can’t deny that there’s something super human or otherly about this character.
Image: Zuma Press.