Matthew Bellows
“I want to understand everything I possibly can about how I fit into the world that’s been created, then come on set ready to play…”
Although audiences might not know his name, Matthew Bellows is seemingly everywhere these days. The ubiquitous actor recently returned to NBC’s rule-breaking medical drama, New Amsterdam, as Dr. Clint Hartman, the self-assured Neurosurgeon who enjoys getting under the skin of Dr. Vijar Kapoor (Anupam Kher).
On break from saving lives in the medical world, Bellows hopped over to CBS as Navy Captain Reginald Barkley in NCIS and as the grieving brother Oliver on MacGyver. He also recently donned blue make-up to appear as an Accuser on the big screen alongside Lee Pace in the superhero smash Captain Marvel.
Later this month, Bellows heads back to CBS for an episode of the kid-friendly Saturday morning CBS drama, The Inspectors; and he is currently shooting a recurring role in Season 3 of the hit FX drug drama, Snowfall.
Most recognizable from his starring role as the fierce human hunter Jax on BYUtv’s Extinct, the multi-dimensional Bellows has also transformed through roles on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, HBO’s Room 104, TV Land’s Teachers, ABC’s Nashville, NBC’s Grimm, USA’s Colony and Netflix’s Fuller House, among others.
Amidst his crazy schedule, Matt was able to find some time to answer a few questions:
Give us some insight to your role on New Amsterdam.
Matt: I play Dr. Clint Hartman. He is a Neurosurgeon, who chose that specific branch of medicine so he “didn’t have to touch his patients’ bodies”. He’s cocksure, snarky and yet a stellar surgeon. Otherwise, Dr Kapoor wouldn’t have him around. The unfortunate and comedic part of that reality is that Dr Hartman and Kapoor don’t get along, but they need each other. Dr. Hartman wants to be in Kapoor’s favor, but also wants his respect. This back and forth is a power dynamic the two are always dealing with.
Did you ever think you’d be a doctor?
Matt: Funny story, Yes. I totally did. When I started college, I had this weird idea to go pre-med but major in Theater. I was going to take the general Theater courses and all the prerequisites for the MCAT. This way I’d have a great GPA and be set up for the test, etc. Obviously, this didn’t happen. When I first started as a freshman, I had a college counselor go over my plans with me and they were like “why are you doing that, if you want to be an Actor you should study Acting.” That interaction stopped me in my tracks. I did want to be an Actor. More than anything, and I guess I just needed some permission or something, someone to say it was ok. And I never looked back.
I did pursue an education in Fitness/Heath though, and worked in the health and wellness world as I was starting out. It kind of scratched the itch to dig into some science and to help and serve people.
The show strikes a very down-to-earth tone; do you think this is why audiences are attracted to it?
Matt: I think things are a bit tough in the world in 2019. There’s a fair amount to worry about, and a lot that’s out of our control. New Amsterdam brings a sense of joy and hope and heart into the viewers home every week. I tell people its “Extreme Makeover Home Edition in a hospital”. It brings all the feels and it think people really want to feel hope and love, I think New Amsterdam does that and I think that’s a beautiful thing.
What’s it been like behind the scenes; loose or tense because of all the emotions involved?
Matt: They call it #damfam. And yeah, it’s a hashtag but I think it’s a sentiment that’s earned. There is a sense of ease and friendship on the set that I really appreciate. Anytime I’m there, I see people that I’m happy to see, that bring a smile to my face and that I enjoy hanging around all day.
With a new show, I think it can take a little bit of time to create a sense of community, and with a show that has a lot of guest players coming through, perhaps even harder. But the vibe on this set is a grounded, chill and loving one. I always enjoy and look forward to being there.
You played another strong personality recently on an episode of NCIS; tell us about that.
Matt: I played Navy Captain Reginald Barkley, a commander of a Virginia Class Nuclear Submarine. A navy seal diver is killed in a diving “accident” and there’s more than meets the eye. Agent Gibbs and Bishop (Mark Harmon and Emily Wickersham) are brought on board from NCIS to investigate. And while they’re there, we receive and order to dive and prepare for war.
It’s a high stakes underwater chess match for Captain Barkley. He has to navigate his orders to essentially start world war 3, and deal with a murder investigation with the clock ticking fast.
He’s young for a submarine commander, so he likely went right into the Naval Academy out of high school and advanced quickly. He’s calm under pressure, calculated, sees the best in people and is loyal to his Country. Perhaps to a fault, as he misses some clues early on in his efforts to execute orders as best as he can.
At first glance it seems like you play tougher characters, but we did get a taste of your more sensitive side as a grieving brother on MacGyver. What was that like?
Matt: It was cold. Really Cold. If you watch the episode you can see all of us making ourselves as small as possible to avoid the near freezing temperatures in the cemetery.
But to your real question; it was nice, of course. Often in this industry you find a niche that you might have some extra strength in and you try to capitalize on those strengths, I often get to play characters that are like Captain Barkley and it’s a blast. But it doesn’t mean you aren’t great at other things. On MacGyver I play a fella named “Oliver” who has lost his sister and niece in a tragic carjacking murder. He brings Lilies, their favorite flowers, to the grave as often as he can. Oliver is also French, as the episode takes place in Belgium. So, he speaks English with a French accent, which was a super fun puzzle to tackle.
What’s been the toughest part bouncing from show-to-show?
Matt: I’d say allowing myself to be ready and relaxed simultaneously. Meaning, you’re always on your toes awaiting schedules and scripts and chasing down and creating new opportunities. Being ready to make the puzzle pieces fit, often with short notice and then needing to deliver the best performance you can as well, is wacky a balancing act.
Of course, we have to ask how was it working on Captain Marvel?
Matt: Dope. In a word.
It’s another example of a welcoming and nurturing set. Kind people being professional and creating a work environment that is set up for everyone to be successful. I was worried I would be intimidated walking in to such a big world, but truthfully, I wasn’t. I was prepared, I know how to do this, and that’s basically how everyone there felt. A bunch of pro’s working hard at making something really damn cool.
Lee Pace was a great dude to chat with. Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden were super cool and welcoming. They pay attention to every detail and know how to work with actors. I mean, it’s basically exactly what you’d hope it would be. Awesome sets, Incredible costumes, good people. I’m grateful I got to be a part of it.
I also LOVED the movie. I’m a sucker for a Female Rock Singers and Great Fight sequences, so when you have Brie Larson kicking ass and Elastica rocking in the background, I’m in a happy place.
As an actor, do you prepare for the big screen projects differently than for TV?
Matt: Not at all. The main difference is the pace of shooting. On TV, you’re going through a lot of pages in a day, Film, very few. So, it’s a matter of modulating your preparation to the task in front of you.
I’m a big “text” guy, I did all my training in the Theater, got an MFA from The Old Globe, so I tend to spend a lot of time with the words before I ever get to a set. I want to understand everything I possibly can about how I fit into the world that’s been created, then come on set ready to play with as much information in my toolkit as possible.
Were you a fan of the Marvel films before you booked the job?
Matt: Oh totally. I’m a movie guy, not so much a comic book guy. So, my exposure to the Marvel Universe has been through film and television. X-Men cartoons as a kid and Marvel movies now. Marvel has done an awesome job of giving us this repertory of characters and actors that are just crazy fun to watch together.
I was looking forward to Captain Marvel for a while, before I got to work on it even. I think is a refreshing film in the franchise, which can start to feel a little bit of “sameness” after a while. This intro of Carol Danvers into the mix re-ups my excitement for Endgame and the rest of the world as it continues to unfold.
We have to ask: how hard was it to get that blue make-up off each day?
Matt: I still have it on.
What’s up next for you?
Matt: I’m currently working on a recurring role on Season three of Snowfall on FX. I play a fella name Lt. Arnold Todd. He’s an east coaster brought into the LAPD office and ruffles some feathers with his tactics an attitude. I’m about mid-way through the shooting season on that and it will premier later in the year.
I also have a movie called The Code that should be getting some press soon. It stars a handful of up and comers you’d recognize and deals with a Utopian society in the future where humans have become immortal but have lost a sense of their humanity. (I totally made that tag line up because I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say about it)
Discover more about Matt Bellows at: www.MatthewBellows.com
