Sterling Beaumon played a young Benjamin Linus in the third season of Lost. This young talent, active in film and theater, has a guest starring role in the "Safe Haven" episode of Criminal Minds on October 20. TheCelebrityCafe.com's John Neal spoke with Sterling about growing up in front of the camera and playing an unusual suspect.
TheCelebrityCafe: You are going to be on Criminal Minds.
Sterling Beaumon: Yes. October 20, I believe.
TCC: Is this going to be a one-time episode?
SB: I'm not sure if it's one or possible more. As of right now it's one.
TCC: I understand your character is not exactly a good kid.
SB: No. He's a psychopath. He's just a raw egg. He is the furthest thing from a nice kid. He has no emotions. The only emotions he has are those put on for show. His family dropped him off at a hospital and this entire episode is him getting revenge on his mother. And he encounters many other families, and he's a serial killer so there are quite a few dramatic scenes.
TCC: You're how old, 15? What did you have to do to get in that type of role or mindset?
SB: I played young Benjamin Linus on Lost, and he wasn't the crazy person who killed a lot of people. But he changed over the course of time and a lot of events happened to him until he becomes the bad Ben everyone is scared of. I took what Mike Emerson told me about his character and what he did to channel into him. I really took from that and asked a lot questions until I got this role down. This character is really a cross of Benjamin Linus and this other role I played in this show called The Cleaner, who is a sweet kid who got caught up with the wrong people. This kid, if he had more a choice, I guess he wouldn't be like this. But that's just the way he is.
TCC: I was looking through your work history, and you're busy. What is it … you're working on a new project at least once every three months?
SB: Give or take. Whenever I'm not filming a show or a movie I'm usually working on a play.
TCC: You're with a theater group, too.
SB: Yeah, I'm with the West Coast Ensemble. I'm the youngest member of the group.
TCC: When I was 15 – and don't ask how long ago that was – my life pretty much centered around school and getting my learner's permit so I can drive a car. What's it like for you?
SB: I'm scared shitless of driving because of all the crazy people on the road [laughs]. I'll probably hold off on that until I'm 17. For school, I go to a private school that lets me take off to work. It's a great school and I love it. When I'm not working I go to school, and when I have to work or go out of town I get the work sent to me.
TCC: Do people at school recognize you from Lost?
SB: I go to a very, very small school so everyone knows me as me.
TCC: What's it like working with the guys from Criminal Minds?
SB: Everyone on the set was just absolutely fun. With the scenes I'm in, I'm mostly on my own, which is kind of a difficult thing to do. I was also with a bunch of random people which was difficult because you get used to working with someone and then it all changes. You have to get in the role and in the moment.
TCC: Was it easy to get in and out of this role?
SB: It was. I'm a method actor but I was able to make the transition. There are some points where you have to watch it because you get so into the role and when the director says cut those character traits can carry over. It would not be a good thing.
TCC: Yeah, it would not be a good thing to be a serial killer when the cameras stop rolling.
SB: [laughs] Definitely not.
