My Role in “Orange is the New Black” – The INNdustry with Sister Rose: Michael Harney Pt. 1-14

Sister Rose Pacatte, F.S.P. sat down to interview actor Michael Harney (NYPD Blue, Weeds, Orange is the New Black) about his vocation as an actor, husband, and father. He revealed a deep Catholic faith and passion for acting, as well as his struggles with alcoholism, joys as a father, and long-lasting ties to the Jesuits.

Pt. 1 – My Role in “Orange is the New Black”
“That’s a tremendous draw for me … [participating in] a project where we’re able to reach out to a population of people and give them a voice … so they, in fact, feel acknowledged.”

Pt. 2 – Acting Is Not About Me
“Really for me, [acting] has a lot to do with embracing humanity, as Jesus embraced humanity, without judgement.”

Pt. 3 – Who I Am
“I wanted to be a social worker … I’m a people person.”

Pt. 4 – Alcoholism, Recovery, Faith
“It was a role that started me on the road to get sober … I realized I had a problem when I played that role.”

Pt. 5 – The Spirituality & Art of Acting
“If I can craft a performance of one happy accident after another, then I’m in good shape.”

Pt. 6 – Staying Focused
I really fall back on Faith. The Lord in my life is very powerful for me.

Pt. 7 – Inspired By Merton
“I think of Merton … hoping that what he was doing was God’s will for him, and in that hope, that [it] would be pleasing [to God].”

Pt. 8 – My Friend, Walter Ciszek
“In those days, I was thinking about being a priest and I was doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius with [Walter].”

Pt. 9 – My Son: a Gift and a Calling
“My son … is a calling to live a life of love and service.”

Pt. 10 – My Son’s Athleticism
“He’s been one of the best ball players on the field.”

Pt. 11 – For Aspiring Actors
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people teaching [acting] that don’t know what they’re doing.”

Pt. 12 – To Christians Seeking to Change Hollywood
I think about the Lord. I mean, he hung out with murderers and thieves and prostitutes. He was close with them … he did not judge them.

Pt. 13 – On The New Pope
“To walk with everyone without saying that you’re above them that you are with them. That’s [Pope Francis’s] gift right now.”

Pt. 14 – What’s Next for Me
“Thanks to Michael Harney for taking the time to visit with us! Look for him in an upcoming HBO series with Matthew McConaughey where he plays, you guessed it, a cop.”

About “The INNdustry with Sister Rose”:

Billed as SISTER WENDY meets ROGER EBERT AT THE MOVIES meets THE CHARLIE ROSE SHOW, “The INNdustry with Sister Rose” reviews all things entertainment related and features one-on-one interviews with the people making news in entertainment and media. Take a look at the entertainment industry, faith, and life through Sister Rose colored glasses.

About Sister Rose:

Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP is a Daughter of St. Paul and the Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Culver City, CA. She is a noted national and international media literacy specialist and is an award-winning film/TV columnist for St. Anthony Messenger and the National Catholic Reporter. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/sisterrosemovies/