Credit: Lane Dorsey
Marcus Rosner can currently be seen in the role of Warren, a bachelor in the hit Lifetime series UnREAL. Pop City Life recently had the chance to chat with the actor about engaging and enticing Hallmark Channel audiences for years.
We spoke with Marcus about his career, what audiences can expect from the highly anticipated third season of UnREAL, and what his fans can look forward to from him next.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Marcus Rosner.
What motivated you to initially pursue acting? Is there anyone who influenced or inspired you?
Marcus Rosner: I was a big fan of movies growing up, but it was Tom Cruise’s performance in Jerry Maguire that really inspired me to pursue acting. It came out when I was maybe 8 years old and I don’t think I fully understood everything that was going on in the film, but I found the way Cruise walked and talked in the movie so fascinating because I didn’t know anyone who behaved that way where I was growing up in Northern Alberta. On top of that, I didn’t really know my biological father growing up, but I had seen a few photos here and there. He and Tom Cruise looked somewhat alike, strangely, and I think I had this weird association of the two in my mind. Growing up, I always gravitated toward Cruise movies. [Laughs] It sounds absurd but it’s the truth.
Is there anyone you would love to work with someday?
The person I would most want to work with will always be Martin Scorsese. I mean, he’s the king in my mind. He has made like five of my top 25 favorite movies, including my overall favorite, Goodfellas.
You are perhaps best known for your consistent work with the Hallmark Channel, appearing in both original movies and series including When Calls The Heart. How has your experience been working with Hallmark? What originally attracted you to these projects?
Hallmark, along with The CW – which both produce a lot of shows in Vancouver, where I started out – gave me some of my first opportunities. I’ll always be grateful for the work they gave me early on that helped get me out of bartending and focus on acting full-time. I always have a good time working on their films and it’s very much like a big family on that network.
I personally know it’s the holiday season once a marathon of Hallmark movies is permanently stationed on my TV. I find the stories to be a fun getaway. Do you feel it’s the same for other viewers?
Yeah, I think that’s exactly it. The world is fraught with cynicism and these movies provide a brief escape from that.
Credit: Lane Dorsey
Do you have any fun memories that stick out to you from filming for the Hallmark Channel?
A funny story: In one of my very first Hallmark movies, I was playing Candace Cameron-Bure’s fiancé, and there’s a scene where she arrives at my family’s home after a long delay and I greet her at the door and we kiss. Our characters are supposed to have absolutely no chemistry, and this kiss is supposed to look and feel awkward. As I mentioned, this was one of my first gigs, and needless to say, I was nervous about kissing DJ Tanner. This kiss ended up being so painfully weird on my end that I thought surely they couldn’t even use it, and all I heard as I pulled away was the director yell, “Cut! That was perfect!” There was no acting in that scene.
Seeing as you have starred in a few romantic comedies yourself, do you have a favorite romantic comedy that you secretly love watching?
I love a good heartfelt romantic comedy. If it’s well done, I think it’s one of the best types of film. They represent life and real people navigating difficult obstacles. Some of my personal favorites are from Judd Apatow – anything he makes is going to have heart and be absolutely hilarious. Knocked Up, 40-Year Old Virgin, [and] This Is 40 are all really great movies, and if you’re thinking they’re not romantic comedies then take another look. Friends With Kids directed by Jennifer Westfeldt is another one that always comes to mind.
The third season of UnREAL has arrived! Can you tell us a little about your character in season 3 and what attracted you to the role?
Warren is a down-home rancher from Texas. He’s the cowboy of the season. He’s traveled to California to be on Everlasting because his mother is on her deathbed, and she really wants him to settle down with a nice girl so she knows he has someone to be with when she goes. I would have played a variety of roles on this show if given the opportunity. I was attracted to this show because of the way it pulls back the veil on reality TV, which is an industry rarely dissected on television.
What can viewers expect from season 3 of UnREAL? What are you most excited for them to see?
They can expect what they’ve always been able to expect – and that is morally corrupt people doing deplorable things that you find yourself strangely cheering for. Selfishly, I’m most excited for the audience to see episode 6 because that is when Warren really begins to feel the manipulation of the producers, specifically Quinn King (Constance Zimmer). There’s plenty of fireworks, and we follow a story line which I’ve been told is pulled right from a past season of The Bachelor.
UnREAL is the perfect binge-worthy series. What are some of your favorite series to binge-watch on a night in?
My favorite shows right now are Big Little Lies, Bloodline, and Atlanta, all of which I’m totally up to date on so that’s pretty much the end of the line when it comes to binging them. However, The Office is something I can always just put on at night and go through four to five episodes. I’ve probably been through that whole series half a dozen times.
How has the fan support been for you so far? Do you enjoy interacting with fans on social media?
I’ve always been the beneficiary of great fan support. I love interacting with fans on social media from time to time!
What else are you working on? What can your fans look forward to from you next?
I just finished filming a short film called Dance with a Demon. It stars myself and Heather Morris as young parents to an 8-year-old daughter. The film follows Heather’s character, who is suffering from depression and is away at a clinic, and my character has to explain to our daughter where her mom is and what is going on with her. But it’s difficult for our daughter to understand, so in her mind there is a great battle happening between her mom and an actual demon, which is played out through dance. I’m really passionate about this project, and we will be taking it to film festivals later this year.
Thanks so much to Marcus Rosner for taking the time to answer some questions for us!
Don’t forget to tune in to UnREAL Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime! Be sure to keep up to date with Marcus by following him on Twitter and Instagram.
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