Jimmy Smits knows how to deliver good drama

Jimmy Smits

In the dramatic, adoption-themed film "Mother and Child" (written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia), women are the main characters, but there are some memorable male characters that have important roles in the outcome of the story. One of these men is a physical therapist named Paco (played by Jimmy Smits), a divorced grandfather who romances a co-worker named Karen (played by Annette Bening), who is still emotionally scarred from being an unwed teen mom who decided to give her daughter up for adoption.

With patience that is almost saint-like, Paco courts the abrasive Karen, who initially resists his interest in her, but she eventually opens her heart to the possibility of being in a serious relationship with a man after years of being alone. Paco and Karen eventually fall in love, and Paco serves as a motivator for Karen to confront her past and find the daughter whom she gave up for adoption. I spoke with Emmy winner Smits by telephone for this exclusive interview, and he shared his thoughts on playing a male character in a female-dominated film; being a part of the award-winning play "God of Carnage"; and what his favorite memories are of being on "L.A. Law," "NYPD Blue" and "The West Wing."

What was your initial reaction after the first time you read the "Mother and Child" script?

After reading the script, it was one of those things where you sigh. It was an emotional, cathartic thing that you got through and the audience feels too. It was also about trying to figure out how I was going to emotionally navigate this [Paco] character dealing with Annette [Bening’s] character … It was important to have just lightness … It [the story] was heavy at times, and there needed to be some light somewhere, and I think this [Paco] character provides that.

"Mother and Child" stars and director at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival premiere of the movie in Park City, Utah. Pictured in the back row, from left to right: Samuel L. Jackson, writer/director Rodrigo Garcia and Jimmy Smits. Pictured in the front row, from left to right: Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts.

How would you describe Rodrigo Garcia as a director?

I have to qualify by saying that ["Mother and Child"] is a very small, independent film, and we were shooting on a very truncated schedule, so we didn’t have a lot of time. But what I can say about him as a director is he is ultimate, in terms of being a collaborator. That’s something I had heard about him from other actors. He’s just that type of director who likes to collaborate with his cast … and he stayed out of our way. And being the writer [of "Mother and Child"] played into that. He’s one of those people who can really spark people with the right words, instead of having long laborious conversations.

What was it like to work with Annette Bening?

I’ve been a huge fan. It’s good to see her now at this point in her life, like she’s liberated. I saw her do a show in Los Angeles called "Madea," and she really puts it out there. In terms of her ["Mother and Child"] character, the choices that she makes affects every person in her life.

Annette Bening and Jimmy Smits in "Mother and Child"

What would you say to people who might be reluctant to see "Mother and Child" because they think the movie is just another weepy "chick flick"?

If you’re into action flicks, there’s a lot of it out there. This movie ["Mother and Child"] doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It’s not going to convince people to see it if they’re not inclined to see films with the quality and caliber of people like Sam [Jackson], Naomi [Watts], Annette [Bening], Kerry [Washington], S. Epatha [Merkerson]. It’s just wonderful acting, and it’s a film that touches your heart.

"Mother and Child" was at several film festivals in different countries. Were there any cultural differences in how people reacted to the movie, or was it pretty much the same across the board?

In Toronto, Sundance [in Park City, Utah] and in Spain, it was the same across the board. The emotions and the characters resonated with everyone.

Jimmy Smits, Naomi Watts, Rodrigo Garcia and Kerry Washington at a "Mother and Child" photo call at the 2009 San Sebastian Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain

What have been your experiences with adoption with anyone you know personally?

My godmother was a foster mom, and she had all these [foster] children over the years. She was very nurturing and caring. Choices that get made affect people’s lives. That’s something we see thematically in the film.

You co-starred in the Broadway production of "God of Carnage" when Jeff Daniels took a leave of absence from the show. What can you say about that experience?

I recently saw the present ["God of Carnage"] cast: Jeff Daniels, Lucy Liu, Dylan Baker and Janet McTeer. It’s great watching them do it and putting a different spin on it. It’s like Shakespeare: You don’t own a particular role; every actor brings something different to it.

Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda in "The West Wing"

So many people got to know you as an actor because of your work on TV. What have been any personal highlights for you for each the TV series you were on the longest: "L.A. Law," "NYPD Blue" and "The West Wing"?

For "L.A. Law," it was different things. We all worked together, and we were a lot of theater actors who were so happy to be saying all these big [legal] words in a courtroom. I have very fond memories of ["L.A. Law" costars] Harry Hamlin, Susan Dey, Blair Underwood and myself working on the set. That set was really incredible.

With "The West Wing," probably more than anything [I’ve done on TV], it tapped into the psyche of America and the possibility that something different [other than a white male] as a [U.S. presidential] candidate could be possible [to win the election].

With "[NYPD] Blue," one of the reasons it was incredible is that New York is the place to be. Cops still stop me all the time. I have very fond memories … ["NYPD Blue" creator] Steven Bochco told me that it would be hard to get a show like ["NYPD] Blue" on [broadcast network] television right now. It would have to be on cable. There are a lot of reality shows and episodic shows where technology is at the forefront and the procedural shows. There’s room for all of that stuff, but the dramatic shows and good writing should be in the mix as well.

Jimmy Smits at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah

What’s next for you? Are you still involved in a TV show that IMDB.com lists as "Untitled Justice Project"?

We just shot that. There are many [TV] pilots, and the whole process of shooting pilots is not a good business model. My character [on the show] is a U.S. Supreme Court judge who steps down from the bench to go into private practice as a lawyer.

Does the show have a title now?

It doesn’t.

Well, congratulations on holding your own with some very strong and talented actresses in "Mother and Child." At the movie screening I was at, I heard someone say that they wish there were more men in this world who are like Paco.

[He laughs.] I aspire to be more like Paco in life.

Photo credits: Photo #3: Sony Pictures Classics. Photo #5: NBC. All other photos: AP.