new Pix and a few old

'The Vampire Diaries' Season 8 Premiere Q&A: Michael Malarkey

October 21, 2016 8:43 AM PDT

Damon and Enzo are not quite themselves on The CW's "The Vampire Diaries."
When the show returns on Friday night with the premiere of its eighth (and final season), the boys are leaving a bloody trail across the country -- behavior sparked by something that happened to them inside The Armory at the end of Season 7.
But not everything is as it seems. Michael Malarkey's character, Enzo, may have a light hold on reality, as he fights for self control against the demonic creature making him do things.

PHOTOS: 'The Vampire Diaries' Season 8

With the show beginning it's final season, Access Hollywood turned to Michael for more insight into Enzo's fight, when we might see the vampire reunite with girlfriend Bonnie, and more.
AccessHollywood.com: What did Enzo and Damon get up to on their 'summer vacation' (that's what I'm going to call it)?
Michael Malarkey: Wasn't quite a Euro-trip. They've mostly been cavorting around different parts of America, I believe, and finding victims and butchering them in a warehouse is what we see teased in the teaser. And yeah, they've been working under this mysterious force of evil whose been encouraging them/forcing them to commit these murders for reasons which will be made clear in the first episode.

Access: A lot of us are curious -- obviously with good reason -- as to how your characters became the [murderous/possessed vampires] we saw at the end [of Season 7]. Will that be explored a little bit? Have you started to dig into that? Michael: Well … we find out that they are basically having their minds controlled a little bit by this mysterious evil force and they don't really have a choice in the matter, and Enzo is a little bit more reluctant to being mind-controlled than Damon. He has a lot more of his guard up, he's undergone torture a lot, he doesn't like working for anybody else, as we've discerned from seasons prior, so that's a bit of a conflict there between the two of them. But yeah, basically they are having to do these things and commit these unspeakable things. Whether they enjoy it or not is up to their personality traits, I guess.
Access: [Does it feel] like playing two characters when your character is forced to do things? Is it kind of a different Enzo that we're going to see? Michael: Yeah, in fact it's really been quite a joy as an actor to play that because he has to be quite guarded in certain respects. I mean, it's like being a double agent. He had a little bit of that last season with The Armory, and that was great to play because I just pretended I was James Bond, and now this one runs a little bit deeper. It's a lot more of a psychological double agent type thing, so it's pretty fascinating stuff what they concocted here, and God, I wish I could tease a bit more, but there's going to be so many more questions that open up once we see the first episode and a lot of questions answered as well.
Access: You mentioned James Bond.  … [Are] you a huge James Bond? Michael: James Bond and I go way back to the holiday I took in Turkey awhile back, where I was looking for something to read and I just grabbed this like Ian Fleming -- the first three Bond books. They were in one edition and reading that on a beach, in Turkey, with a martini – it was pretty incredible. … It was the first time I'd really discovered how much of a badass Bond was. And in the books, his personality is a lot more that of Daniel Craig. He looks more like Sean Connery, I suppose, but the personality is definitely hard-nosed and [he's] got a hard edge to him and you would be, wouldn't you? But yeah, I'm a huge Bond fan. I've seen almost all the movies and I do particularly love Daniel Craig's interpretation.

Access: Awesome. Let me wrap this up by asking you how soon until we get a reunion between Enzo and Bonnie, as tough as it's going to be to watch considering what's going on for him?Michael: Well, it's going to happen, for better or worse, at some point. I mean, we will see them together -- I believe in a flashback form -- in the first episode, so at least fans will appreciate getting a little bit more to the story. And, yeah, there's a lot of stuff we're doing currently, so you'll see under what pretense that falls further on down the line. But yeah, it's been really great. This season is a pretty rollicking ride and I'm having a lot of fun this season.
"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 premieres Friday at 8/7c on The CW.

-- Jolie Lash

Michael Malarkey on the Final Season of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and Enzo’s Redemption

by Christina Radish   

The CW series The Vampire Diaries is back for its eighth and final season, which finds Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Enzo (Michael Malarkey) still gone and wreaking murderous havoc, after falling under the sway of an evil creature, while Stefan (Paul Wesley) tirelessly pushes forward with their search and Bonnie (Kat Graham) questions whether they’ll ever be found. As they realize that whatever has a hold of them may have a more damaging grip than they could have ever imagined, they will have to decide what drastic measures they’re willing to use to break them free.
During this exclusive phone interview with Collider, actor Michael Malarkey talked about the show’s twisted final season, that Enzo doesn’t like being told what to do, how this situation will affect the dynamic between Enzo and Damon, whether he can find redemption, that he’s rooting for Enzo and Bonnie, what it’s like to know that they’re shooting the final season, and what he’ll remember most about this experience. He also talked about the music he’s currently writing and recording for the album he’s working on, due out in 2017.

Image via The CW

Collider: Your character took a really interesting journey last season, which set up a dark and crazy final season. Will it be as twisted as it looks?
MICHAEL MALARKEY: It definitely starts out pretty damn twisted. We end where we left off, at the end of last season. Damon and Enzo are on their no good murder path. We find out a bit more about that and why they’re doing what they’re doing. We find out that they’ve basically been overtaken by this evil spirit who’s kind of the puppet master, although Enzo is fighting it a bit more than Damon is. In the first episode, you’ll find out that Damon is very much his malicious old Season 1 self.
Is it fair to say that Enzo does not necessarily want to be doing what he’s doing?
MALARKEY: If we’ve learned anything about Enzo it’s that he doesn’t like being told what to do. He doesn’t like being someone’s henchman, just for the sake of it. He needs to know why things are happening. He has a really strong moral code. He doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, at all, but he wants to be doing it for his own reasons and for a reason, in general, as opposed to some wishy-washy thing where he’s like, “What the hell is even going on?!” He’s also been succumbed to 70 years of torture, so he has a hardened skin, as far as fighting things goes.
Enzo hasn’t been in this kind of situation with Damon before, so how is this going to change their dynamic?
MALARKEY: Also, Enzo is accustomed to being a solo operator. He’s a bit of a lone wolf. Having to work with somebody else, especially somebody who isn’t quite on the same wavelength as him, can be maddening. So many movies are made about that. That’s the issue that Enzo is dealing with. Also, Damon is his pal, so the conflict of, “Do I stay by his side? And if he becomes even more of an overlord, when do I cut my ties?” It delves into finding the cracks in their friendship, a little bit.
We’ve seen Enzo be a bit of a villain, at times, or at least do some villainous things, but he’s also been a sympathetic enough character to come back from it. Can he come back from this?
MALARKEY: The big question that a lot of people have been asking is, what is redemption? That’s a question that a show like this oftentimes asks because it does touch on points of good and evil. Does pure evil and pure good even exist? I don’t know exactly what will happen, as far as that goes, but I think they’re going to touch on that nerve, a little bit more, throughout the season. Who’s truly going to be saved and who’s going to meet their maker?

Image via The CW

On a scale of bad, really bad, and really, really bad things that have happened on this show, where does all of this fall? Is it the worst that it’s been?
MALARKEY: It’s pretty gruesome, the things that they’re doing. I don’t know how to say it without giving something away, so I’ll just say that it’s about a 7, and then move on.

This season, everyone will have to work together to try to set Damon and Enzo free from what’s controlling them. What’s it like to have everyone involved in the same storyline, this season?
MALARKEY: I think it’s a really, really great move to have everybody involved together. I’ve enjoyed working on all of the past seasons, but sometimes when your character is a C-storyline, which has happened a few times, you’re barely working. In this instance, everybody is on the same page and on board, and we’re all working a lot together. I think that’s good for camaraderie, for the last season. It’s just good to see everybody more.
One of the highlights of Season 7 was the relationship that developed and evolved between Enzo and Bonnie. He’s had to help save her, and now she has to help save him, so how challenging will this be for them? Are you rooting for them to figure this out together?
MALARKEY: Yeah. They’ve really, really had to fight for each other, and I think that’s something we see with this couple that we haven’t really had since Damon and Elena. I really appreciate the work that Kat [Graham] and I put into it, and I think the fans do, too. I’m rooting for them because, after so many years of playing Enzo being tortured, torturing himself, and not finding what he’s looking for, for him to finally have a certain sense of satisfaction, as an actor, you feel that, too. You want that satisfaction for your character because you have great empathy for all the characters that you play. I hope things turn out “all right,” in the end.

Image via The CW

How does it feel to make this season, knowing that it’s the last season and that you’re living through the conclusion of a story that’s been given eight seasons to be told?
MALARKEY: It’s great that we’re able to know that. I think it gives the writers a chance to wrap things up in a tidier package than it would have been otherwise. For me, it gives me a chance to focus on the future, as well, and to start making plans. I’ve approached my work on this season with a bit of a different scalpel. I really wanted to go back to the work and check to see if I’ve gotten lazy in any areas, and really fine tune my work, as I move into this next chapter of my life.
What have you most enjoyed about playing Enzo that you think will be the thing that stands out for you about this character, once you have to say goodbye to him?
MALARKEY: It’s the first time I’ve had a believable British accent that fooled people. No. All jokes aside, although that is fun to notate, I’ll never forget working with this group of people in Atlanta, Georgia, and falling in love with the city, as well, and rekindling my love for America and the American people. I’d been away from it for a decade, before getting this job. Part of my Americanness slipped away a bit, and coming back here has really helped me reconnect to that. I’m proud to be an American.
You’ve also got an album of your music that you’re currently working on. What are you looking to get out of that experience, and how do you feel things are shaping up with that?

Image via The CW

MALARKEY: I’ve written music since I was just leaving high school. It’s always been a huge passion of mine, from being a record collector to being a love performer, as well as a studio musician. I’ve also performed on the West End in a musical before. So, it’s been a huge part of my life, and it always will be, no matter what happens. This particular batch of songs, I’m super proud of. I feel like I’ve gotten to this point in my life and my musicianship where I’m hitting a certain stride of songwriting. We’re literally banging the songs out in the studio like hotcakes. Everybody is on fire right now, so I’m really buzzing about it. Also, last summer, I went on tour in the U.K. and Europe, and it was the first time I’d toured with a band since playing in a punk band, just after high school. That really rekindled the desire in me to be a music performer again. By no means, am I leaving acting behind, but I definitely actively want to pursue music as a sideline career, as well, and take these new songs on the road. They’ve got a fuller band sound and they’re a lot more orchestrated. It’s going to be a pretty legit tour when it happens, so I’m super stoked.
Where can people go to buy the album and keep up-to-date on all things pertaining to your music?
MALARKEY: On all of my social, I have a link at the top, which goes straight to my page where you can pre-order the new full-length that comes out next year. I’m doing a whole Pledge Music campaign, which basically means that, by pre-ordering it, you’re actively helping me get this project finished. It’s an exciting and interactive way to do it. If you pledge, you gain access to my journal of writing and my updates from the studio, telling you how it’s been going and sending videos. It’s a super active and exciting way for people to get involved with the project. Also, my two old EPs are available at iTunes and Spotify, so you can check that out, in the meantime.
The Vampire Diaries airs on Friday nights on The CW.

The Vampire Diaries Season 8: Benzo, the end of the show, the Big Bad … Michael Malarkey (Enzo) tease upcoming episodes!

As the season 8 of The Vampire Diaries will be the last of the show, Michael Malarkey took advantage of his visit to Comic-Con in San Diego teaser for the next episode!
Enzo does manage to find the reason? And yes meltynautes now haunted by an evil creature, Enzo and Damon will they have the strength to get out? While the editorial ‘of melty proposed to discover the secrets of Julie Plec about the return of Sarah Salvatore in Season 8 of The Vampire Diaries , know that Michael Malarkey took advantage of his visit to Comic-Con in San Diego to trust on the next episodes in an interview with the site ShowbizJunkies . First, Enzo will be the only one trying to fight against the New Big Bad: “At the end of the season, Damon and Enzo headed for a murderous path and we will find out why they do what they do and their real motives. We will also see that Enzo tries to fight against the new Big Bad more than Damon. He tries to regain control of himself. During the first part of the season, we will learn to know the relationship uniting Enzo and Damon to this creature. ” that’s what we put water in his mouth all the young actor told that last season would be more collegial : ” what’s cool in this final season, it ‘ is that all attention will be focused on the group. Previously, everyone had more or less his own plot while all the storylines this season will focus on the group as a whole. ”
In addition, Michael Malarkey confessed that he thought it was the right time to make the series farewell: “I think this is the right time to stop the series otherwise it would become a police series in the long. what’s interesting now that the writers know we are moving towards the end, is that they can really focus on a conclusion rather than wondering where they will go. 22 episodes is long enough because you have to find the material to fill in the blanks. I am very excited by this prospect and I have the feeling that all the characters also. I am eager to know what will happen to me! ” Finally, know that the couple Bonnie / Enzo continue to amaze us in the last season : “There . are still Benzo happens that will be complicated puisqu’Enzo is controlled by this strange power.” One thing is certain, we will duty savor every episode since it’s almost the end of the show. Pending more information, see the characters of The Vampire Diaries that should settle in New Orleans in season 4 of The Originals . What do you think of these confidences?

‘The Vampire Diaries’ Season 8: Michael Malarkey Talks ‘Supreme Evil,’ Bonnie And Enzo, Damon Salvatore, And More ‘TVD’ Spoilers

TV

• 0
• 1
• 0

August 19, 2016

‘The Vampire Diaries’ Season 8: Michael Malarkey Talks ‘Supreme Evil,’ Bonnie And Enzo, Damon Salvatore, And More ‘TVD’ Spoilers

Taylor Rios

The Vampire Diaries Season 8 is coming up in just a few months. Recently, Michael Malarkey spoke about what to expect from Enzo when TVD returns. Find out what the actor had to say about his character, Bonnie and Enzo, Damon Salvatore, and the “supreme evil.”
TVD spoilers for Season 8 are ahead. If you do not want to know what is coming for the characters, then stop reading.

A photo posted by Michael Malarkey (@mkmalarkey) on Aug 5, 2016 at 10:50am PDT

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, expect a lot of old faces to return to The Vampire Diaries. Even though fans are excited for former characters coming back, the issue on everyone’s mind is Damon and Enzo’s predicament. Will they be saved? Are Damon and Enzo doomed? Will the monster inside the vault be dealt with once and for all or is everyone in deep trouble?
According to Showbiz Junkies, Michael Malarkey had some things to say about Enzo in The Vampire Diaries. What can fans expect from the character, who is affected by the monster inside the vault?

“How we left off last season was Damon and Enzo going on this killing rampage. We will find out why and what they’re driven by and it’s something to do with this new supreme evil that has been lurking in the vault, that has escaped the vault. Enzo, however, is kind of grappling with this a bit more, he’s fighting it a bit more than Damon and how we start the season is seeing the whole relationship with Damon and Enzo and this creature, you can call it.”

It is interesting that Damon will not be fighting as hard as Enzo. Perhaps this is because the creature affected Damon first, which means it has had control over Ian Somerhalder’s character for a longer period of time. It might also explain why Enzo leaves Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) clues, as the actor revealed in an interview with TV Line.

As for Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, don’t expect him to completely give up. He will be fighting, even though it might not be as hard as Enzo. In TV Line‘s interview at Comic-Con 2016, Ian Somerhalder said that fans will see a lot of “push and pull.” He was referring to the power struggle between Damon, Enzo, and the creature that was inside the vault. It sounds like the vampires will still have a part of themselves. However, just how strong is the creature’s influence on Damon and Enzo? Can they be saved, and if so, how and by whom?

Land Ho.

A photo posted by Michael Malarkey (@mkmalarkey) on Jul 29, 2016 at 8:21pm PDT

The interview also revealed that Bonnie, Alaric (Matt Davis), Caroline (Candice King), and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) will be working together as a group. In previous seasons, there was too much going on separately with the characters. However, in Season 8 of The Vampire Diaries, they will have a common goal. That is to find Damon and Enzo in order to save them.
Another spoiler for The Vampire Diaries Season 8 comes from Julie Plec’s interview at Comic-Con. She said it was their goal to have the characters use as little magic as possible until later on in the season. This means that if Bonnie gets her magic back, it will not be for a while. Finding Damon and Enzo would be a lot easier if they could use a locator spell. It also brings up how they will deal with the monster in the vault without using magic. It is ancient and powerful. How will The Vampire Diaries characters destroy it without magic before it destroys Damon, Enzo, and anyone else it is controlling?

Michael Malarkey Interview: ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Season 8

0

By Rebecca Murray on August 17, 2016 Celebrity Videos - Clips and Interviews, TV, TV Interviews

Michael Malarkey from ‘The Vampire Diaries’ at Comic Con 2016 (Photo © Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)

The CW’s The Vampire Diaries is definitely coming to an end with season eight and the 2016 San Diego Comic Con was the cast’s farewell to the fan convention where the show’s panel and Q&A with fans has always been a popular draw. Among The Vampire Diaries cast members who took part in this year’s Comic Con was Michael Malarkey who is going into his fourth season of playing Enzo. During our roundtable interview, Malarkey talked about what we can expect from Enzo this season, the Enzo/Bonnie relationship, and how he’d like to see Enzo’s storyline wrap up.

Michael Malarkey Interview:

This is going to be a very different Enzo that we see this season, isn’t it?
Michael Malarkey: “Yes. How we left off last season was Damon and Enzo going on this killing rampage. We will find out why and what they’re driven by and it’s something to do with this new supreme evil that has been lurking in the vault, that has escaped the vault. Enzo, however, is kind of grappling with this a bit more, he’s fighting it a bit more than Damon and how we start the season is seeing the whole relationship with Damon and Enzo and this creature, you can call it.”
This creature, are we going to actually see it?
Michael Malarkey: “Yes. I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say on that matter or not. But it is a ‘being’ of some sort. Yeah. I think I’m allowed to say it.”
Does this feel like a good place for the story to wrap up in your mind or are you disappointed it’s not going to keep going for many more seasons?
Michael Malarkey: “I think it feels like a good place. Where do you stop otherwise? It can become just another cop show where you have an episodic kind of thing, like a Scooby-Doo type of thing. I feel like the great thing about this, about doing a somewhat shorter season and having an end point in sight, is that they can really own the focus, drive it towards the end, as opposed to, ‘What can we throw in now to keep everything occupied?’
22 episodes is a long ass time to be able to fill. I’m super excited about that. I feel like it is a good place. All the characters are kind of finding their footing in a way. Well, in a way I suppose, and we’ll find out how that all kind of happens at the end, whatever Julie (Plec’s) vision is for closure which I’m super excited to find out about myself.”
Damon and Enzo won’t be completely out on their own, will they? You will get to act with the rest of the cast sometimes, won’t you?
Michael Malarkey: “Oh, we’ll have to. The beauty of this season is everything’s focused on the group. The group is looking for Damon and Enzo so everybody is together, whereas I think in seasons past there’s been a lot of different things going on, missions with just Enzo and Sarah Salvatore and then Damon and Elena, Stefan and his thing, and Klaus and all that. So this is everybody is together. All the storylines are kind of working in the same direction in a way.”

What’s happening with the Enzo and Bonnie storyline?
Michael Malarkey: “Well, you’re going to get a whole lot more of that. There’s some more Enzo/Bonnie stuff coming up as well which, by the way, was a joy to shoot. Kat (Graham) and I had a blast doing that. That was a really great part of last season. But obviously it’s kind of on a bit of a hiatus based upon the situation at hand with Enzo being locked up by this force and then being away.”
How do you think playing Enzo has changed you, if it has?
Michael Malarkey: “I think living on the edge, living in the moment, really pursuing what I want to pursue relentlessly. Kind of doing it a bit more fearlessly than I did before. I feel like he’s made me a bit more like that. I feel like all the characters I’ve played I’m influenced by and I still carry with me to this day. I played Elvis for a year; there’s a part of me that’s always retained that kind of thing. You can’t help it. You become somebody. It’s like living a second life legally.”
What ending do you want for Enzo?
Michael Malarkey: “A happy ending. A nice, happy ending. I mean, since I’ve been living with him and experiencing his wants as well, I want for him to be happy. I want for him to end up with Bonnie and be content and not have any of this other crap to have to deal with, because that’s what he wants. I want what my character wants.”
Will that be possible given the dark turn he’s taking this season? Can he redeem himself and have a happy ending?
Michael Malarkey: “Well, that will be whole season for you to enjoy that whole trajectory. I think that will be a lot of what this season’s about for Enzo, each episode finding that out. I don’t know yet but I’m assuming so. But that storyline is definitely still strong – Bonnie and Enzo. We’re going to be exploring that.”
Is there anything you hope Enzo gets to do this season that he hasn’t been able to do in past seasons?
Michael Malarkey: “I want him to ride a horse. That would be another ending! Maybe something happens and Bonnie and him don’t end up together. He can ride a horse off into the sunset.”
Is it going to be sad saying goodbye to the rest of this cast?
Michael Malarkey: “Hell yes. I love all of these people. It’s become my family for the past few of years. I was saying earlier that it’s rare for some shows to even go as long as three seasons, and I’ve been doing this going into my fourth season on the show which is nice. However, when you have those close bonds you’ll still keep in touch. I reckon from this point on when I’m in LA I’ll hit up Paul or Matt or Ian or Zach. ‘What are you guys doing? Let’s grab some lunch.’ It’s that close. It’s like family. It’s corny but it’s true.”

The Vampire Diaries Season 8: Damon and Enzo are aware of their actions while under the vault monster's mind control

Published 3 days ago

Written by Kelsey B.

2

Much of The Vampire Diaries Season 8 storyline will focus on the mysterious vault monster who has Damon and Enzo under its thumb, but it sounds like the duo isn't as mindless as we initially thought

We're a couple of months away from the return of The Vampire Diaries, andit's seeming more and more likely that Nina Dobrev will reprise her role as Elena Gilbert in the eighth and final season. Perhaps Elena waking up from her comatose state will help Damon break free from the vault villain's control. However that entails Bonnie dying first. Hypable reports that at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that Damon and Enzo are actually conscious of their actions. They may be completely under the vault monster's spell at the start of the season, however at some point they will become aware of what's going on. Michael Malarkey, who plays Enzo, shared: “There are glimmers of humanity that take surface, and they question what the hell is going on."

Michael Malarkey teases Enzo won't want to be saved

Speaking about the new mysterious villain, showrunner Julie Plec explained (via Variety): “It’s a new take on villains for us. It’s definitely something that’s rooted back all the way to ancient times.” Co-creator Kevin Williamson, who's returning to the series for its final season, added: “I thought it was a clever and cool way to infuse Mystic Falls with this ultimate evil and it’s like a little cherry on top with the mythology of Mystic Falls and that’s what I love about it.” It's been announced that this last season will pay homage to Season 1 and will bring things full circle back to Mystic Falls. Season 8 picks up in Mystic Falls, however Enzo and Damon ended up on the West Coast, so it sounds like they'll somehow be brought back into the Mystic Falls mix.

Will Bonnie be able to save Enzo and Damon?

On Damon and Enzo's storyline, Malarkey unveiled: “There’s mysterious elements of almost mind control going on that we haven’t really had go on before, but it’s really, really interesting how it’s playing out.” We've seen nearly every vampire on the show use compulsion to control humans, or even other vampires in the Originals' case, so it will be interesting to see what makes the vault monster's mind control different. Ian Somerhalder further explained: “Ultimately you’re used to seeing Damon or Enzo or any of these characters exert that power over someone else. So when you see them ultimately in this realm where they literally have no control over their actions…in their minds, they’re still them so it’s that conflict and that struggle is what we all look for and it’s truly a gem as an actor to play.” Are you excited to see Damon and Enzo under the control of the vault villain?

• 
  

'The Vampire Diaries' Season 8 Release Date, News & Update: Damon Salvatore, Enzo St John, Sybil Not Completely Evil?

By Steven Palin, Parent Herald | August 7, 7:30 PM

ADVERTISEMENT

'The Vampire Diaries' stars Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder as Elena Gilbert, Damon Salvatore - winners of Choice Fantasy/Sci-Fi Show award, pose in the press room during the 2012 Teen Choice Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre on July 22, 2012 in Universal City, California.
(Photo : Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Art of Elysium)

"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 refuses to be boxed into convenient conclusions as Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), Enzo St John (Michael Malarkey) and Sybil (Nathalie Kelley) may not be everything they seem. Although Damon Salvatore and Enzo St John may seem to have turned evil at "The Vampire Diaries" Season 7 finale, S8 will reportedly reveal a twist proving otherwise.

Advertisement

"The Vampire Diaries" seemed to have fallen into unresolvable chaos after an attempted rescue by Damon Salvatore and Enzo St John on behalf of Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) went awry as Parent Herald reports. Instead of successfully saving Bonnie Bennett from the clutches of the final Everlasting, Damon Salvatore and Enzo St John themselves became victims of a different power that seemed to have sucked the goodness out of them.
  News grew on the need for Damon Salvatore and Enzo John to be saved from the influence of evil that lurks in the vault. Nina Dobrev, who plays Elena Gilbert, was loudly buzzed to be the savior that comes in at "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8.


Death was equally anticipated for Bonnie Bennett given that the awakening of Elena Gilbert is only possible with the demise of Kat Graham's character. TV Guide, however, reports Bonnie Bonnett and Elena Gilbert may not need to do this musical chair in "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8.
Damon Salvatore, Enzo St John and their new associate - presumably the powerful Sybil - may be enacting their ruthless kills toward a conscious goal that generates a good. TV Guide essentially proposes that Damon Salvatore, Enzo St John and Sybil may be heroes of sorts rather than villains.

Advertisement

The CW is scheduled to air "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 premiere on Oct 21. What do you think is the real reason that "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 will reveal for the killing sprees by Damon Salvatore and Enzo St John?

ENTREVISTAS SÉRIES

INTERVIEW: Michael Malarkey talks about The Vampire Diaries, new album, tour in Brazil and more!

IN agosto 1, 2016 BY M B 71 views Leave a comment

Michael Malarkey is an english actor and singer, he’s 33 years old, the people know him for your character Enzo in the tvshow “The Vampire Diaries”, and also for your EP’s “Feed The Flames” and “Knots”. We interviewed Michael and talked with him about your character in “The Vampire Diaries”, the end of the serie, new music, Brazil, the brazilian fans and more!

Check out the full interview:

1. What’s your favorite thing about being a part of “The Vampire Diaries”? Is there any similarities between you and Enzo? How would you define your relationship with the cast?
We are both intensely loyal to our friends although he’s much more tortured than I am. I am more light-hearted and probably have more of a sense of humour about things than he does… though I also have a penchant for darkness and we’re both quick with a snarky remark.
My relationship with the cast is that of very close friends as I’ve been spending time a hell of a lot of time with them in and out of season – we are often on the road doing conventions together. It’s still baffling to me that I’ve been here since season 5 and we are now beginning season 8!
2. How do you think a character can be so loved and hated at the same time?
It’s anti-hero syndrome. Everyone “loved” watching the great Shakespearean anti-hero’s – such as Richard III – and often found that they were rooting for them. There is a darkness inherent in all of human nature and perhaps an obsession with the “bad boys” is being able to live that darkness out vicariously through them.
3. When the series come to an end, who and what will you miss the most about it?
It’s always rare in this industry to have a regular job and this has allowed me to settle in one place for several years which has been a relief after moving at least once a year for a decade, no joke. But most of all I’ll miss the people. This cast, crew and team are some of the most caring, charming (and crazy) people I’ve had the pleasure to work with and though I know we will keep in touch and meet up when we’re in the same city, I’ll miss the regularity of seeing them day in and day out. They’re gems.
4. Of all the characters you have ever played, who’s your favorite? And if you could play any character made by yourself, what would he/it be like?
Jay Gatsby was a thrilling part to play. I did so much research on that time period and gangsters and bootlegging and created an entire backstory and yet kept those cards tight to my chest. It makes a character that much more enigmatic and interesting for the audience to watch and reminded me how important it is to do all of that drama-school work behind the scenes and not just rely on what’s on the page. I had also just come from playing in a 1,000 seat auditorium to more of a 400-seater for Gatsby, so was able to simplify and soften my choices which was a nice segway into focusing more on television later in the year.
5. What does music represents to you? How do you conciliate your acting career with your musical one? Do you have any new songs coming up?
Music is my life. If I didn’t have anything else to do I would literally sit around drinking coffee and writing and listening to music ALL DAY. Music is the filter through which I see the world. I hear the ‘music’ in everyday life, in relationships, in nature, in language. It’s just how my brain works; it taps into those frequencies. That may sound pretentious, but other musicians will know exactly what I’m talking about.
As I write all of my own music and lyrics, much of the creation of music can be done alone in a room. When I get the idea for a song, I’ll finish it in a few hours. When I pin down that ever-elusive muse we work fast and have fun racing down the rabbit-hole to the birth of a song. I love writing more than any other aspect of it. Everything else disappears when I’m in that headspace, for better or worse!
As far as new music goes, I’m about to go into the studio in the next month or two to begin working on my first full length which I am extremely excited about. Seeing the success of my first two EP’s, Feed The Flames and Knots, has been amazing, but even if no one had given a shit about them I’d still be making more music. I don’t have a choice in the matter. I’ve written so many songs over the years and have had to trim down about 75 new songs and old favourites to a longlist of 25 and now to a shortlist of 16. I’m very happy with the choices and can’t wait to start getting the right musicians together and start recording them. I’m planning on dropping the album in the summer of 2017.
6. Is there any movie or series you would like to be a part of? What actors/actresses you would love to work with? And who would you like to colab with in a song?
Mr. Robot is awesome. I love House of Cards. I love that twisted, thriller, conspiracy stuff. I was down to the last two for a role in Game of Thrones which I’d still love to find a place on if the character is right. Although, after doing a network sci-fi show, I’d love to do a 180 and work on something much more naturalistic and gritty.
There are so many actors I’d love to work with, but if I had to pick one it would be Mark Strong, just because I’m a huge fan. If you’ve never seen his work on BBC’s The Long Firm you must watch it. As far as actresses go, I’d love to work with Olivia Coleman – she’s always amazing, but was particulary blown away by the layers of her performance in Broadchurch. Working with great actors makes you better.
7. What are your favorite actors, movie, series, books and musicians?
How long have you got? I could spend hours answering this question. I love Paul Newman for the intensity of his inner life, I love Jeff Goldblum for his spontaneity and groove, I have a mancrush on Billy Crudup. However, the reason I initially wanted to train as an actor in the UK was because I was obsessed with British drama. I would obsessively watch actors such as Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman & Ralph Fiennes. I was also hugely inspired by the subtle intensity of Pacino and De Niro in Godfather I & II, I’d watch their choices, Pacino especially, over and over again – when I was contemplating going to drama school.

My favourite film is Withnail & I. I watch it at least biannually. Love a buddy film. My favourite wild card film is Wonder Boys which is like putting on a favourite record when I watch it; I know almost every line. There is also a filmed version of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot with Irish actors Barry McGovern & Johnny Murphy that is in my opinion a flawless production of one of my favourite plays.
Favourite series has to be The Sopranos. It was my first binge-watching series and Gandolfini’s choices are so complex and inspiring. I loved Mad Men too. I’m a sucker for that kind of role. As far as English stuff goes, This Is England blew my mind. Huge fan of Shane Meadows.

Musicians is where I could go ballistic as I love music in almost every genre. I suppose right now as I am moving towards recording, I tend to listen to music of similar calibre and pick apart what’s going on in the songs for extra in-studio inspiration. So, right now I’m rotating a lot of Lambchop, Bill Callahan, Mark Kozelek, Bright Eyes and The National….that should give you a hint as to the direction of the album.
8. Do you remember the first time a fan someone recognized you? How did you feel about it? How is your relationship with your fans?
The first time was actually on the London Underground when someone recognised me from a play. I remember thinking it was so random. I was working at The National Theatre at the time and it was my first big break so I literally felt like a nobody. Upon retrospect, I always struggled with intense self-doubt around that time and hearing a strangers appreciation of my work was actually quite needed.
I feel like I have a great relationship with my fans. I used to be a lot more in touch on social media, but I found that the responsibility had begun to overtake my life a bit too much for comfort and as much as I still keep in touch and respond to comments from time to time, I just don’t have the time to read all of them and stay connected like I used to be able to. However, it’s almost become our responsibility as artists to do a lot of the legwork ourselves on social media which is contradictory to art as it requires a business mind, in a sense. That’s why I prefer apps like Instagram that incorporate imagery and an artistic sensibility.
I love meeting the fans at conventions and gigs and giving something back to the people that have given so much to me. I am truly humbled by the relentless and unconditional support that I’ve received through working on The Vampire Diaries especially. It’s also just nice to hear the fans perspectives about the show and my character and there have even been an instance or two when a fans insight has affected my choices!
9. Do you know something about Brazilian music? Have you ever thought about doing a concert in Brazil? Your fans would love it!
Brazil is at the top of my list of places to play. I genuinely cannot wait to do a set of shows down there once all my ducks are in a row. There’s an intensity of support for music in Brazil that I feel to be unrivalled and I have recently found out through social media insights that a huge percentage of my fanbase is in Brazil. I look forward to seeing you all soon!
10. How was your trip to Brazil? What do you think of the Brazilian people?
I love the Brazilian people and the food of course. The trip was very much a whirlwind though, so I would love to come down there for a mini-tour and spend some proper time getting to know the culture.
11. What are your future projects?
As I said, I’m about to start work on my first full-length album. I plan on touring for the album and playing some festivals and generally pursuing the music further, but in the meantime I will be auditioning again for TV and Film. I’d love to return to the London Stage at some point, but right now the plan is to focus mainly on the screen. I also have some ideas of my own for some series which I’d like to flesh out if I ever have any time!
12. What are your biggest dreams, personally and professionally? Where would you like to be in five years?
To be honest, I don’t think that far ahead. I feel like sometimes having those kind of goals can help drive you, but for me it’s the wrong kind of drive. Sometimes it is more in line with human nature to focus solely on being in the moment and working as hard as you can on whatever you’re doing at any given time…even if that means being someones assistant or even a waiter. Love what you are doing, whatever you are doing and then in 5 years time you’ll still fucking love what you’re doing! I think that’s the secret to success….it lies in the moment. That being said, my personal goal is fairly loose, to be able to support myself and my family while doing the things I love the most. The one concrete goal that I will admit to having is that I’d love to do is a world tour with my music when the iron is hot.
13. If you could give any advice to someone who wants to be an actor or a singer, what would it be? And what message do you want to send to your fans?
Cultivate your inner life as a human being. Work on YOU and not just your craft, although that is incredibly important too. I have three rules in this business 1) be professional, proactive and deliver the goods – there are many aspects to this rule 2) don’t be a dick – which includes gossiping 3) HAVE FUN. So many actors are scared and intimidated by the industry. Well guess what, when you break it all down the industry is imaginary – it only exists because of the sum of its parts. It will be what you make it. BE the industry and empower yourself while at the same time being empathetic to everyone no matter what job they have or where their path is currently taking them. You are no better or worse than anyone else and you can always walk down a different path. If you follow those three rules and you are naturally gifted then I assure you, you will always be recommended for jobs by people you have worked with before…..and I hate to break it to you, but that’s how it works a lot of the time. And let me reiterate this: never, ever talk shit. You’ll get it on your face.

Find Michael: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mkmalarkey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkmalarkey/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkmalarkey/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZiMotBqM8DPUXLYinVadXA/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/michaelmalarkey