White Collar: Q&A with Actors Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay
June 3, 2011 by Lauren Tyree
Filed under Feature, feature overlay, Television
The two leads of USA Network’s drama White Collar, Matt Bomer (who portrays Neal Caffrey) and Tim DeKay (FBI agent Peter Burke), took a break from a cast barbecue recently to share insights into their characters and offer a few clues about the upcoming third season, which is set to premiere on June 7th.
Explaining his character’s struggle as a former criminal and current FBI consultant, Bomer revealed, “Neal is still looking for his purpose,” adding that he’s unsure of what steps to take moving forward. Neal is forced to ask himself, “What does it mean? What does that last big score mean, and what did it cost you?” While his motivation for justice was once based on the memory of his poor, departed Kate, Neal is questioning his decisions now. “Neal has options,” said Bomer. “He has the opportunity to walk the straight and narrow, or he can go the other way. A lot of this season is about him making that choice.” The existential, insecure con-man finds a good match in Peter, who has suspicions and fears of his own. This unlikely collaboration between convict and lawman is almost as tenuous and challenging as Neal’s complicated love life. “You never know if it’s going to last,” said Bomer about romantic relationships with a professional liar.
Season Three of the intense program will bring us deeper into personal lives and back-stories, the actors promised. Interior shots of Neal’s closet will be unveiled; it’ll surely contain a skeleton or two in addition to serving as a convenient spot from which to spy. The homes of other characters will be revealed for the first time, said Bomer, on top of a brand new, shiny FBI interrogation room. DeKay is thrilled to be appearing on-screen more often in upcoming episodes, exploring Peter’s developing friendship with Neal while doing damage control on the home front. Peter and Liz deal with problems in their marriage, which Neal can help them with, as unconventional an adviser as he may be. Both men will continue to battle personal shortcomings and regrets as they pursue successful partnership against well-dressed offenders. “Peter experiences temptations whenever he goes undercover,” said DeKay, adding that he’s able to keep his darker impulses in check while Neal is not quite as restrained.
“The season premiere is going to be about nature versus nurture,” Bomer told us, saying that the episode aims to remind viewers that Neal is still a criminal, no matter how faithfully he aids the efforts of the FBI. And unlike the thin ice on which he stands, old habits are hard to break.
Check out the White Collar season 3 premiere on June 7th at 9/8c.
White Collar will air Tuesdays at 9/8c on USA Network.
Images courtesy of Myles Aronowtiz, Eric Liebowitz, and USA Network.
Interesting spoilers – but you kind of threw me. Peter’s wife is NEVER called “Liz” – she’s Elizabeth or El. I didn’t even know who you were talking about.
Guess you don’t really watch, do you.