Ato Essandoh
it was a pleasure spending time with the truly gifted actor Ato Essandoh. he currently stars as Stuart Hayford the trusted right hand man of U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell in The Diplomat. a kind human being who danced about (mainly to Prince and Radiohead) played his guitar and gazed at his Brooklyn rooftop view with us. he went from majoring in chemical engineering at Cornell University to being one of the stars of a 10 time Emmy nominated show (he has been nominated for a SAG, Critics Choice and NAACP awards) a reminder to listen to your instincts…take a chance. so scroll on down to find out Ato’s thoughts on his costars, filming in Italy, upstate life, coolness of Clinton Hill Brooklyn, his love of Prince, a special bare essential lotion and his aversion to Red Delicious apples.
the bare magazine: you filmed season 4 in Italy. what were some of your fondest memories of shooting there?
Ato Essandoh: Ali organized a private Vespa tour for her partner, me, Keri and a couple of good friends. The tour took us through the Tuscan country side and ended at a 400 year old vineyard owned by a direct descendant of the Medici family. They served us wine and fresh pasta and even an impromptu Pucchini aria sang by one of the employees. It’s one of the best afternoons I’ve ever had in my life. And I’ve had a number of great afternoons. It was a magical time, in a magical place with magical people.
bare: any teasers on what's to come of the relationship between Eidra and Stuart? or how it will evolve?
AE: Oooh. I can only be enigmatically vague here. This season, things will come to a head in a way that will either bring Eidra and Stuart closer together or tear them apart. I adore their relationship and how it’s been developed through this series. The previous sentence contains a subtle hint.
bare: through playing the role have you learned anything that has been helpful in your real life?
AE: This series reminds me how complex life really is. Namely, no one really knows what the fuck we’re doing. Not one of us. We’re all just guessing. Some of us come up with pretty good ideas and some of us come up with pretty bad ideas. And it’s pretty much a crap shoot, whose idea we’re going to go with. If we came to terms with that, perhaps we could figure out how to live together without trying to murder each other. Maybe I'm wrong, but hey, I’m just guessing.
bare: what is the most satisfying part about being an actor for you?
AE: It’s the living I’ve been making for the last 30 years after graduating college as an engineer. I’m still amazed that this is my job. I’ve always had the support of my family and friends but I know how scared my parents were when I went into this business. They always supported and never tried to dissuade me. Yet admittedly, they had always been terrified that I’d end up destitute. They are over the moon now. That makes me happy.
bare: can you share a few words that pop into your head about your Diplomat costars (and creator):
AE:
ali ahn — “Wonderful” Easily one of my favorite scene partners ever. She makes everything easy. And she’s so thoughtfully inquisitive. I think that’s her secret weapon as an actor and as a person. She has genuine curiosity. And with it, she can get you to open up without it feeling intrusive. Next thing you know, you’re lying on a couch spilling your darkest secrets to her.
rufus sewell — Brilliant. Not just as an actor, h has a whip-smart almost intimidating intelligence. And an amazing lightning-quick wit. He has made extemporaneous jokes in the moment that I still think about months later like: “How the f*ck did he come up with that?"
bradley whitford — Hilarious. If he wasn’t an actor, he’d be a comic. He’s also seems so free when I watch him perform. It’s almost like he’s not aware that he’s being filmed. He just kinda does it.
keri russell — My other favorite scene partner. There are not enough superlatives for her and there’s nothing more that I can say that hasn’t already been said. It’s all true though. Every bit of it. She is who she is. Authentic and full. Her secret weapon is her unvarnished humanity. It just pours out of her.
allison janney — Unassumingly regal. Allison loves to act. At least that’s how I feel when I watch her. She loves this job and she’s having a great time doing it. I’m not even sure she’s aware how stunningly talented she is. She loves the work and is still grateful for it. She’s an inspiration.
nana mensah — Eyes. Her eyes. The entire story. It’s all in her eyes.
show creator debora cahn — She has a magical genius that would probably get her accused of witchcraft in ancient times. Her brain is intimidating.
bare: you have a place in brooklyn ... what do you love about it? do you also have a favorite escape from the city?
AE: I live in Clinton Hill. Clinton Hill still feels like a neighborhood. I know the neighbors, the store owners, the postal workers etc. I love that feeling of community. I just bought a house upstate in the Hudson Valley. This is my new escape from the city and it delivers. Stress just melts away up here as everything slows down. There is also community here and I’ve already met and be friended many of my neighbors, townsfolk and shop owners. I love mowing the lawn and taking care of the place. It’s reciprocal because I feel like the place is taking care of me.
bare: when did your love of Prince begin? can you share some qualities that fascinate you most about him (and that people may not know?)
AE: Prince first hit me when I saw “When Doves Cry” on MTV for the first time. I had known of Prince before, but for some reason, this is the single and album (“Purple Rain”) that I truly heard Prince for the first time. I really can’t explain it. He just made sense to me in that he was so confidently himself and yet so odd. His music, particularly the albums Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Sign o’ the Times and Parade became my teenage soundtrack. He helped define a different masculinity for me. Something more supple and bright over the cold, brittle manliness on offer during the 80s and 90s. It also helped that the girls loved him too. Purple Rain, Parade and Sign o’ the Times are three albums that I knew by heart. Song to song. Note to note. Beat to beat.
bare: please list your top 5 bare essentials (anything you can't imagine life without)
AE:
Lotion. Particularly a brand called “Don’t be Ashy” on Etsy. It’s soft smooth shea butter that goes on silky after a shower.
Sparkling water. Pellegrino. Or Spindrift. It’s got to bite the back of your throat. That’s when it’s good.
Vinyl. I can’t go long without sitting and doing nothing but listen to a good record. Everyone should have a record player.
Jollof rice (and a mom/Auntie who can cook it). I just made some for myself last nigh. Not bad actually. Mom’s is better though.
Apples. Most apples. Honeycrisp are the greatest. Red Delicious are trash.
