http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20070518/beach_SVU_0705
18/20070522/

Adam Beach hopes to ratchet up intensity on 'Law and Order: SVU'

Tyrone Warner, CTV.ca

After generating big buzz with his role as "Ira Hayes" in Clint Eastwood's
"Flags of our Fathers," Adam Beach is bringing his big screen work ethic to
TV's "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."

Beach explains to CTV.ca; "I'm someone who has grown through feature films.
That's the quality and intensity I want to bring to the show."

The Winnipeg-raised actor has recently appeared in CTV's "Luna: Spirit of
the Whale," and will appear on "SVU" this Tuesday, May 22nd.

After working with "Law and Order" creator Dick Wolf on the Calgary-shot
HBO movie "Bury My Heart in Wounded Knee," Beach was asked to join Wolf's
crime drama.

Beach says he jumped at the chance to work for Wolf again, and holds the
legendary producer in high regard.

"He's a cool guy. He and his wife are awesome and they don't come across as
these big-wigs; they flaunt authority. They are down to earth, and are
really casual and really cool."

Playing Brooklyn detective Chester Lake, Beach says Wolf gave him some
helpful advice.

"He told me that he wants me to 'be me.' He told me to bring the qualities
I have as a person to the role. He's watched me and he knows how I work. He
knows how I take it very seriously; I'm not going to show up to set one day
and not be prepared."

"SVU" is the highest-rated "Law and Order" series, and the original series
has currently ran for 17 seasons.

Working in collaboration with the show's writing team, Beach is helping
breath life into the character of Chester Lake.

"Every week, we build a new life for him. This is going to be a three-year
character development for me and I really like that. I like doing things
that are connected to me personally," says Beach.

"The challenge is that we are trying to find out who this guy is. There's a
little suggestion that he's fast at putting things together. There are
other questions; like what's his connection to SVU? Was he a victim? And
how? And how are they going to bring in his connection of roots to the
city? His family were ironworkers, so he's really embedded into the city.
We're finding new things out about Chester all the time."

But Beach can slip easily into Lake's skin.

"Most of it is about wearing the right clothes, and thinking deeply, you
know? And after that, it's just fluid. So it's almost like not really
planning what you are doing, but just going with it."

Having signed up for a three-year stint, Beach says he's looking forward to
the "heavy" atmosphere of "SVU" and working with the award-winning cast.

"They are awesome. It took me a week to get used to the intensity. They're
all solving a crime so it's like, and sometimes Chris Meloni (Det. Eliott
Stabler) will have to turn away from everyone because his character is just
in a really intense moment. Same with Marishka Hargitay (Det. Olivia
Benson)."

"I keep thinking that everyone needs to chill out, but now I've got it
down. In my second episode I got it."