By Mike McCarthy
Konstantin Lavysh has been seen in so many shows and films that it’s hard to think of parts that he hasn’t played. A former international government employee, yes like James Bond… but not really, Konstantin made that tough decision to switch over to be an actor full time. I am not sure how the other profession would’ve went, but he definitely made the right choice in going with theater, he was made for every part he has been.
Konstantin can be seen now on the show Ice alongside Cam Gigandet, Jeremy Sisto, Ray Winstone and Donald Sutherland. That is quite the cast to be surrounded by and really put Konstantin to some big tests in this show. Some other shows that you have seen Konstantin include Gang Related which was one of our all time favorite shows that had a short run, NCIS and the absolutely incredible Ray Donovan to name just a few. Not only does Konstantin have roles in television shows, but he has a film coming out March 3rd starring opposite Demi Moore and Mark Duplass called Love Sonia. You will not want to miss Ice or Love Sonia this year or Jukebox Hero which Konstantin also co-stars in, which premieres on January 25th. Check out Konstantin Lavysh on Ice, Wednesday nights on the Audience network on DirecTV.
Wingman Magazine: You are on the show Ice alongside Cam Gigandet. What can you tell us about the show and your character Alexi?
Konstantin Lavysh: The show is really a cool flip on the typical crime drama and not something you are used to. It has some serious edge to it. It’s extremely character driven which you can see just by looking at the cast list. It deals with the diamond trade industry, first with sales and then the blood diamonds. I didn’t know too much about it, but my experience turned out to be incredibly interesting, because I was able to dive into the crimes. Ice has a family aspect to it, not like the Godfather stories, but in a way the show is similar. The show has a lot of action and crime as well as a balanced mix of family involvement. Alexi is a straightforward guy with a Russian background who grew up with the two brothers (Cam Gigandet and Jeremy Sisto), but parted ways after school. The Green brothers stick with the diamonds and Alexi becomes more involved in the contraband side of things. They have a lot of allegiances between them that could be stronger than their blood relations.
Wingman Magazine: What about the script and the description of Alexi made you want this role the most?
Konstantin Lavysh: When I talked to Robert Munic, who is one of the series’ showrunners, it seemed like Alexi would be a character that I would really enjoy playing. He’s a character that you kind of wish you were, but don’t really allow yourself to be because you have to stay legal and be nice. Alexi doesn’t really care about either, so he can be straightforward and do exactly what he needs to do to achieve his goals. Alexi does everything under the sun, from smoking to drinking to drugs, and none of it seems to affect him whatsoever. It’s all going to boil over and you are just waiting for it to explode. I love the craziness and the rage that is inside of Alexi.
Wingman Magazine: The cast of Ice is so diverse and talented with Donald Sutherland and Ray Winstone on set. Do you feel that you need to elevate your game a little bit when you work with such amazing talents?
Konstantin Lavysh: I will say this, I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes my work and I feel pretty confident in what I do. But when you get on set and are running lines with Ray Winstone, who is a hero of mine from when I was younger, or Donald Sutherland, there is that element of being a little starstruck.From when you spot them in the hair and makeup trailer, you want to get all your schoolyard giddiness out before you get back to working with them. Once I switch into character, it just clouds the world around me. It is not difficult to do, but yeah, let’s just chat a little bit and move forward.
Wingman Magazine: How much of your own personality did you put into the character of Alexi and other roles that you have played?
Konstantin Lavysh: I would say a decent amount. Michael Caine once said, “when you are in character, you’re not creating something around you, you’re stripping away parts, much like an onion.” It’s something you have to do. Just because some people are better in some roles, doesn’t mean they are better actors overall. It not only has to do with your acting ability but also with your personality.
Wingman Magazine: You have a degree in International Affairs and you became an actor instead of using your degree. What made you want to become an actor, and how did it all come to the forefront for you?
Konstantin Lavysh: As a kid I was doing a lot of acting. My grandma was a professor of Geography and always had students around, so I would put smiles on their faces with my acting, whether it be as a clown or something else. When I went back to school, I had a choice to make; of either going into the risky business of pursuing theater or become James Bond, for real. It was pretty obvious what I wanted to do. I was 17 years old and loved James Bond. When I started working during the second year of University, I realized that it wasn’t for me. You could only wear one “mask,” which became pretty boring.
Wingman Magazine: You were also a professional swimmer in Belarus… do you hope that just one of the roles coming up involves you being a swimmer or a lifeguard?
Konstantin Lavysh: I was a swimmer yes. When I was 14, I went to a routine physical and they found something wrong with my breathing. So I had to make the decision to just study and swim for leisure and give it up professionally. I started swimming when I was 5 and had developed bronchitis, which they say swimming helps, so I kept doing it and loved it. (Laughs) I don’t necessarily hope for that, I would rather be fighting.
Wingman Magazine: Coming up soon you have the drama Juke Box Hero and a comedy on HBO, Room 104. You have have worked in several different genres at once…is there any that you like to do more than the other? Or is there one that you haven’t done enough of, that you want to do more of?
Konstantin Lavysh: The main thing that I want to do more of, that I haven’t done, is something similar to Game of Thrones. Riding a horse or wielding a sword is something I always wanted to do ever since I was playing Robin Hood as a kid. The action side of it is something I would love to experience more of. Other than that, I mainly stick to either between comedy or drama. It’s all wonderful work and you see a lot in the comic book genre, which is a great genre for sure. At the Oscar’s, they say the dramatic things matter, but I think that all the work matters within all genres. Quality work within any of the genres is what matters. Comedy can be a little bit less difficult, and that makes it interesting because it has more challenges than some other genres.