IN CONVERSATION WITH JAKE LOCKETT
interview by JANA LETONJA
Actor Jake Lockett is starring as Sam Carver on NBC’s hit series ‘Chicago Fire’, which premiered its 13th season on 25th September. Jake’s previous credits include ‘Seal Team’, ‘Masters of Sex’, ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’, and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ among others.
Jake, fans got to meet your character Sam Carver in ‘chicago Fire’ in the 11th season. How did you land this role, and what do you love the most about ‘Chicago Fire’ and One Chicago Family?
Landing feels generous, but I guess accurate. I had auditioned for ‘Chicago Fire’ a bunch of times and came close on a few but this was the one, thankfully. Finding one thing I love the most is tough, but speaking for ‘Chicago Fire’, it’s the familial everyone has your back energy. It is a firehouse on set as much as possible, and the firehouse vibe is ride or die.
After leaving the last, 12th season, with quite a cliffhanger, what can the fans expect from the upcoming episodes?
They will get to see how Carver deals with having a new girl in his life and the balance of that and his working relationship with Violet. Nothing like awkwardness at work. Also, we get to see how having a new Chief can really put everyone on edge and when people are on edge, sometimes it gets fiery.
Will we be seeing any crossovers this seasons after not having any last season? What are you most excited about the crossovers among the three ‘One Chicago’ shows?
Well, I sure hope so cause I’ve never been a part of one. I’d love to be a part of it. It’s such an epic aspect of One Chicago, so fingers crossed.
This will also mark the first season without Boden being the Chief of 51. How has this decision impact the dynamics on set?
Eamonn is such a driving source of our show’s identity even though he is no longer a regular. He set the dynamic way before I got there and continued to instill it to every new person, so thankfully the dynamic on set hasn’t changed. He did such a good job, it’s as if he is still there, even though we are reminded daily that he isn’t. And Dermott has fallen right into the fold. He gives as good as he gets and his character is a hard ass ready to cut at any moment. It’s great.
When we first met Sam, he was quite a troubled character, who has overtime bacame a fan favorite. How do you look back at his development, and also his romance with Violet?
I think while people saw him as troubled, my perspective is that he was scarred by the people closest to him to such a degree that he had to set hard and fast boundaries to protect himself and his goals. Luckily for him, Firehouse 51 will break those boundaries down and pile you right into the fold. That’s what allowed him to see Violet for her awesomeness and become open to a relationship and love. Unfortunately, sometimes people aren’t at the same place.
Portraying a firefighter on TV must be wuite a challenging task. What preparations do you all as cast have to undergo for filming all the tough scenes?
Most importantly, we have amazing people on set who are or were fire fighters for the CFD to give us great advice on what would really happen. Outside of that, physically it’s very demanding on some days. The bunker gear and scuba tanks are about 45 pounds, so you can imagine what a 12 hour day of taking that on and off could do. You have to stay in shape as much as possible. We also go and do ride along a with firehouses around the city, which is my favorite way to learn, even though I don’t get to do it very often.
Before becoming a part of ‘Chicago Fire’, you’ve had many other TV roles. Which role has so far had the biggest impact on you not only professionally and creatively, but also personally?
I wish I could give you a different answer, but really it’s Sam. Being able to live with this character and trust in the writing has been amazing. I’ve always leaned into the writing and in doing so gone on an amazing journey of healing and hurt with Sam.
Besides acting, you’ve also been the lead singer in a band. Tell us more about this part of your life.
I was the lead singer in the band Easytiger, but it ended about the time it started unfortunately. Music has always been a part of me. I love singing and performing. It’s what lead from being an engineer to acting.
One of your biggest passions is also fixing up trucks, specifically a 1965 GMC that has been passed for generations. What fulfills you the most about fixing up trucks, and how have you approached the 1965 GMC fix up project?
My dad and I are at the beginning of fixing that truck up. It’s more nostalgia than necessarily a passion for fixing old trucks up. The truck was bought and garage kept by my great grandfather who had a big effect on me. I knew him well and the idea of keeping his legacy going by getting the truck back to working order would really make my dad and I happy.
What can you share with us about your other upcoming acting projects that we’ll soon be able to see you in?
That’s a great question. The only thing I can let out of the bag right now is how excited I am about Season 13 of ‘Chicago Fire’. But rest assured, you will get to see some new stuff soon.
photography guitar DAVID SHELLER
photography headshot JONNY MARLOW
