With over 25 years of experience in the film and television industry, Nick Baillie has portrayed leading, recurring, and supporting roles in countless productions. Splitting his time between Toronto and Los Angeles, Nick began his acting career in his hometown of Montreal, Canada, and has since become a seasoned performer recognized for his versatility and dedication.
Nick stopped by to chat with us about his career including some of his upcoming projects like The Wide West and Savage Attack.
How did you get foot in the door with acting and producing?
I first started acting in the early 90’s in Montreal, Canada where I grew up. It was always a dream of mine as a kid, so I finally joined an acting school in Montreal and fell in love with it. I started to do plays and eventually moved to Toronto to pursue it more seriously. I began doing tv commercials and some small roles in episodic television. In 2002 I founded a Shakespeare company in a small town called Barrie, north of Toronto called Theatre by the Bay. 23 years later it is still going strong. In 2008 I came to Los Angele for the first time and loved it so much that I ended up buying a place in Hollywood. Now I split my time between Toronto and Los Angeles.
Did you have any influences as an actor?
I have many influences as an actor. I grew up watching Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood as a kid. They made movies seem like so much fun to make. I also grew up watching Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino and Marlon Brando. They are icons that I admire so much. Merryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Dustin Hoffman are a few others that I really look up to and only wish to have a fraction of their ability. So many great actors to learn from.
Your recent film MALICIOUS appears to give homage to home invasion thrillers of the 1990s. What are your favorites and inspirations?
Cape Fear was always a favorite of mine and Malicious always felt like a cross between Cape Fear and Funny Games.
Where can folks check out MALICIOUS?
You can find it on Amazon Prime ,as well as Tubi for free. It’s also available on Apple TV.
Do you prefer acting or producing more?
I definitely prefer acting, but lately producing has really been rewarding. The nice thing is I have more control over what I get to work on. Acting is wonderful, but it’s not always easy to find roles that are exciting and challenging. They may pay the bills, but frankly most roles available aren’t very interesting to me. I prefer to work on my own projects and play roles that excite and challenge me as an actor.
The cast of your upcoming Western THE WIDE WEST features Sumo champions Hiroki Sumi and Ichi. Did you and other producers specifically have them in mind for this project?
Yes we most definitely had them in mind. We wanted the world champions, and luckily we were fortunate enough that they were available and not only interested in doing a western, but they loved the story and concept.
Is it fair to say THE WIDE WEST was at least partially inspired by Terence Young’s RED SUN?
Yes absolutely! When Alexander Nevsky brought the script to me he told me to watch Red Sun as it was an inspiration for this movie. He loved the crossover of cultures and thought that this true story about Sumo coming to America was a great story to tell. I completely agreed with him and jumped at the opportunity to co-produce it with him.
Tell us a little bit about your character in THE WIDE WEST.
Judge Dwight Ogden is a good and fair man who wants peace in his community. He is a man of high moral integrity, but he also does not back down from anyone, or any fight. Especially when innocent people are threatened. I loosely based him on Gary Cooper’s character in High Noon. A man who must bring others together to fight a common enemy.
How was working with Alexander Nevsky?
It was an absolute joy. He has become a very close friend of mine throughout this process. He is hard working, dedicated, super smart, and most of all is honest and has great integrity. Not a quality many have in our industry. We always have fun on Alexander’s sets and that fosters the best possible performances from everyone. He is definitely a unique individual that manages to keep things light and fun, but always professional.
What are some of your favorite action films of the past few years?
Recently I watched The Raid and really enjoyed it. Non stop action, which is what we want with our next movie, Savage Attack. The John Wick movies are also a favorite of mine.
How do you keep in shape?
I try to work out every day. Usually some weights and then cardio. On a day that I don’t want to work out I try to still do some physical activity like hiking or just taking a long walk.
What advice can you offer to the young aspiring actors?
I would say to create your own content. Use the tools you have. These days it’s so much easier than when I started out. You can create content and edit all on a smart phone, which is incredible as everyone has one these days. I wouldn’t wait for the business to come to you. Create your own projects and put yourself and your friends in them and hone your craft. I also encourage actors to take classes, and do theater if you can afford to. Theater is the best learning ground for actors to develop their craft.
What do you have coming up next and what can you tell us about SAVAGE ATTACK?
We’re about to finish post-production of The Wide West in a couple of months, which I’m excited about. We are currently in pre-production right now for Savage Attack. We’re finalizing the script, cast, crew, locations, etc…It’s going to be a really kick ass team. We plan to shoot in April and May in Tucson Arizona. I can’t tell you much more than that, but we’re super excited for this one. You won’t be disappointed!