Justin Swain plays Detective Bailey, Misty’s NYPD colleague, on “Luke Cage.” The first season premiered on Netflix to acclaim from viewers and critics and the second season premiered on June 22, 2018. Check out the trailer featuring Justin: https://youtu.be/sB1in0KkoG4.
Swain’s additional acting credits include the Oscar-nominated film “The Post”, HBO’s “Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight”, “The Blacklist”, “Forever”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: SVU”.
Alongside his acting career, Swain has written for film and television. He has developed pilots under the guidance of Christina Wayne (“Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad”) and Academy Award and Emmy winning producer Cary Brokaw (“The Player”, “Closer”, and “Angeles in America”).
Swain is also an award-winning playwright whose work has been commissioned by multiple theater companies and performed in New York City at 46East 46th Street in the Dread Awakening Theater festival alongside Roberto Aguirre Sacasa as well as The Ohio Theater, The Henry Street Settlement, and The American Place Theatre. His plays have also been produced in New York, Chicago, and Miami.
Born outside of Boston, Swain was raised in New Hampshire before he returned to Boston to attend Emerson College. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and fishing.
We had an amazing opportunity to speak with Justin. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Justin! Thank you for granting the interview. It is a pleasure to speak with you about your career. So, “Luke Cage,” eh?! We are thrilled for you. It’s one of our favorite shows! You’re playing Detective Mark Bailey, Misty’s NYPD colleague. What was it like being on the set?
Luke Cage is a really great set. Everyone is very down to earth and open to new ideas. Shooting season 2, I felt more comfortable with everyone and there is a lot of hanging in Harlem’s Paradise and hanging out between takes. Very warm set. And getting to continue to play Bailey was pretty awesome.
Tell us about Bailey’s story arc and relationship with Misty.
Bailey gets a chance to get out of the office this season. He gets promoted to detective and is more of an “outdoor cat”. He is assigned a new partner, Nandi, played by Antonique Smith. There is tension between Nandi and Misty Knight, played by Simone Missick. Bailey has come into his own a bit while Misty has been recovering from her injury she suffered in The Defenders. So now Bailey is dealing with his newfound status in the department and trying to navigate the tense relationship between Misty and his new partner Nandi. The trust between Misty and Bailey is tested.
What should the audience expect in season two?
Well, they should expect an action-packed show and pretty lots of twists in the relationships between characters. All the characters relationships are put to the test. We are all dealing with some new found status and power. How we balance that power and try to maintain our moral center, is really what the season is about. That and lots of really cool right sequences between Bushmaster (Mustafa Shakir) and Luke Cage ( Mike Colter)
Luke Cage is such a fantastic story and Marvel character. What has the experience been like, thus far?
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Every day I’m on set I’m getting to be part of the Marvel world. I mean, it’s basically like getting a chance to live inside of a comic book, what could be cooler than that?
Let’s talk about breaking the mold and being a breakout star. Is it a role or the script that can make it happen for an actor?
I think it’s a combination of all of it. This art form is a collaboration, there is no way around it. So many people are involved in making an amazing performance sing, everyone in the process deserves acknowledgment.
You also have producing, writing, and director’s credits. Is this something you always wanted to do?
I wrote a play called “BUMP” a while ago. It’s about a unique time right before Facebook and Smartphones took over our lives. The technical revolution was in full swing but people were still searching for a connection. Social media isn’t what it is now. I would love to turn that play into the film.
How do you continually hone your craft?
I love doing reading and continuously working on new material. It’s like going to the gym you have to keep pushing yourself to stay in shape.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the industry?
I would have to say working on Marvel’s Luke Cage. It’s really a great group of people.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
Right now I’m excited about the recent release of Luke Cage on Netflix. You can also catch me as Neil Sheehan in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated movie “The Post” with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do . . .
. . .work in the “Lord of the Rings” series I heard they are producing at Amazon. That would fulfill a dream of mine.
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: twitter.com/jswainofficial
Instagram: instagram.com/justinswainofficial
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