Robin Lord Taylor Interview with Coup de Main Magazine 

'GOTHAM' - ROBIN LORD TAYLOR [a.k.a. The Penguin] Q&A.

Everyone knows the name Commissioner Gordon. He is one of the crime world’s greatest foes, a man whose reputation is synonymous with law and order. But what is known of Gordon’s story and his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the multiple layers of corruption that secretly ruled Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world’s most iconic villains? And what circumstances created them – the larger-than-life personas who would become Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and The Joker?

is an exciting origin story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told before. Featuring a host of acclaimed actors including Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith, Robin Lord Taylor and Sean Pertwee, the crime drama follows the story of James Gordon’s turbulent rise through the Gotham City police department as he steers through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil, and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time. The unlikely friendship Gordon forms with a 12-year-old orphan called Bruce Wayne is a relationship that will last them all of their lives, playing a crucial role in helping the young boy eventually become the crusader he’s destined to be.

With the exciting new series just launched, we caught up with actor ROBIN LORD TAYLOR – who plays Oswald Cobblepot [a.k.a. The Penguin] – to find out more…

You play an incredibly iconic character in Gotham. How much pressure do you feel to honour previous incarnations of The Penguin, or are you able to create your own version of the character?

RLT: It’s a little bit of both. When you follow in the footsteps of Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito – amazing actors and incredible performances that are part of all of our lives – it’s hard not to be influenced. I’m sure they inspire my performance in a certain way, but at the same time we’re showing a different part of the character that no one’s ever seen before. In that sense, I feel like I have a lot of freedom. In Gotham, Oswald is younger. This show is an origin story, so it’s before these villains have been incarnated. In that sense, I feel like I have freedom to create and stretch the character, which is exciting.

Do you feel any added pressure because The Penguin’s origin story is the tale that kicks off Gotham? In the pilot episode, we see a glimpse of The Riddler, Catwoman and Poison Ivy – but The Penguin is front and centre in the plot…

RLT: I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel any pressure, but I’m at the point where I’m just going along for the ride. I’m having the best time ever on Gotham, so I’m just trying to show up at work and get my head around what we’re doing each day. I’m having a blast.

RLT: Not at this point, but who knows what’s coming down the road? At the moment we have some tussling and stuff for my character, but nothing too crazy.

Are you looking forward to the more physical side of the role?

RLT: That’s the thing about The Penguin; he isn’t a physically strong, imposing person. He plays people off each other to do his bidding. But it will certainly be interesting to see if I end up on crane somewhere doing something physical.

Does this mean you’re eager to do your own stunts?

RLT: To a certain extent, I’m eager to do them. Yes, definitely – because I feel like authenticity is really what we’re going for in the show. Anything that helps the authenticity is great with me.

The Penguin is a very fierce villain at times. How do you get into the mindset of such a violent character?

RLT: To be honest, the script is written so well that it’s all right there on the page. It doesn’t take a lot to get into character. In fact, it’s so fun and it’s written so well that it’s a dream for me. The way we shoot the show also helps. We move so fast with filming that’s it’s almost as though you get swept up into it and the energy just carries you through.

How evil is Oswald Cobblepot when we first meet him in Gotham?

RLT: As far as evilness goes, he’s finding his footing. He starts the show at a very low place in the totem pole – and at the end of the pilot, he ends up even lower, so he’s basically crawling his way back to Gotham City. In a way, the evilness is his tool that he uses to gain power. His drive for power is his only motivation.

RLT: His end game is to run the show. He absolutely refuses to be powerless. He refuses to be stepped on and used because that’s how he’s been treated his whole life. He wants to make a change.

Do you see The Penguin as a character that is dealing with a lot of failures, as well as this quest for power?

RLT: Absolutely. I think that’s what fuels his homicidal tendencies. His failures are what push him towards those really dark, violent, sadistic places.

How many Batman comics did you read in preparation for the role?

RLT: I read loads! I found a couple of origin story comics, which were great. There’s a secret origin special where it talks about The Penguin’s childhood and how he was a bullied kid in prep school. That part of his childhood informed a lot of where he’s coming from in terms of his drive for power. Then someone gave me a

comic book, which helped me get into his head even more. It’s an awesome read. How rare is it to play a character when there’s 75 years of resource material to look through? It’s like the research is all there for me; it’s fantastic.

Looking back through the past 75 years of DC villains, what is it about them that resonates the most with you?

RLT: The thing that resonates with me most is the fact that these are all mortal people. There are no real supernatural abilities going on here, so that’s what I relate to and that’s what speaks to me the most. All of the villains are coming from an actual, real place; like from being a bullied kid. That’s something we can all relate to. It’s fascinating that it was written in the late 40s and early 50s, but it still resonates today.

How would you describe The Penguin’s relationship with Bruce Wayne?

RLT: The great thing about The Penguin is that ultimately as Bruce Wayne/Batman grows up, he realises that he needs my character. They both play off each other in a really fascinating way. They almost have a partnership and they are always connected, which I think is great. It’s like two sides of the good and the evil, and then the fact that they have to interact together and work together; it’s a great, great thing to play.

How would you describe The Penguin’s relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith’s character in Gotham, the villainous Fish Mooney?

RLT: When we start the show, Fish is my boss. She’s the one who teaches him everything about the world, the fine underbelly of Gotham City. In a way, she’s very much like a mother figure. However, The Penguin’s desire for power is relentless, and he will use absolutely anyone to get what he wants. He will do whatever it takes. With Fish, the two of them begin so connected – but ultimately there’s not room for two of them in Gotham City.

airs on TV2 on Sundays at 8:30pm! Click HERE to catch up on new episodes via OnDemand.

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