NEW YORK — On CBS’s The Mentalist, Simon Baker’s character has things all figured out. He’s able to read people, surroundings and situations so well that he can solve crimes.
In real life, Baker, along with most people, was unable to anticipate or make sense of the financial crisis that hit the U.S. in 2008.
His latest film, the financial drama Margin Call, focuses on a 24-hour window on the eve of the collapse. He plays a banker fighting to keep control. The movie also stars Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons and Demi Moore.
The 42-year-old Australian actor says he remembers the general confusion felt by the public during that time. “It was so hard to see people in the position of making those decisions. It was such a grey area, certainly for me. How do they make these decisions? Who’s there in the room? Yesterday it was fine and today it’s all a mess.”
The timing of Margin Call coincides with a monthlong protest called Occupy Wall Street in New York City against financial corruption. The protests have spread to cities around the world.
“We’re learning sort of every day globally the economy has been so rattled that we aren’t over it and it doesn’t look like we are going to be over it and I think it’s good people are taking a stand and protesting as long as it remains peaceful.”
Margin Call opened in theatres on Friday.
Baker recently directed an upcoming episode of The Mentalist, which is now in its fourth season. He says it’s something he likes to do once a season.
He says it’s not difficult to go back to just acting on the series after he’s directed an episode.
“I never really turn it off. I just shut up,” he jokes. “It still happens in my head.”
Baker’s also hoping the series will begin to focus more on its supporting cast, but he’s undecided as to whether his character should ever become romantically involved with the character of Teresa Lisbon, played by Robin Tunney.
“Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe you’d be like, ‘Ew. That’s like brothers and sisters kissing each other.’ I don’t know.”