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Ian McShane
Plays Al Swearengen
HBO: Tell us a little about your character.
Ian McShane: I play Al Swearengen who owns the Gem Saloon, but he also runs the dope, he runs the girls, he runs the liquor in Deadwood. Swearengen was in town six months before the show takes place in 1876, building up the camp. And since Deadwood was on Indian territory, Custer and his cavalry kicked him out. So then Custer gets killed by the Indians at the Battle of Little Big Horn and many of the soldiers deserted to gold mines looking to build another life for themselves. Swearengen is allowed back in and unofficially runs the town.
He tries to look after the town and build it up; he's got a lot invested here, and he wants to keep on to what he has.
HBO: Al Swearengen is a real chararcter from Deadwood history — how did you prepare for the role?
Ian McShane: When David Milch and I first talked about the character, he talked about him having an abused childhood. He employs the weak and the weary. He has a girl who works for him who's a cripple; he keeps her around and he abuses her. It's all part of Swearengen's lack of self worth in a way.
He imports the whores that work at the Gem Saloon from an orphanage back east. Cause he was an orphan. On the flip side, he's a smart man, Swearengen. A businessman who has built it all himself and protected it himself. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty. He's constantly vigilant. I mean he's a guy who doesn't give himself any peace deliberately. He's constantly wondering how does he keep onto this and how does he add onto it. And he recognizes people are coming, he's a good judge of character.
HBO: Al Swearengen sounds like a complex character — is he a villain ?
Ian McShane: It's hard to paint a black and white picture on a show like this. He certainly doesn't pull any punches. I kind of like him.
Milch has done an amazing job of creating this town and these people who live by rules they make up as they go along. They're trying to make sure that there's an order in this mayhem. And for every straight guy that comes into town, for every man that wants to pursue his gold claim, there are ten hustlers trying to take their money. I mean there were card sharks trying to take their money, prostitutes, lawyers, everyone. And Swearengen, at the time, was taking in five thousand dollars a day in his saloon, which for 1876 was incredible. Everybody was hustling everybody back then.
HBO: What was it like working with David Milch?
Ian McShane: Wonderful. Extraordinary. We are all here because of him — this was his creation, his idea. David has this gift for nineteenth century dialogue. It's a mixture of this modern hybrid slang mixed with nineteenth century dialogue. He's just a super brain.
David is creating this world of Deadwood. Nobody knows what it was like then. And it's not Gunsmoke or Wagon Trail. And it's not the Sopranos goes west either. As actors we feel perfectly in the genre. Hopefully when people watch it, they'll believe David's vision and be fascinated by the characters.
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Deadwood Nuggets
Prostitution was tolerated in Deadwood until the last brothel closed down in October of 1980.
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Deadwood History
For more information and on the Real Deadwood, try the following source:
Adams Museum and House
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