Death Race's Max Ryan - Making a Career Playing the Villain and Making It Look So Easy!

Landing your first part in a movie your first time out is a big deal, but landing your first role in a blockbuster starring Jet Li and directed by Luc Beson is a sign. Max Ryan has proven that he is and always has been a force to be reckoned with. He plays the villain in Death Race and has had major roles in countless other movies (Blackline, Dark Moon Rising, Kiss of the Dragon, League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Box, Four Years Running, Craven Marsh, Thr3e, Attila the Hun, and The Corrupt).

An Interesting Fact...

At age 12, Max received his first motor cross bike. He had saved his money and his dad helped him buy it. "I started racing school boy motor cross, won my first race at 13 years old; it was my fourth official race." After that he got sponsored and made it to the British championships in his teen years. After that Max transitioned to super bike and started road racing. "I love bikes and cars, how fast will the bike go, how fast will the car go ... Ok, let's go!" Max loves sports and pushing it to the limits. He's a big skier and although he's never skied in America, he laughs that when he skies, the question is "How fast can I go down this hill without killing myself!"

I understand there was a life altering incident that occurred while you were racing. Could you please share that with me?

I was on my race bike. I had a really big accident. You know most riders break a leg and a collar bone—most riders do—you fix it and you go back. I was about 30. I said that's it, I've had enough now. I enjoyed my time, but I want to do something else. I thought maybe it was too late to start something else and I fell into this business (acting). I did a lot of print work and commercials then got bored with that. I thought if I can't be an actor, then I'm going into property, also another interest of mine. My first movie audition was Kiss of the Dragon. That was the commencement and it set the precedence of who Max Ryan was to become.

Looks like you fell right into your destiny.

It was a real challenge. Thrust into that kind of world first shooting commercials and all of a sudden I'm being [thrown] around and beaten up by Jet Li, and cracking Bridgette Fonda around, I was like 'damn I hope no one's watching.' And all of a sudden I start playing these bad guy roles.

So you have a few movies in production right now that have yet to be released.

Yes. The big one is Death Race for me right now. I've shot 4 studio pictures and they've been amazing. To stay in the studio system for any actor, to be really honest, it's difficult. So you get asked to do independent films. And I've got three movies now that are in post production. They'll be coming out next year. That's the exciting thing. I'm actually the good guy in 2 of those movies.

Well that's positive. (They both laugh) So we actually get to see you smile.

That's going to be interesting for me even. They're looking really sexy. By the end of the year all three of them will be finished.

So you were lucky... You know I'm not going to say lucky because that's not a really fair term. People work hard and people call them lucky. That's not really fair.

Yeah it's been hell because I was living in England trying to get an agent or a manager. It's like getting a hole in the head. It's difficult. You walk into [an audition] and you're either on it or you're not. It's a fine line between getting it right. But for me I put it out there. I really give it a good shot. I think I'm just a competitive guy. With the racing I kind of have it in my genes, my metabolism, my body and my train of thought that I want to be really good at what I do. That takes a lot of focus. It doesn't come easy. It's extremely challenging.

It probably takes a lot of energy I would assume.

It takes a lot of energy—emotional energy. Trying to hold a relationship down is really difficult. Telephone relationships have been difficult. It's cost me a couple of relationships if you know what I mean.

So have you worked around that problem yet?

Not right now. I thought I cracked it but I missed—another chapter of my life.

So you mentioned that being a competitor has helped you land roles. Is there anything that you feel as an actor that you do that gives you the edge?

I am not good at auditioning. I don't think any actor is good at auditioning, but I think I am particularly bad. I'm nervous. I don't like being put on the spot. I'm Piscean rising star Leo with an element of Virgo. (Laughs) Don't ask me why I know that! The casting part of it I'm not particularly good for, but some of the roles I go for they have that element of maybe nervousness or intensity about them so it kind of plays in my favor. This is a helpful message to any aspiring actor or actress: Whenever you get scene, make sure you have everything down in your head. Whatever the other character is saying, what you're saying. You've got to put it down on tape. Find a location and make a film of it. Just make it short and sweet and bring it home. That's what I did on death race. I was in Europe shooting this TV series and I got sent the sides. We shot it and it happened really quickly. It was just one of those things that was real. I was so excited. I got the offer with the tape. I didn't have to come to America [to audition].

Tell me about your role in Death Race

I play an inmate named Pachenko who is a killer [Other characters: Jason Slatham, Tyrese Gibson, and Joan Allen]. Set in the future of America and it's a high security penitentiary. He is sent to kill Jason's wife and frame him. Jason finds out that it was Pachenko who killed his family. They end up on the race track. Pachenko is a neo-Nazi with tattoos and a mohawk. When we were doing the fight scenes there wasn't much said because the atmosphere was really intense, and it comes across on camera. There are very intense moments. Even when I saw it, it was so silent and so powerful. It was really good stuff. I'm proud of this work. Everybody including myself worked really hard on this movie.

When you're in the trenches of such a deep role like that, almost the anti-thesis of whom you might really be, do you find yourself actually becoming that role?

That's a difficult question. The body goes through a big change. That's number one because of my diet, training, costumes, and then I was branded with tattoos. I don't sport any tattoos. So it does have some effect. I'm not a killer of course. But it becomes a very intense chapter in my life. In the audition, I was picked was because I got it down. Like I said it's a fine line between getting it right and getting it wrong.

It seems like your aim has been dead on for most of your acting career.

I've done some great movies. For me it's all about decisions. I know when I've done wrong. I just pick it up and make adjustments where needed. I make really big notes in my mind about auditions.

So what's next for you?

I have three movies that I am currently the choice, and I want these movies to work out. I wish I could talk about them. They will not be the characters I have played before. One in particular is a really sensitive role. He's an American icon and it's a very intense drama, but a real life character, not fictitious. The script is really quite disturbing. The next six months are going to be interesting.

Highest High

The first job (Kiss of the Dragon) I got because it was my first movie. I hadn't worked for 3 to 4 months. I had gotten offers to do commercials and print. And I said no. I have to stick to my guns here. And when that phone rang, I was like yeah there is a God! That was a real high. I called my mom and Dad. Mom started crying. It was wicked. I learned a lot from that movie as well. Luc Beson gave me some great advice and I still hold on to that today.

Lowest Low

I think I lost some movies because of myself. I am very outspoken. It's not my fault it's just the way I am. I went into this one audition. They wanted a big monologue and I completely flubbed it. It was a nightmare. And the casting director said 'thank you very much.' He didn't even look at me. With 15 people in the room, I said 'I just want to say something in my own defens—that was probably the worst read of my life.' There was total silence. I used to beat myself down. Think about it for a few days [wishing I had done something differently]. Now I don't audition unless I am really on it. You've got to love the competition and whoever gets the job is right for that part.

On Women

Like any guy I like beautiful women, but I've matured a little bit. I still want a beautiful girl, but now I want to know what's in her head, what makes her tick. I'm in the industry so I attract people in the industry. I've met some beautiful women. Personality is really a big thing. The next five years I am looking forward to finding a woman and start a family. It's just going to hit and it will happen.

A lot of actors have aspirations of writing and directing. Do you have any of those types of aspirations?

I'm a writer. I've written 2 screenplays. One of them won the Queens Spirit Award at the Queens Film Festival in New York, which was a huge step. I have a co-writer I worked with on the script for over 5 years. I am particularly good at writing action and dialog because of my background and I've read a lot of scripts. As a writer I have achieved something but I don't think I would ever write again. It consumes your life. I only wrote something because I wanted to make it in the future and I want to star in it. I haven't directed anything. I'm an actor right now and that is where I want to focus my energies. I don't want it to take away from what I am currently good at.

To learn more about Max Ryan, visit his website at www.maxryan.eu.

Interviewed by Kaylene Peoples

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