Out actor Richard
Chamberlain tells the Associated Press that his current
role as a villain is a refreshing change from his usual
heroic characters. Chamberlain plays a dangerously
corrupt governor in Blackbeard, which airs on the
Hallmark Channel on June 18, and he tells Associated
Press, "I am a very bad guy in this, and it's great
fun. Playing leading men is wonderful, but the parameters
are very narrow. Character work allows you so much more
freedom, and it's such a joy for me."
Another
opportunity the film offered was the chance to reunite with
Rachel Ward, his costar in the hit 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds. Even though the two didn't shoot any
scenes together, Chamberlain says, "One of the great
excitements for me in taking this job was because I
knew Rachel was going to be on board. We got to see each
other in Thailand where we were filming and catch up
after all these years, and it was wonderful." (The
Advocate)