Interview with "New Amsterdam" star Ryan Eggold

Ryan Eggold on the medical drama "New Amsterdam" presenting more than one side to any argument on social issues, Max Goodwin's motivation and Eric Manheimer whose story this character is based on.

Foto: Ryan Eggold, New Amsterdam - Copyright: RTL / 2019 Universal Television LLC All rights reserved
Ryan Eggold, New Amsterdam
© RTL / 2019 Universal Television LLC All rights reserved

17 March, 2020 by Catherine Bühnsack & Nicole Oebel @philomina_
Here's a German translation of the interview.

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In the TV landscape of medical dramas what makes "New Amsterdam" stand out is the way in which Max approaches two full-time tasks - dealing with a life-threatening disease as well as giving it his all as a medical director. Portraying Max's journey, what were your thoughts on his motivation and decisions?

I think, what is motivating him is the genuine desire to help people and to be truthful about what he does which is provide care. And I think he is frustrated by a system that is a little broken and has misprioritised money and profits and perhaps bureaucracy and things like that ahead of humanity and caring for people. And so, I think he has sort of a rebellious spirit in his endeavor to change that and get back to caring for people. And in terms of fighting the cancer his motivation is the same for anyone which is to survive and to be around for the people he loves.

The friendships and professional relationships between the doctors play a vital role in this drama. Were there ever storylines that you felt were morally challenging to play?

What's exciting about the show is that it can bring in certain social issues and reflect the reasons why people end up in a hospital, which can be to do with education or poverty or mental illness or any number of social issues. I like the episodes that reflect things that are really happening. Erika Green wrote an episode, I think the fifth episode of the first season, that was two kids who have been shot by the same bullet. And there was a conversation there to be had about guns, certainly in the US, arms as well in general in the country. I think it's important to remember not to be didactic or too polarizing on the show, I think we get enough of that everywhere. I think it's about presenting more than one side to any argument and finding the common ground where we can agree.

Max's relationship with Georgia is really lovely, yet he always seems to make his decisions over her head. How is your impression of their relationship? Can she even compete with his job as medical director?

Obviously, she shouldn't have to but she does by nature of who Max is, putting her in that awkward position. But I think ultimately, he does offer very much and he is just kind of a man possessed and very driven and work-focused. People can hide from certain truths or questions or problems in their own life by drawing themselves into work entirely. Max certainly does that. But, yes, I think he's been realizing in season one, how he needs to do. Especially when he is about to be a father.

The sets and the steadicam shots walking through the hospital give it a sense of urgency. Working in a maze like this, what are the challenges and benefits for you as an actor portraying the busy hospital day?

It's fun! We shoot in a real hospital sometimes, so we have real doctors walking through trying to save people's lives while we are there in their way making a TV show. I think that those long walking talks and Steadicam things are really exciting because it is like theater for a moment in a sense that it is a longer take. You've got to get not only all the words right but all the emotional beats and turns… It makes those moments really fun - challenging but more fun. More fun than challenging.

The moment for viewers to fall in love with the show was most definitely the Elephino dad-joke Max was telling the baby in his wife's belly. What was it for you?

For me certainly the people making it like David Schulner and Peter Horton and all the writers. And then all the cast who is so wonderfully cast and everybody's sort of unique and fits their role well. That's a great part of it. And Eric Manheimer, which is the story this character is based on, his story is just inspiring. His aspire to change things and make it a little bit better is for me what's most exciting about it, because he could have become complacent that things aren't as good as they could be. He didn't forget to endeavor to make it a little better. And like that he is such a kinetic figure that's really trying to prove things for other people. That's a really inspiring story.

In the beginning you get the impression that Max and Helen might not get along because of their different ideas for the hospital. With his diagnosis they grow closer, especially on a personal level. What can we expect of their relationship as we get deeper into the season?

They are very kind of… they're like each other but they're different in certain ways. Max is very idealistic and kind of flipping sometimes and Helen can be more practical and be more grounded. They kind of balance each other out, too. It's kind of a ying-yang relationship. As someone who begins to provide care to Max there is certainly a vulnerability to that relationship. Allowing someone to take care of you is not always an easy thing. There is kind of an intimacy that grows there.

In Germany we are halfway through the season. Can you give us some clues of what to expect in the second part of the season?

In the second half Max is really fighting the disease for the first time. He spent the first half kind of pretending it doesn't exist or saying it would be fine, which is not really looking the truth in the face. In the second half of the first season it's unavoidable. It just starts to change him and affect him. His faith in the treatment is shaken and it becomes really challenging for him to do his job… and to fight his disease and to remain a husband and almost father. And Helen very much becomes a part of that journey because she really has to take the reins for him and help him.

From the top of your head, what was the most exciting moment filming season 1 of "New Amsterdam"?

There have been a few of those moments. Like I said episode five, that was a particularly emotional episode. That was difficult but exciting to shoot. The episode where Max's sister's heart comes in the hospital through this woman who received her heart as a child – I don't know if that episode aired yet or not – was particularly interesting, just because Max is very comfortable keeping everyone at bay and being a leader and trying to tell others how he can improve. But he is less comfortable with his own personal life. That was a cool confrontation with the last sort of piece, the last of his sister. Because it is important to remember her.

On "The Blacklist" and "The Blacklist: Redemption" you had quite a journey, from a mysterious spy to a loving and devoted husband and father. How hard has it been to leave the show and cast behind?

It was a lot of fun to do that show, the fight scenes and embrace this kind of elevated reality that is a little more genre – spies and conspiracies. Getting off that show I was really looking for material that reflected life and real people and real stories. I was fortunate enough to be in Spike Lee's film "BlackKklansman" which was a true story and then equally fortunate to do "New Amsterdam" which is based on Eric Manheimer's story which is a true story. There's something about that that's is really exciting.

Tom Keen and Max Goodwin are very different. What do you admire in each of these characters?

For Tom I would say I admire his abilities as a spy. But ultimately with that character we got to a place where he did have a heart but it just took some time to grow it or accept it. He was kind of coming from the shadows into the light which was a fun journey. And for Max – he has a genuine desire to help other people and I think that's the most admirable thing about him. His rebellious nature, his desire to question basic assumptions about the system and how things are supposed to work. I think that's a really exciting quality for him.

As we are a German online magazine about TV shows, what are some of the TV shows that you enjoy to watch?

I am between shows right now. I'm waiting for the next season of "Peaky Blinders" to come out. That's a great show and it's been like a year since the last season, so I'm very excited for that to come back.

Thank you so much for your time and for your insights!

Thank you, my pleasure. Thanks for the questions!

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