Actor Spotlight: Ian Carlsen, Paul Soucey

Ian Carlsen as Paul Soucey

If we were to look you up on a dating profile, what would your bio read?
Actor, writer, producer, novice musician and insufferable know-it-all. Taking walks, reading books, birdwatching, train hunting and play-acting. Raised (but not born, and so not a "true Mainer") in Maine and living in Portland, getting by acting and working a few day jobs here and there. Currently browsing Uncle Henry's for musical equipment and automobiles.

Tell us about your character in this season (in this same format)
Lobsterman, amaetur sleuth, boat co-captain. Lobsters, brews, and bad movies. A Mainer all his life (raised in Bucksport, ME) he bought a boat with friend, Eric Burke, and headed out to where all the good lobstering was. The only problem being that the territory of lobsters and eligible women don't often overlap. Now if only Eric had a sister about his age...

How did watching season one impact your performance in season two?
Well it really materialized the Island for me. It's difficult going into a project off of just the script. Getting to see it fit together made me really excited to get back on the Island and live it some more.<

What projects are you currently working on or have you been working on since Ragged Isle wrapped shooting?
I'm working on a documentary involving trains right now, other than that I've been in a few stage productions (as well as having a debut co-directing a production of Ghosts by Heinrik Ibsen) with a company called Lorem Ipsum. Currently working on music off and on with myself (under the alias Doubletone) and Erik Moody (under Robber & Thief).  Writing poetry off and on and working on a play.

What is your favorite behind-the-scenes moment during the production of Ragged Isle?
Lobster Boats. Any of the stuff we did down in Cundy's Harbor. You will know it when you see it. Good acting, and also, I hear that water was cold... That and when Sebastian and I discovered we were second cousins.

What is your favorite thing about your character?
Paul Soucey is a master class in looking confidently perplexed while walking around in different sorts of boots.

What do you and your character have in common?
Our looks.

What do you and your character have least in common?
Our ability to be sucessful lobstermen. (Also, I think Paul would be a horrible actor.)

If you could play any other character on Ragged Isle who would it be and why?
I wouldn't dare. Maybe Harrison Shaw (though it'd be a few years before I could do that) or perhaps Mac (Dominic Lavoie's character from the first season) but I think those dudes both did a stellar job.

We’re not sure who survives the second and third seasons of Ragged Isle... any last words just in case your character doesn’t make it?
Starfish.