By: Darcy Tharp
nter actor Neil Napier, who is currently
starring on Syfy’s thriller Helix as Dr. Peter
Farragut, who reveals his introspective
side to MOST Fitness, saying that he in fact
identifies in some manner with all the characters
he portrays. The ruggedly handsome Canadian
is a rough and tough athlete on the outside, but
a soulful, softie on the inside, who loves his wife
dearly, respects animals, and relishes a good
story like none other. It is stories that make Neil
come alive more than anything, and his story
is as compelling and engaging as the ones he
helps create through his performances. As a
hockey, football, and rugby player growing up,
Neil divulges how his athleticism and skills learned
as an athlete greatly aid him in all areas of his life,
especially the numerous physical and intense roles
he often portrays. He also dishes on who he would
love to invite to dinner and what made him become
an actor, and gives us a behind the scenes look at
what a typical day is like on the set of Helix.
It “has me dropping my bag off in my trailer,
getting a coffee and sitting in the hair and makeup
trailer to start the day. I love this time, as I get to
chat and goof around with our awesome artists.
Other actors come in and out, and it is a nice time
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to touch base and ease into the workday.” From
there the actors join the crew on set to quickly
rehearse the scene they are about to shoot. Then
after some lighting adjustments and possibly
some small changes to the scene, they will spend
a few hours shooting it. Once everyone is happy,
they move on to the next. The crew then kicks
into high gear to shift all the equipment to the next
set, as the actors go off to begin preparing for
the next scene. “This scenario repeats itself over
and over until the day is done. In the midst of it,
there is a lot of time for fun, and to take the time to
enjoy the people I work with. It is a great job, and
we are blessed with a fantastic cast and crew people I am grateful to have had the opportunity
to get to know.”
So how did a sports-loving boy born and
raised in Montreal grow up to be the star of a hit
show with numerous movie and TV credits already
notched on his belt? Neil tells us that as a young
kid, he was always interested in stories-“I loved to
read, to put on little shows with my older siblings
and run around in the woods by my house with my
friends as we played out crazy narratives we spun.
It was a free and exciting feeling to pretend we
were explorers discovering new lands, or outlaws
evading the law, the sound of the bloodhounds
almost audible in our imaginations.” However, as
Neil got older athletics took on a more prominent
role in his life, and he focused most of his attention
to that. He played sports across the calendar:
hockey season gave way to rugby season which