Michael Bailey Smith - Skinhead

This is one big dude. As Walter Hill, the director of Undisputed put it, he's "fearsome looking!"

Michael Bailey Smith plays the leader of the "skinhead" group. In Undisputed, as in most prison movies, each race is separated into groups. If you're a white guy, you've gotta be big, mean, and bald to survive. Oh yeah, and some Nazi tattoos wouldn't hurt either to enhance that "bad guy" image.

When the "Iceman" (Ving Rhames) is sent to prison, each "group" makes their own attempt to approach him in some way. Not one to be "owned," or "owe anyone any favors," the Iceman's approach to dealing with each group is the same as anyone he might be facing in the ring; knock 'em out!

When Michael Bailey Smith's character approaches the Iceman, the encounter was quick, yet painful to watch. Well, he was a "skinhead," so you don't exactly feel bad for the big guy when he gets floored in one massive punch. Such is life for an actor who always plays a bad guy…

For a guy who looks so bad and mean, he's totally the opposite in real life. Here's an exerpt from an interview with Walter Hill:

I'm doing a one-on-one interview with Michael Bailey Smith, the actor who played the main skinhead. What can you tell us about him?

Walter Hill: "Very sweet guy… [laughs] You know he had these tattoos that you see in the movie on, and they're not permanent, but they take a few days to come off, and they have all this Nazi stuff… So he was downtown at a gym in Vegas [where it was shot] he was working out, you can tell he's a big strong fella…and they called the cops! …He's very nice…I guess the other end of the cliché is the "gentle giant" and he's like that. He's a very gentle, sweet guy. Fearsome looking though…"

I spoke with Michael Bailey Smith about his role in Undisputed, being a bad guy, and about his current projects.

What was it like to play a skinhead?

MBS: When I walked on set, it was normal, except for the prisoners… But when they put that makeup on me, those tattoos, man, the looks I was getting. I had a big swastika on the back of my head, Arian Brotherhood stuff all over, all kinds of stuff… Guys would look at me totally different…I'd get the evil eye from almost everyone, especially the real prisoners on the set. It was intense.

One time, in the scene where I lead everyone in the cafeteria, banging the cups on the table, I'm yelling [my lines] at the Iceman…this dude gets right in my face and says "I'm gonna f**k you up you racist [etc..etc…]" and Walter Hill said, "Um…Cut… What is he doing?" I just stood back and told the guy, "hey man, I'm just an actor."

So you wouldn't recommend shaving your head and getting Nazi tattoos…

MBS: Uh, no.

[Note to the Latino community: Michael Bailey Smith is not a racist in real life.]

I noticed that in the film, your character had a name come up on screen. Yet the credits simply say, "skinhead." What was that name? [Several characters have their names appear on-screen, with their crimes listed and how many years they have, etc.]

MBS: I didn't know they gave me a name until I saw the movie. It was a strange name…I can't remember…

[If you're going to Undisputed, and if you remember the name, please write in and let us know what it is…]

What was it like to work with Ving Rhames?

MBS: It was great. Ving is great. He's the real deal…an actor's actor.

How do you feel about being in three big films out simultaneously at the box-office this Summer? [Men In Black 2, Master of Disguise, and Undisputed.]

MBS: It's pretty cool. But they're kind of small roles though…

What are you doing in order to try and land those "bigger roles?"

MBS: I go out on every audition my agent or manager gives me. You never know who you'll audition for, even if it's for a really small role in something you don't even want to do.

I also just finished doing a film for a director friend of mine, Dietrich Johnston. It's called Blood Shot. I play a vampire who works for the government, and I'm sent to rid Los Angeles of a terrorist cell. It's an action/horror/comedy, a "payback piece," and it's an awesome little film, and I'm the "star" this time. I hope it will boost both our careers. We want to do a feature together next.

You as a vampire, huh? That sounds like a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nosferatu...and kicking some terrorist ass? Where can I see this movie?

MBS: Yeah, we're getting a lot of that. It's a pretty ballsy idea, but I think people really want to see us getting some payback finally. It's still in post production, but I think there's a web site. It will go out on the festival circuit because it's a short film.

[www.bloodshotmovie.com]

So what are you working on now?

I've been shooting in Bulgaria, playing a bad guy in a new Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. I've seen a couple titles for it, "Hell," "The S.H.U," or maybe it will be changed to "Sparka." Sparka is Russian for dance and fighting. That's probably what they will use. This [looks like it will be] Van Damme's come back movie. It's hard core and my character up's the "hard core" meter into the RED. The final fight we are doing will be one of the best hard core fights seen on film. It will look real as hell... I mean, we are really throwing punches, elbows, knees, everything. Real prison fighting.

Wife, Kids?

MBS: Yes. One wife, two kids. Both boys, Bailey is 4 years old, and Hunter is 4 months old. Their beautiful mother is Lisa.

You have a pretty ambitious web site, www.michaelbaileysmith.com...

MBS: Yeah, it's pretty unique. I try to update it all the time, and I "share" a lot about my personal experiences as an actor.

Thanks for spending so much time with me for this interview.

MBS: My pleasure.