Ian Verdun Talks Freeform’s ‘Siren’ [Exclusive Interview]

Freeform’s new series Siren is one of many new mid-season shows making its debut this March.

I recently had the chance to speak with actor Ian Verdun – who you might also recognize from his roles on Lucifer, Life’s a Drag, and Last Resort – about his upcoming role on Siren.

Verdun described his character, Xander McClure, as “a blue-collar fisherman from Bristol Cove, which is the town the show is set in. He’s smarter than your average bear, but not college educated. He’s just incredibly intelligent. People don’t give him enough credit for how smart he is.”

“He’s also fiercely loyal, sometimes to a fault. But he is very protective of his friends and his family, and I think that it gets him into a lot of interesting situations over the course of the season. People can see him [as] a bit of a conspiracy theorist because he’s seen some things, and it takes some time for people to start believing him,” Verdun continued.

Verdun said that what makes the show unique for him, however, isn’t necessarily the mermaids.

“I think what is very different and unique about it is despite or in spite of the fantastical elements of the show, we still make it incredibly human and approachable,” he explained.

“The stakes and the things that concern these characters are things that, in my view, are how people would react in such a fantastical situation. How would a person actually react if they saw these things?”

Verdun said that what he also loves about Siren is the different perspectives.

“More so than Splash, where I feel like Daryl Hannah’s part was more of the object of affection than Tom Hanks. That most certainly is a narrative tool that is used because they’re sirens and in folklore, they have the ability to play with the desires of men. So even though that’s an element of the story, I think the way it’s interpreted is from a much stronger female perspective.”

“It doesn’t leave these creatures as helpless, or fodder for men. They have their own set of ideas — their own needs, wants, and desires, and they’re incredibly strong both mentally and physically. I think that interpretation where we actually center these creatures, which are known to be more female-centric, in that purview is something that’s incredibly unique and I think, personally, very timely,” Verdun continued.

“I don’t think there’s a time, in television at least, where women in general have had this license to be able to be the center of narratives and to drive the story, to be the strong character and the strong central figure. I think that the time we’re in right now is a beautiful opportunity to be able to showcase these hero narratives and tell it from a different perspective,” Verdun noted.

Mermaids are enchanting, but Verdun says that’s not the main reason he’s so ready for fans to see the show.

“We have some amazing actors and writers that make characters that everybody is going to be able to relate to. I think that’s going to shock [the fans] and they’re going to be very disarmed by how relatable everybody is. That’s what’s going to keep people coming back, including the mermaids,” Verdun said.

For Verdun, one of the most significant challenges in working on Siren was working outdoors in difficult weather.

“A lot of the times they were dumping water on us. We were under curtains and sheets of rain more times than I can count. While we were shooting, the temperature would swing so widely in Vancouver. When we started, we were shooting in the middle of the summer, and I remember it being so hot and in the show, it’s Washington state, so we’re wearing these jackets, coats, sweaters, beanies, and all this other stuff, and it’s just boiling outside,” he revealed.

“In between takes, people are coming up and drying sweat off of you. They actually made a little ice pack for me to put on my kidneys so I wouldn’t overheat because I was wearing all of these thick jackets. By the end of it, it was so cold, and I’m not in jackets at all, so I’m outside in t-shirts.”

Verdun also shared his favorite part about being a series regular as opposed to working as a guest star, which is “having the opportunity to flesh out a full character and really explore motivations. When you’re a guest star, it’s not about you because you’re there to serve the story and to move things along.”

“With Siren, it’s having the opportunity to dive into the psyche of another person and then live in it for a little bit. Siren also has a lot more action; we would joke around and say each week it was kind of like shooting a movie because there’s so much production, so much happening,” Verdun shared.

Verdun’s first impression of Siren was nothing short of love.

“I absolutely loved it because, my mom can tell you, I’ve always been a fan of mermaids and fantastical creatures since I was really young. I used to draw comic books, so I used to get inspiration from everywhere so I would read all of the mythology,” Verdun recalled.

“When I first read it, I was kind of floored and shocked because it was so good. It’s really enjoyable, and it’s really dark. Some of it can be pretty thrilling and emotional,” Verdun said.

As it turns out, Verdun actually had a hand in the way his character was created. “The character wasn’t actually written for me at all. I changed the mind of the producers when I auditioned because when I read the script, I was like, ‘this guy doesn’t look anything like me.’ In the script, originally, he was a kind of heavyset, blonde, bearded guy, so I was honored by the challenge.”

“I really fell in love with the character. This entire journey has been one of surprise and gratitude. It’s a terrific story,” he continued.

In addition to discussing his role on Siren, Verdun also shared his earliest experience with acting. His first official play was in his junior year of high school where he helped put on a staged version of Disney’s Mulan.

“By the time I got to high school, I had started being in every theatrical production I could find. I was also playing football at the time, so my whole high school experience was basically the first season of Glee.”

“I would split my time between football and doing the school musical, and then I eventually quit football really dramatically when I was 16. Decided to stick with the theater, and I only applied to one college. I went to CalArts and have been working and studying since I graduated,” Verdun said.

“I’ve always been an artistic guy. I still draw, made little comic books as a kid, wrote poetry, and little screenplays. It’s kind of always been who I am, but I studied long and hard to be an actor.”

There are two top-tier actors that Verdun admitted he would jump at the chance to star with. “I would love to work with Viola Davis. I’m in awe every time she’s on screen and especially to be able to work with someone who, at this point, is such a historical actress and who I think has so much to give and I could learn so much from her craft,” he shared.

“I would also love to work with Ian McShane. The big reason, aside from the fact that I’ve admired him since I was in school, I’m actually named after him. My full name is Ian McShane Verdun. My grandmother actually saw Ian McShane in a movie the year I was born. and just loved his name. [She] argued with my mom about naming me quite literally up until my mom was going into labor,” Verdun continued.

Being named after a hugely successful actor sounds like just the right push to put your own foot in the door of show business.

“Growing up, I would always see two-thirds of my name on the screen, and it kind of planted a little seed. The level of craft in which you can learn and how you can grow as an actor is just unbounded.”

Siren Season 1 Intro – Sneak Peek

video courtesy of Freeform

Be sure to catch Ian Verdun as Xavier McClure on Siren, premiering March 29th on Freeform. 

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