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Adrian Paul: Warrior At Heart
(Romantic Times Issue #146, May 1996)
By Diane Zorcik
 Suppose you
were a fierce immortal warrior and ran into the man who had killed your
love? Would you show him mercy?
Such were the dilemmas of Duncan MacLeod, a 400-year-old Scottish
warrior who was known as "The Highlander" and was played on TV by
heartthrob Adrian Paul. A true success story–especially among RT's
readers–the gothic romantic-adventure show ran for several
seasons–and included several episodes that were directed by the
handsome Paul.
In one of those episodes, "Leader of the Pack," MacLeod was being hunted
down by Kanis (Justin Louis)–a dark "immortal" from his past whose
idea of company was an entourage of pit bulls–when Roszca (Travis
MacDonald), the killer of his girlfriend Tessa (Alexandra Vandeernoot),
appeared. To complicate the situation further, Richie (Stan Kirsch), a
younger immortal who was murdered along with Tessa (that's how he found
out that he was immortal), also spied the punk–and seethed for
revenge.
With Kanis' hounds on his heels, the ever-philosophical MacLeod
deliberated on what kind of action to exact on Tessa's murderer, whom
Richie was by then pursuing. Seeking him out, he eventually came upon
Roszca in a tender embrace with his pregnant girlfriend. At that moment,
the pain and joy of centuries of life and death weighed heavily on
him–and he turned away. "Is there no justice?" Richie asked him
later. MacLeod answered: "No, there's only mercy." This, clearly, was a
warrior with heart and soul–and Paul obviously revelled in the
part. Born and raised in London, the Shakespearean-trained actor, whose
credits include theatre, dance, movie and TV, said he found the
Highlander character unequaled. "None of the other characters I have
ever played compare to the complexity of Duncan MacLeod–a man who
was not afraid to love, cry or stand up for the things he believes in, a
man who was peaceful by nature, but a warrior at heart." That
characterization certainly rang true in "Leader of the Pack," when
MacLeod–no sissy–beheaded the evil Kanis (it was the only way
to kill an immortal).
Unlike other supernaturals who are doomed to live out their own
discontent, MacLeod's heart glowed warmer and stronger in a role that
the actor personally deepened as the director of several episodes. In
his directorial debut, "Homeland," MacLeod returned to the lush land of
his youth. And in "Methuselah's Gift," immortality in the wrong hands
raised deadly questions. "It was one of the best learning experiences I
ever had," said Paul of directing the shows.
Other episodes expanded on the nature of the Watchers (the chroniclers
of the immortals), MacLeod's on-again/off-again relationship with Amanda
(his lover of more than 400 years and played by former Miss America
Elizabeth Gracen) and the return of Methos (Peter Wingfield), the oldest
living immortal.
For more information on Paul visit www.adrianpaul.net.
(Romantic Times Issue #146, May 1996)
More on Adrian Paul:
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