Despite his iconic acting career, Victor Garber is still waiting for his big film break

35:52Victor Garber: Why there’s still one thing left on his acting bucket list

Victor Garber has enjoyed an incredible career on stage and screen, from his portrayal of Jesus Christ in the musical Godspell, to his starring role opposite Jennifer Garner in the TV thriller Alias, to his memorable supporting roles in films like Titanic and Legally Blonde.

Later this month, the London, Ont.-born actor will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Forest City Film Festival in his hometown — but that doesn't mean he's looking in the rearview mirror. In a career-spanning conversation with Q's Tom Power, Garber says there's still one thing left on his acting bucket list.

"I haven't really had a film role that would challenge me to the point where I would be really nervous about it," he tells Power. "I was a supporting role or a sort of glorified extra in a lot of things — and I'm not complaining about it, I just feel like I have never had on film the opportunities that I've had on stage. I would like one time to have that."

While Garber has taken on plenty of lead roles in small screen and stage productions, his big break in film has yet to come. "I haven't really had that experience," he says. 

His most iconic film role to date is Thomas Andrews, the architect of the Titanic, in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster. Despite only having a few brief scenes, audiences really connected with Garber's warm and kind-hearted character, who was one of the few people on board the ship who showed heroism.

"The accent is better than I thought it was," Garber says after hearing one of his most significant scenes from the film for the first time in years. "And there was a credibility there that I didn't think I really had. I'm tough on myself."

The actor says he particularly enjoyed working with Cameron, who directed him using "emotional triggers" rather than line readings.

"We did it hundreds of times," Garber tells Power. "But every time I did it, he got me to a different place or a different way of doing it, because I think people don't really understand what a good director he really [is].... I also think he identified with my character as the architect."

Though he's still waiting for the opportunity to lead a film, Garber is extremely grateful for the career he's had. And he knows better than anyone that there's no such thing as a small part. In fact, he says his one-episode guest appearance on Frasier as Dr. Frasier Crane's butler is one of his favourite performances ever.

"I loved every minute of it," he says. "It was just one of those things that fit me perfectly, and everybody was fantastic…. I was hoping they would make him a recurring character because it was so much fun to play."

The full interview with Victor Garber is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. He also talks about how he got his start in acting, his time in the successful sunshine pop group The Sugar Shoppe, and his starring role as Jesus Christ in Godspell. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Victor Garber produced by Cora Nijhawan.