Jennings Rice, Andrew Fultz, and Mike Manning star in the movie Secret Life of the Pastor’s Wife premiering on Lifetime Channel on Saturday April 13th, 2024 at 8/7c. We at Survived The Shows had the incredible chance to talk with star Mike Manning, who teased the movie and his experience in Secret Life of the Pastor’s Wife. Check out the full interview below!
Can you tell us a bit about your character in Secret Life of the Pastor’s Wife? What initially attracted you to your role in Secret Life of the Pastor’s Wife?
In the film, I play “Jason,” the poolboy that winds up becoming obsessed with “Angie,” the Pastor’s wife. They have a romantic interaction, and after that, he can’t stop thinking about her. His obsession with her makes it all the more difficult for her to keep their affair a secret. The role was fun for me because it taps into that primal, deep level of lust and attraction. As an actor, I like to play a variety of roles, and “obsessed pool boy” is one I’ve never played before, so it was nice to step into those shoes.
What do you think makes this movie so special and captivating?
I think the movie is interesting because of the multiple layers hidden in the plot and within each character – from the pastor’s wife, the pastor, the people in the church, the people in the town, and the pool boy that seems to show up out of nowhere. Nobody is truly exactly as they appear, and it makes for a story that audiences will have to watch closely to figure out. Angie is married to the charismatic pastor who preaches “family values,” yet maintains an icy demeanor toward his own wife. She seeks solace in the arms of her recently hired pool boy, igniting old jealousies and leaving no one’s secrets safe.
What was it like working with the rest of the cast on set?
Working with Jenning Rice in particular was great. She really dug deep and found the “humanity” of this woman. In my opinion, she worked hard to make her character multidimensional and I think it shows in the film. We also had some pretty vulnerable, physical scenes together. We made sure each person was comfortable with what the other was doing so that when it came time to shoot, we could really get lost in the moment.
What can you tease about your character Journey?
All I wanna say for this is “things are not what they seem.” As soon as the audience thinks they have the story figured out, I have a feeling they’ll be surprised with some of the twists and turns.
What was your favorite scene or moment while filming Secret Life of the Pastor’s Wife?
Without giving any spoilers away, I think I liked the “seduction” and the “obsession” scenes. To me, those were the most fun to play. The director, Danny J. Boyle, and the producers, Jacob Horn and A.J. Kelly really let us find our own ways into the characters, so that was nice.
Talking about your experience in This is us, what can you share about this experience?
I played “The Manny” on Season 6 of THIS IS US. I really didn’t want the show to end. The cast was wonderful to work with, very open and welcoming from the start. Justin Hartley’s character “Kevin Pearson” begins the show working as an actor on the sitcom “The Manny.” And then by Season 6, they decide to do a “reboot” of the show and Justin is now the dad, and I’m the new Manny. Also, John Huertas directed one of my episodes (who plays “Miguel Rivas”) and Milo Ventimiglia (who plays “Jack Pearson”) directed one of my other episodes. That was an added bonus, because I like both of those guys. My parents are huge fans of the show, so being on it definitely got me points with them too.
At Survived the Shows, we are big fans of Christmas comedies. What is your all-time favorite?
JUST FRIENDS with Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart and Anna Faris will forever be my favorite Christmas comedy. It’s pure comedy gold. I think THE SANTA CLAUSE with Tim Allen would be my second place.
Change of subject, What have been some of the most memorable projects you have worked on throughout your career, and why?
I really have to say, I feel very grateful for a lot of the projects I’ve been part of over my career. Being on CLOUD 9 on the Disney Channel was incredible, TEEN WOLF on MTV, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, THE BAY, and of course THIS IS US… each time I’ve been able to work with incredible people and have been able to dive into different characters and do what I love. Hearing that people connect with the projects I do or the characters I play means the world to me.
Can you tease something about your next projects?
I’m actually right in the middle of filming a movie right now in Joshua Tree, CA. It’s an alien movie in the vein of ROSWELL. I’m really excited about this one and I think people are gonna like it. I’ve never played an alien before. 🙂 I also just started a podcast called “The Actor’s Agenda,” with new interviews posting each week on Spotify and Youtube. I just posted one with singer David Archuleta that is getting a great response. It’s a place where I can talk about my own acting journey, but also interview other actors, singers, creative types about theirs. People can find more info on the podcast on social media with @theactorsagenda or on me with @mike_manning_.
“Secret Life of the Pastor’s Wife” starring Jennings Rice will premiere on Saturday, April 13th on Lifetime Channel.
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Desirèe
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