ALEX "POONIE" FINE
We had the chance to meet Alex and his two lovely daughters in Tokyo last summer. He opened up about his journey into acting, the challenges of a new career, and how fatherhood has shaped his perspective on life and work while we were taking some photos in the rainy streets of Harajuku.
Tell us a little bit about you. How did you become the man that you are today?
I’m Alex to everyone, but to close friends I’m “Poonie,” a nickname I’ve had since I was young.
I’m a father, husband, and actor. Family and work take the most importance and focus in my life. I became the man I am today a lot from the environment I grew up in. My mom and dad are the best and they let me be independent in a rougher environment.
I spent most of my time playing sports which also formed me as a man today.
You’ve built a successful career in fitness and you shifted your focus toward acting. What inspired this change?
It has always been the plan, I needed to build a steady career to live the life I wanted to while I pursued acting. Some people choose bartending, or valet until they get work, I chose fitness and opening a gym in my garage.
What kind of roles are you most interested in taking on as an actor? Do you have a dream project or genre you’d like to explore?
I used to ride bulls and I love westerns, but as far as a dream project, I feel like I have many. I mostly just want a project with a brilliant script and the director is good to work with, and I think when that happens and the cast has chemistry, it becomes a dream job.
I’m a big fan of Sean Baker, and also actors like Michael Fassbender and Vincent Cassell.
You shared with us that you didn’t take a lot of acting classes to become an actor. How do you keep sharpening your acting skills?
Acting isn’t any different from training than sports is. I don’t like traditional classes but I do everything to mentally/physically train for roles. I do private lessons at RADA in London, ballet, gun/close combat training, and dialect lessons every week.
I want to follow my instinct on what I believe is best but I still work with a coach at RADA to help make it exactly what I want.
You are joining Guy Ritchie’s upcoming crime series, alongside Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. Congratulations! Are you excited? What can you tell us about it?
I am very excited, I’ve been very blessed to work with amazing actors and directors so far, and I can’t say much about it but it will be something I’m very proud to be a part of.
You are a father and a husband. How did it change your outlook on life and your personal priorities?
I used to live a little recklessly. Not in the sense of causing trouble, but I rode bulls, dirt bikes, was at car meets. When I had kids I pretty much stopped doing stuff that could kill me.
I remember someone told me when Cassie was pregnant that if I died now from bull riding or whatever, then my kids will never know who I was and how much I would love them. It really stuck with me. Now I golf, workout, and do ballet with the babies.
What has been the most rewarding part of fatherhood for you so far?
I love the hugs, and the “I love you”s. Being a dad and husband is the greatest thing I’ve ever done and I don’t know how I got to be so blessed.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you want to unwind and take a break from work?
I watch movies, TV, listen to music… and I’ve been really trying to learn new traits to be more skilled for any role that may come up in the future. I kind of plan to be prepared for anything so if I get the call, I’m ready.
If you could give advice to someone considering a major career shift like yours, what would you say?
I really have no advice. I think that if it doesn’t move you, don’t do it. Every single thing I did was to invest in myself. I didn’t go to clubs or bars. I put the money into my career and I knew once I was given a chance, I would never look back. I have delusional confidence in myself and I think you need that sometimes.
I also was given a shot by John Papsidera and Taylor Sheridan, and since I got the chance to play Grady on 1883, I knew no one could tell me anything. My love and passion for it becomes my never fail.
What does the word “zero” mean to you?
I actually like the number zero. It’s a good mindset to have that every morning you start at nothing. No one is giving you anything, you have to take it. Zero lives forever.
Photographs by Allan Abani