Before the actor — who is best known for his starring role as President Fitzgerald Grant III opposite Washington on the seven-season ABC’s drama — kicks off his new tenure on NBC’sLaw & Orderas District Attorney Nicholas Baxter Thursday night, he talked to PEOPLE about whether he’s discussed the role with his former costar.
“I’m a little hurt that she hasn’t called me to give me some tips, but I’m sure they’re coming,” he jokes about Washington, 47, who playedScandal’s Washington, D.C., fixer Olivia Pope.
Tony Goldwyn, Kerry Washington - Scandal.Danny Feld/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Danny Feld/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
In real life, the pair have remained close friends, and according to Goldwyn,Law & Orderought to have one more viewer in Washington now that he’s joined the cast.
“They better,” he says of the show’s growing fandom. “That’s all I can say."
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
In fact, Goldwyn notes that playing DA Baxter actually “feels pretty similar” to playing the President of the United States — both characters come from “political families,” and they even dress the same.
“It’s funny, I wear a lot of blue suits and nice ties,” Goldwyn says. “But just going into a system, an institution where I’m the chief executive, there are a lot of similarities and dealing with being the person whose job is to deal with intractable problems and to sort of steer the ship. I was really surprised how similar it felt to playing Fitz.”
Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant in Scandal.Nicole Wilder/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Nicole Wilder/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Though, that’s not to say there aren’t still a fewkeydifferences between the roles.
“My office is not as nice as Fitz’s was inScandal!" Goldwyn kids.
And, he notes, “I think that Baxter isn’t as troubled as Fitz. I get the feeling he doesn’t have as much baggage — and as far as I know, he is not having an affair."
He adds, “But who knows what the producers are thinking for the future!”
Of course, theLaw & Orderfranchisehas its own famous Olivia — Benson, that is — but Goldwyn thinks that Baxter would have more of a level head than Fitz. When asked if he thinks his two characters would get along, his answer is emphatic: “Yes, absolutely.”
“I feel like Baxter would probably be a pretty good friend to Fitz to go, ‘Come on, dude. Get your life together!'” he says.
NBCUniversal
Goldwyn joinsLaw & Orderfollowing Sam Waterston’s departure from the show as DA Jack McCoyafter 19 seasons, and he says inheriting the role from Waterston is a beautiful full-circle moment.
“‘It’s a very singular experience to step into something that’s such an institution and do it in a capacity where my character’s very central now to the story," says Goldwyn. “Stepping into Sam’s shoes — I felt honored to be doing that, so it was cool. I felt very excited and privileged.”
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Law & Orderairs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
