What were you thinking when you joined Lost in season two? Did you think it was going to become as big as it did?
Michael Emerson: I thought of it as a work assignment, one of many guest spots I've done on shows over the years. I'm glad I had no idea what it would turn into, or I would have been very nervous.

Benjamin Linus had an amazing character arc. He started out as the obvious villain, yet as time went on the line between good and bad got really blurry. Do you see him leaning more to one side then the other?
Emerson: I think what's perfect about the Ben storyline is that we are never certain where he falls on the scale of good and evil. It's a tribute to the skill of the writers that the audience could never be certain about Ben, even to the very end.

Are you satisfied with Ben's overall character arc throughout the course of the series? Is there anything you wish Damon [Lindelof] and Carlton [Cuse] did differently with the character of Ben Linus?
Emerson: Yes, I loved the entire arc and was especially delighted with Ben's end in the finale. It was finer and more satisfying than anything I could have imagined. Of course, there are always the "paths not followed" which are tantalizing. It would have been interesting to explore the relationship between Ben and Annie.

What was the most difficult thing or moment about playing Ben in all the series?
Emerson: Ben was very good at being chilly or dispassionate. What was more difficult were scenes of emotion -- so Alex's death was challenging.

What season was the most difficult for you as an actor?
Emerson: Season Two. I was new to the show, and most of my scenework was fairly violent. As the years went by, I began to see more humor in Ben and enjoyed playing him more.

What' are some of your favorite scenes during the final season?
Emerson: I especially liked shooting the scenes where I was "teacher" Ben, because it gave me a chance to play a new character in a different key.

Do you have a favorite episode?
Emerson: I have a number of favorite episodes in different categories, but an episode that captures much of what it was like to shoot Lost in Hawaii was the one where Ben and Sawyer stand on a cliff looking at an island in the distance and trade quotes from Steinbeck.

Drama often offers closure, life itself does not. Are there moments of closure onLost that speak to you deeply?
Emerson: I'm actually more interested in moments of un-closure, like Ben's end in the finale.

Were you pleased to be able to answer some more of the fan's questions with 'The New Man In Charge'?
Emerson: Yes, I think the chapter is a nice addition to the Lost narrative -- nice to have some of the more particular or practical questions answered, since the finale took a more spiritual tone.

In your opinion, will Ben ever join the other characters in the afterlife?
Emerson: I think Ben, like all humans, is eligible for the afterlife -- it may just take him more time to get there.

How emotional is the process of letting go of the show for you?
Emerson: It hasn't really soaked in yet -- I don't feel that it is over!

Have you heard anything or is there talk of a Lost movie in the works?
Emerson: Probably impossible.

Is Lost something you'd watch now? Do you mind watching yourself?
Emerson: I intend to watch the entire series again soon. At first, I was uncomfortable watching myself, but I'm somewhat more at peace with it now. I think of Ben as a character disconnected from myself.

Have you ever pulled the Ben Linus character out to "get" somebody?
Emerson: It would be pointless; no one would take it seriously. My wife says "Don't ever give me that Ben look."

What was your favorite fantasy element of the show?
Emerson: I didn't think of the show as having fantasy elements; however, I did like the magic in the show -- smoke monster, ghosts, supernatural events -- which seemed based in reality.

In the DVD bonus feature "Letting Go," we see that the location had a real impact on the cast. What did you take away from Hawaii as an actor and a person?
Emerson: Well, there's nothing like working on a location that so perfectly mirrors the setting of the show. You don't have to imagine you're in a rainforest -- you're really there. I'll never forget working in the mountain jungles.

How do you think it would affect you if you get a role on another project that's shot in Hawaii?
Emerson: It will have a strong effect on me, since my wife will kill me!

Do you still stay in contact with the cast?
Emerson: I'm always in touch with Terry, and Jorge is staying in our house in LA even as we speak. I'm looking forward to seeing more of my Lost family at the Emmys.

What has been your favorite or funniest fan encounter?
Emerson: I'll never forget a Japanese tourist couple in Honolulu who presented their baby to me and announced they had named him Ben, after my character. Yikes!

They're going to have the Lost auction this weekend. Is there any one prop that you wish you could have taken home with you?
Emerson: I wish I knew the whereabouts of the little wooden doll that Annie gave to young Ben.

If you could have played any other role on Lost, major or minor, who would it be and why?
Emerson: I couldn't have played it, but I was always fascinated by the character of Mr. Eko. There was a gravity and mystery about the character that captured my imagination.

Have you ever been fascinated by a book or TV or film series in the way that many people seem to be about Lost?
Emerson: Yes, all of the above. I was obsessed with the miniseries made from John LeCarre's books Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People. Also, JRR Martin's fantasy series and the TV show The Wire.

Which are your next projects?
Emerson: I really don't have anything lined up; I'm lying low for a while and looking for a stage project. One of my new responsibilities is to make sure I'm not trapped in this role forever. I'm looking for a real change of pace. The time is soon approaching when I will need work whether I like it or not.

Any shows you'd particularly like to guest star on? True Blood?
Emerson: Ha. It would be a real pleasure to play a part on True Blood no matter how small. I'm an admirer of Alan Ball, and I could share a dressing room with my wife!

Do you favor jobs where you have to play mean people?
Emerson: I favor jobs that are well-written -- on average, I find villains to be interesting. Fans on the street enjoy being "afraid" but I know that they know it's fiction.

What will you remember most about the entire "Lost" experience?
Emerson: Landscape, camaraderie, rainbows and taking some beatings.

What was the biggest challenge for you?
Emerson: Loneliness.

Any final thoughts?
Emerson: I'm still trying to absorb this adventure that I've been on. I don't expect it will ever be duplicated in my life. The almost accidental way I got the role and the unbelievable reach of the series are reminders to me that you can never know where a job will lead you. I will treasure this experience even as I move on into my post-Lost life...

Lost: Season Six and Lost: The Complete Series come out on DVD August 24th.

Want to immediately access TWoP content no matter where you are online? Download the free TWoP toolbar for your web browser. Already have a customized toolbar? Then just add our free toolbar app to get updated on our content as soon it's published.