The renowned American actor Harry Lennix discussed his career in theatre, television, and film in an interview with The Portugal News. Harry Lennix, who played Petruchio in a new production of The Taming of the Shrew in Lisbon staged by the non-profit international theatre company Open Air Shakespeare, shared that he feels "most at home" on the stage.

Best known to global audiences for his strong screen presence, Harry Lennix has appeared in major films such as The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Ray, and Titus, among many others, as well as acclaimed television series where his performances are marked by authority and a strong presence, as is the case of The Blacklist. Nonetheless, despite his success on screen, it is theatre, particularly Shakespeare, that remains closest to his heart, he revealed.

Passion is infectious

His involvement with Open Air Shakespeare is rooted in a long-standing collaboration. “I’ve known Aleta Chapelle, who created Open Air Shakespeare, since 1992,” he explained. “She cast me in a film many years ago, and we’ve worked on Shakespeare before.” Harry Lennix revealed that years later, they reconnected through a Shakespeare scholarship programme in Memphis, where Chapelle shared her vision for the company. “She has always loved Shakespeare, and that passion is infectious,” the actor confessed.

Therefore, this April, Lennix joined an international team to revisit one of Shakespeare’s most debated works. The Taming of the Shrew has long sparked discussion for its portrayal of gender dynamics, but Lennix approached it with a clear perspective. “I think it works best when it is treated as the comedy Shakespeare intended,” he noted. “In many ways, it has always been controversial, but I believe Shakespeare was making a statement, perhaps about relationships or even about his own life.” For Lennix, the key lies in understanding the play not as strict realism, but as something closer to theatrical imagination. “There is an element of fantasy in how these characters are drawn,” he added. “It is important to approach it with that in mind.”

A true homecoming

According to the actor, working with Open Air Shakespeare’s diverse cast has been the highlight of the experience. The company brings together performers from different countries and backgrounds, many of whom are working in a language that is not their own. For Lennix, that dedication is what defines the production. “There is no money in this work,” he shared. “It is what we call ‘for the love of the game'. These actors are incredibly committed. They are doing it because they love Shakespeare and they love performing.” The result, he added, is both inspiring and deeply rewarding.


Despite decades on screen, Harry Lennix calls his return to theatre a true homecoming. After years away, he has spent the past two years fully immersed in stage work, reconnecting with the craft that first defined him. “Because I have done so many plays recently, I feel more at home in the theatre again,” he said, adding that with a growing number of theatre offers coming his way, he is excitedly embracing the shift. “I am thrilled about that,” he noted, marking a powerful return to the stage.

Lasting impact

Reflecting on his career, Lennix acknowledged the difficulty of selecting a favourite moment in his career. “It’s like choosing a favourite child,” he stated. Still, he shared that certain experiences remain particularly meaningful, including working alongside Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange in the 1999 film Titus, a big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, as well as collaborating with director Julie Taymor, whom he described as “one of the greatest directors of all time”.

The Five Heartbeats is another project that the actor mentioned as having a lasting impact on audiences. With its themes of ambition, devotion, and the price of success still resonating today, the film has achieved an enduring cult status. According to Harry Lennix, who portrayed Terrence "Dresser" Williams, its timeless appeal demonstrates the ability of storytelling that connects across generations.

Harry Lennix brought with him not only decades of experience but also a renewed sense of purpose. In a production shaped by passion rather than spectacle, his return to William Shakespeare feels both timely and deeply personal. As he happily shared, “I now feel more at home on stage. It feels like coming back to where I belong”.