Kiwi Antony Starr returns as Sheriff Lucas Hood in the fourth and final season of Banshee.
As Banshee fans prepare themselves for the fourth and final season of the American action-drama television series, Kiwi actor and star of the show Antony Starr finds himself eyeing his next project.
The 40-year-old plays the lead role of Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he continues his criminal activities, even as he is hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier.
The show has been successful around the globe, and the fourth and final series premieres here next week.
‘‘It's been my life for the past four years,'' Starr says.
‘‘It was really sad to wrap it up, but at the same time, one door closes and another door opens.
‘‘I'm a pretty positive forward thinker and I'm looking forward to the next opportunity.''
Starr says he plans to base himself in the United States for now, and has been liaising with ‘‘a couple of productions about doing some work for them'', but as yet, nothing is set in stone.
He says Banshee has provided a great springboard for him to join other television productions.
‘‘It's been fantastic. The show's been good to me and it's been a great introduction to the American market - I've met some great people.
‘‘Upwards of 400 television shows get made over there [in the United States] each year, so there's a huge amount of television content that is available again. America presents a lot of good opportunities for me.''
Asked whether Hollywood is beckoning, Starr said he would consider the film industry based on its merits, but was happy working in television.
‘‘TV is putting out some pretty fantastic stories at the moment. In fact, I think a lot of the better stories are being told in TV.''
And he hasn't discounted returning down under.
‘‘I would love to work back in New Zealand or Australia. It all really just depends on the project and the timing.''
Starr says he is relishing the opportunity to live a slightly quieter life, if only for a while.
‘‘Banshee was a tough show to shoot. It was very physically demanding because of all the fight stuff, and the filming schedule was pretty brutal, too.
‘‘I would be more than happy being in a show where I wasn't getting beaten up every week.''
He referred to one of his first days on set when he received a badly split lip which bled everywhere after he was accidentally punched in the face during a fight scene.
Shooting finished six hours later, and it was only then he could go to the hospital for stitches.
‘‘I'm starting to get older now and the enjoyment factor has worn off as I've gotten older. I'm too old to be rolling around with giant men, play-fighting.''
Despite the physically and mentally punishing schedule, Starr says he has loved every second of his past four years on the show.
‘‘The nature of this industry is that you go from job to job. We [actors] are like the old cliche - we're like gypsies and we sort of move around from job to job.
‘‘And so I go into every job thinking I'm here for a good time, not for a long time.
‘‘It is just that - you have a rollicking wild, good ride and then all of a sudden, it's over.
‘‘You make the most of it while it's happening.''
Starr says it is unlikely he will ever work on another show quite like Banshee.
‘‘It was its own beast, its own world, its own animal.
‘‘It was a unique experience. I feel very lucky to have been part of it. I'll remember it very fondly.''
■ The fourth and final season of Banshee premieres on Monday at 8.30pm, on SoHo.
