Exclusive Interview: Karen Robinson and Michael Mosley Talk The Calling

Karen Robinson and Michael Mosley are two of the stars of The Calling.

From David E. Kelley, The Calling tells the story of NYPD Detective Avraham, whose belief in mankind is his superpower when it comes to uncovering the truth. Guided by a deep sense of spirituality and religious principles, Avraham is left to question his own humanity when a seemingly routine investigation turns upside down.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with stars Karen Robinson and Michael Mosley about their characters in The Calling, how streaming services have revolutionized the industry, and more.

PC: Karen, you’ve brought so many powerful female characters to life on the screen. What was it about this particular character that attracted you to the role? Who were the women in your life who shaped the artist you are today?
Karen: Those are two really good questions. When you get an audition (which we do all the time as actors), and you see David E. Kelley, you know something good is coming. That pulled me in. You see David E. Kelley and Barry Levinson. Then you read those few scenes that you get for your audition, and you see that you can inhabit these characters. That’s always great because you enjoy the audition process, which isn’t always the case. Then you can enjoy doing your best work. Thank God it worked out the way that it did because working with this cast and crew was a gift from God. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I’m sure glad I did it.

Then who are the people who really influenced me? My mom. God bless her. I am the only actor in my family, but she was the OG. She was a storyteller and a fierce and loyal mother and friend. I learned so much from her. I’m Jamaican. Our premier folklorist in Jamaica was this woman named Louise Bennett-Coverley. I watched her my entire childhood, and through her I was immersed in my culture. Somewhere in me, I knew I could do this for a living. That’s where I think it started.

PC: Michael, your character has quite a journey in this series, which you’re bringing so much nuance to as an actor. How did you create this space for yourself to dive into that arc? Can you talk a little bit about how your character uses humor as a defense mechanism?
Karen: That’s exactly what it is. It’s a defense mechanism. These guys go to work every day. They’re dealing with people on the worst days of their lives. They need the detectives to take control of the situation. Part of that is keeping it light but not in a disrespectful way. You have to be able to wipe all this stuff off your feet when you go home at the end of the day and be a dad.

PC: You’re both veterans in the industry. How have streaming services like Peacock evolved the film and television industries and the types of stories that we’re able to tell?
Michael: It’s great because you get to play. You get to film eight hour-long movies. It’s really fascinating. People don’t want to watch something on Tuesday at eight every other week. They want to watch a few episodes in their pajamas as their partner is eating Chinese food in bed on a Sunday. It’s a cool new way of consuming the medium. I’m fascinated by it. There are so many good stories happening on streaming platforms.

Karen: It allows storytellers to not feel compelled to put a bow at the end of each episode. You can extend the storylines for much longer. You can delve much deeper into the characters, which this show does. I’m not only talking about the four main characters, I’m also talking about all the people that they meet along the way through these cases. You get to learn about these people who come into the stories. You’re going to their homes. You’re going to the rooms of their homes. You get into their conversations, their activities, all that stuff. I love that. I love reading that and being a part of that.

PC: For Avi, this is more than a job—it’s a calling. How did you each discover your callings in life as storytellers?
Karen: I’m the youngest of four kids. I had to be louder and more expressive in order to get any attention from my parents, who by the time they got to me were quite frankly tired. It started there. Though I tried to do a whole bunch of other things throughout my life—because who becomes an actor? [laughs]—my spirit knew this is where I belonged, and it kept pulling me back.

Michael: I remember I auditioned for the school play when I was in sixth grade. I got the lead for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, the Judy Blume book. I was like, “Oh, this is why you’re not picked first on the football teams: because you’re here. This is your spot. This is your football team.” Then I did some plays, and I remember my ninth grade teacher Gene Drachenberg said, “This guy might be able to make a buck off of this someday.” That changed my mindset ever since then.

Make sure to follow Karen (Twitter/Instagram) and Michael (Instagram). Watch The Calling on Peacock today.