Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke, the stars from the TV serie
"24" show their home in the Hollywood Hills.
The bordeaux-coloured steps linger up the slope like a red carpet
to the castle of Sleeping Beauty to the villa in old-Spanish
style. The palm trees, the ferns and flowers along the stairway
establish the feeling of being in a fairy tale or on a tropical
island. In any case far away from the hustle of the big city. But
in fact the metropolis Los Angeles pulsate only a couple of
hundred meters below. And up here on the hill, close to the
Hollywood sign, lives no enchanted royal family only the
actor-couple Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke.
Nevertheless there is something magic in their lives - the number
24: "Our house was built in 1924, Sarah and I met during
filming of the show 24 and preferably I would stay with her in
our cosy bed 24 hours a day," says Xander and grins.
The 45-year old actor, who has had more than 40 movie roles in
blockbusters such as "Terminator 2", "Apollo
13", "Leaving Las Vegas" and Wolfgang Petersen's
"Air Force One", and played mostly villains, shady
characters and police officers, was considered the confirmed
bachelor in Hollywood. Until three years ago, during filming for
the hit show "24", when 32 year-old Sarah Clarke
crossed his path.
In front of the camera, as Agent George Mason, he tried to stop
Sarah, alias Nina Myers, from attempting to assassinate the
president. Out of the spotlight it was Xander who perpetrated the
attempt. Romantically. He did it irrespective of Sarah's heart.
And he was successful. The born Canadian and Clarke, from St
Louis Missouri, held their relationship secret for nearly a year.
Xander's house, in which he lived alone, became their hideout and
love nest. "Immediately I felt so comfortable there. It
really has a quite particular charm.” remembers Sarah.
Xander bought the house 12 years ago from Canadian actor for
460000 dollar. Now the houses in these parts cost at least three
times that amount.
"The houses here are substantially older than the palaces in
Beverly Hills. They were built in the 20's and 30's specifically
for European film makers in a Mediterranean style, to lure these
people with the feeling of home." And Sarah says: "For
example, in our house lived the legendary actress Spring
Byington. Until her death in 1971 she threw wild parties with her
friends Barbara Stanwyck and Katharine Hepburn. And sometimes,
when the wooden floors make strange noises in the middle of the
night and the old window frames crack softly, you get the feeling
that their souls walk through the old house."
But both of them love the mysterious atmosphere of ancient times.
From a tour through the five rooms, distributed over two floors,
it’s not hard to see that Sarah and Xander have a genuine
passion for antique objects. "We both grew up in New York,
where there is more of a cultural history than in the
comparatively young Los Angeles. Therefore we have kept our
furnishings antique-rustic - with a touch of Moroccan style. We
have imported culture to Hollywood so to speak," says Xander
and smiles. From filming in all parts of the world he has brought
mementos that are dispersed all over the house. Tiles from
Portugal, arm chair in leather from a Men's club in Switzerland,
candlesticks from Italy, a wooden horseman from Arkansas, carpets
from Turkey, lamps from Mexico, Buddha statue and a teak door
from India. Sarah's nightstand is decorated with an iron lamp
from Germany made in Essen 1967. And last year on their honeymoon
trip, going cross country by car from New York, they found every
conceivable flea market to hunt down more antiquities from their
home.
"When Sarah moved in with me, we renovated and redecorated
every room in the house for nearly a year and a half." tells
Xander. The bathroom was enlarged and additional space for a walk
in closet was created. Actually a wall had to go. He let a
specialist paint the bedroom and Sarah's study on the top floor
in shades of yellow using a complex Fresco technique. And on the
walls hangs numerous pencil drawings, made by the lord of the
manor himself in his studio beneath the roof. He has inherited
the artistic talent from his father, Peter. One of his famous
animal portraits has the place of honour in the living room!
Especially the arrangement of the garden gave Xander a great deal
of trouble. "I made the front area tropical together with a
friend who’s a landscaper. The back garden is simple with
native plants." With that he ingeniously used the layers of
the premises and created 4 terrace-like levels in which Rosemary
and wildflowers grow.
"We arrange little concert evenings there regularly, with
musician friends and local bands. They play in candlelight under
a huge Eucalyptus tree and the audience listen from a different
level - it is fabulous atmosphere" raves Xander.
Sarah and Xander's garden is an idyl, the house seems cosy and
liveable. "But nevertheless we still have a couple of ideas,
that we want to realize bit by bit." says Xander. To build a
garden and furnish a house is a long process, which maybe doesn't
have an end. But it will evolve our relationship to perfection.
