Maksim Chmerkovskiy Takes a Dramatic Turn in Wild Silence
Photography by Benjo Arwas
Ukrainian-born professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy is proving that his creative talents extend far beyond the ballroom, swapping dance routines for dramatic storytelling. Known for his 17-season run as a professional dancer on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), Chmerkovskiy has pivoted into an exciting new chapter of his career and is now starring in the vertical drama series Wild Silence. In the scripted series, Chmerkovskiy takes on the powerful role of Jack, a widower grappling with profound loss while navigating an unexpected journey of personal transformation.
Since stepping away from the ballroom in 2018, Chmerkovskiy’s life both personal and professional has expanded dramatically, and his latest artistic venture with Holywater Tech showcases his true range as an artist. Chmerkovskiy reveals that he has long aspired to shift into acting and has spent more than a decade building the foundation to develop his craft, studying and training with world-renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck.
In an exclusive interview for Park Magazine, I caught up with Maksim Chmerkovskiy about this exciting new phase of his career. Reflecting on his transition into the role of Jack, Chmerkovskiy explains “I always wanted to transition into acting. With this particular script, the way it was written, and with more than 13 years of foundational acting work behind me, it felt like the right moment. Ivana Chubbuck has an amazing system of script analysis, so when the opportunity presented itself, it felt perfect.”
This is the dance pro’s first leading scripted role and the first time a major TV personality has headlined a U.S. vertical series for the global platform. Chmerkovskiy explains why the timing felt right to take on the role. “It was my first time working in the vertical format, which is viewed by close to a billion people already, and it felt like the perfect storm. The app My Drama, which produced Wild Silence, got picked up by Fox Corporation. It was an incredible opportunity. With all these elements coming together, it just felt like the perfect moment, and I was like, ‘Hell yeah!’”
In the microdrama series, the Hollywood star performs several intense fight scenes, including an emotional moment after his character, Jack, is shot. The scenes were filmed in the woods and on steep cliffs, adding to the physical and emotional demands of the role. Chmerkovskiy describes what the process was like preparing for moments that were both physically and emotionally challenging. “We had stunt coordinators who were amazing, and great educators. I learned a lot from them. We had more than one fight sequence and I do have a bit of a leg up in certain aspects because I specialize in partnership and choreography, and that helped. I got to be creative in a different way. I got to move my body differently and be physical in a new way. I’m also a huge John Wickfan, so it was kind of an out-of-body experience.”
Balancing family life with a demanding career can be challenging, but Chmerkovskiy credits his wife with encouraging him to pursue new opportunities. He is married to former Dancing with the Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd, and together they share three children. “Life is like a rollercoaster,” he confesses. “I have an incredible wife, three kids, some who are smarter than me and a dog. My wife said I could go for two and a half weeks to Athens, Georgia to be in the woods, and really dive into this. I’m the luckiest and it was an incredible opportunity.”
Chmerkovskiy’s took home the Mirrorball Trophy alongside Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis, a season on DWTS that was widely regarded as one of the show’s most memorable. The fan favorite first began dancing at an early age, but for most of his career, he rarely had the chance to experience dance purely as an art form. “When you reach a certain age and realize dancing is no longer something your body can handle at that level forever, you start looking for other outlets. One thing people don’t realize about me is that although dance has been my life, I only really got to enjoy it as an art in my own tour productions. Productions like the Maks & Val Tour in 2016 and my production with Val and Peta in 2018, those were the moments when I got to live it and enjoy it as an artist. My work on Dancing with the Stars meant a lot to me, but for most of my career, dance was my sport, driven by determination and work ethic. I started dancing when I was four, so consciously, I don’t know how not to dance. But over time, I always knew I wanted to transition into acting.”
Chmerkovskiy is not only focused on his acting career; he is also a savvy entrepreneur. He co-founded Dance with Me Dance Studios, a national ballroom dance company with locations in several states, including Georgia, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. In addition, he also founded his own vodka brand, KAPA Vodka, a clean, premium spirit produced in Napa Valley. The actor reveals, “I have a lot of different opportunities. We live in L.A., and I come across a lot of people here who aren’t here for the right reasons. Everyone in this town wants to be famous, but I don’t. I came here with a job and there are some incredible people in this town, whom I truly look up to.”
Devoted fans have no need to worry: the actor has expressed a desire to return to Dancing with the Stars,possibly as a judge. Chmerkovskiy confesses, “I would love to be a part of the lineup as a judge and to be part of the panel to present my point in a way that is professional and that fits the format. I think it will be a lot of fun to be on the desk with Derek Hough. Our relationship has gone through so many transformations and we are very fond of each other at the moment. He represents a very specific side and I respect it a lot. I do have my opinion on things and we can create a great contrast. I would love to be part of that process.”
As the interview concludes, the actor takes a final moment to reflect on the complexity and depth of his character, Jack. “He is a Harvard graduate, living in isolation in the woods after his wife dies by suicide following the return of her cancer. There is so much that this guy is going through. How can you possibly connect to something like that? It was incredible to really lean on the technique of acting and explore how far you can go emotionally. I kept asking myself, what am I capable of? How far can I go emotionally?”
Chmerkovskiy pauses for a moment, looks up at me, and laughs. “It’s surreal to be doing this and not to be talking about the ‘cha-cha.’ “I persevere when it’s most difficult for others. I can fail; I can fall, but you will see the work ethic and the passion behind getting it done right. I don’t want to let people down. I’m just an innocent bystander who had this out-of-body experience, and it turned out to be great!”Wild Silence can be viewed on the My Drama platform
Instagram – @maksimC
