To tide you over, check out this USA Weekend interview with Jeffrey Donovan where he spills about his love of travelling and his role as Michael Westen.

Growing up in a poor family, Donovan rarely traveled, whether cheap flights or not. It was only when he was 20-years-old that he went on a plane to D.C. when he really began to love traveling. His role in Burn Notice has only fueled the passion.

“Doing Burn Notice has opened up this incredible world of the intelligence field, and to understand not only military intelligence but also covert intelligence — about going to a culture, immersing yourself in it, and becoming invisible within it because you adapted so well — is so fascinating as far as a character portrayal,” Donovan said

The cast of Burn Notice.

Series Vitals

Created by: Matt Nix
Starring: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, and Sharon Gless
Genre: Comedy-Drama, Drama, Action
Channel: USA Network
First Episode: June 28, 2007
Location: Miami, FL

Show Premise

A “burn notice” refers to the notices issued by intelligence agencies to discredit or make known the dismissal of agents or sources that are believed to have become unreliable. When a spy is burned it is made so they have no previous work history, their assets are frozen; and their entire identity erased. Typically, wherever they are left they have to stay because they have no money or identity to arrange travel. In rare cases, the spy is actually killed. The television series is a first-person narrative from the viewpoint of covert-operations agent Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan.

After Westen had to cut out on a Nigerian operation that went south because of the unexpected non-cooperation of his U.S. contact, he gets on a plane and finds himself in his hometown of Miami, Florida. Westen’s ex-girlfriend, Fiona Glenanne, is tending to him but he finds he has been abandoned by all his normal intelligence contacts and under continuous surveillance with his personal assets frozen. After a great deal of effort to reach his U.S. government handler leads to an reluctant admission that someone powerful wants him out of action and to remain in Miami. He is made aware that if he leaves the city he will be hunted down and taken into custody, but if he stays in Miami he can remain somewhat free. Obsessed with finding out who burned him and why, Westen offers his services as a freelance spy to anyone in Miami who can pay him so that he can fund his investigation into why he was burned. Throughout the series Westen battles and outsmarts an assortment of con artists, mobsters, contract killers, professional thieves, drug traffickers, sex traffickers, arms dealers, kidnappers and war criminals. Burn Notice frequently uses ingenious methods to do the job of more expensive, and hard-to-obtain items.

Gabrielle Anwar

Birth Name: Gabrielle Anwar
Born: February 4, 1970
Place of Birth: Laleham, Middlesex, England, UK

Filmography
Biography
Wikipedia Entry

Interviews

Interview with Gabrielle Anwar of Burn Notice
Tricia Helfer and Gabrielle Anwar talk ‘Burn Notice’

Sharon Gless

Birth Name: Sharon Marguerite Gless
Born: May 31, 1943
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA

Filmography
Biography
Wikipedia Entry

Interviews

‘Burn Notice’ Sharon Gless interview
Sharon Gless Talks BURN NOTICE

Bruce Campbell

Birth Name: Bruce Lorne Campbell
Born: June 22, 1958
Place of Birth: Birmingham, MI

Filmography
Biography
Wikipedia Entry
Official Bruce Campbell Site

Interviews

One on one with Bruce Campbell
Burn Notice: An Interview with Bruce Campbell

Jeffrey Donovan

Birthname: Jeffrey T. Donovan
Birthdate: May 11, 1968
Place of Birth: Amesbury, MA

Filmography
Biography
Wikipedia Entry

Interviews

‘Burn Notice’s’ spy guy: A talk with Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan Talks BURN NOTICE
Interview with Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice

Madeline Westen

Overview

Madeline Westen, portrayed by Sharon Gless, is Michael’s mother. There is very little known about Madeline, but we know for sure she loves to smoke and put a guilt trip on her sons.

Background

It is unknown how much Madeline knows about her son’s life as a covert operative. All she really appears to know is that he traveled a lot and was always in a different city or country, and would not disclose where he really was. Madeline is very happy that Michael has returned Miami and hopeful that he will stay for a while. On occasion she will ask Michael to help her friends with their problems.

Madeline believes that it was Michael’s fault his father beat him be he irritated his father. For years Madeline has been angry at Michael for not attending his father’s funeral. She told Michael she would give him his father’s Dodge Charger if he visited his father’s grave.

Madeline finds out what is going on with Michael through Fiona Glenanne.

Sam Axe

Overview

Sam Axe, portrayed by Bruce Campbell, is Michael Westen’s best friend. His previous careers were divided among the United States Navy SEALs, espionage, and the FBI. He now lives in Miami, Florida and helps Michael with freelance work. When Sam goes undercover he frequently uses the name “Chuck Finley”, which is the name of a coworker of Bruce Campbell’s father.

Background

Sam was once one of the world’s top intelligence operatives but is now a semi-retired alcoholic who frequently dates “Sugar Mommas”. He has no permanent residence, preferring to live with his wealthy girlfriends or with Michael when he is not in a romantic relationship.

In the past Sam was involved in an incident with Fiona Glenanne, this resulted in her arrest. Regardless, they are working to patch things up between them. Sam considers Fiona and Michael his only true friends.

Sam possesses many of Michael’s skills, but typically uses his ability to assume various identities or create diversions more often than his ability to fight. Sam is light-hearted and provides the comic relief a great deal of the time.

Fiona Glenanne

Overview

Fiona Glenanne, portrayed by Gabrielle Anwar, is Michael Westen’s ex-girlfriend and former member of the IRA. This affiliation went sour after 14 years because she did not like being told what to do. Since then she has gone out on her own, picking up odd jobs and using her skills in explosives, lock picking, tracking, weapons, and hand-to-hand combat to make a living. She is currently working with Michael Westen and Sam Axe helping people resolve their unique problems..

Background

Fiona picked up Michael Westen in Miami, Florida, and has since helped him many of his various freelance spy jobs. Fiona and Michael used to be in a relationship, but that ended when Michael left without saying goodbye when his cover was blown. Since their reunion, Fiona has been pressuring Michael to get back together. Fiona frequently visits with Michael’s mother, Madeline Westen, but it is uncertain if she does this because she enjoys Madeline’s company, or it is a way to pressure Michael.

Fiona typically shoots first and asks questions later. She is a brilliant strategist, but her strategies usually involve a great deal of fire power. Michael frequently has to hold Fiona back. Fiona has a soft spot for kids and becomes very upset when someone abuses or endangers children.

Michael Westen

Overview

Michael Westen, portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan, is an international spy who unexpectedly finds out he has received a “burn notice” (i.e. blacklisted). After being burned he ends up in his hometown of Miami without anything, including money. The series shows Michael’s struggle to put his life back together and find out why he received a burn notice. In the interim he uses his exceptional training and skills as a freelance spy, typically helping people with unique issues.

Background

Michael did freelance work as a covert operative for the CIA for 10 years. He mostly worked in Europe and OPEC countries. While in the middle of an operation in Nigeria, he receives a burn notice from his superiors. After successfully making his way to an airport Michael finds himself in Miami with his ex-girlfriend, Fiona Glenanne.

Since his personal assets have been frozen he must now try to find work that will utilize his skills as a covert operative. He looks to old acquaintances, Sam Axe and Fiona Glenanne for assistance in his tasks while also trying to find out who burned him and why.

Although friendly and usually easygoing, Michael is lethal in combat. Michael’s various skills show evidence of training in areas including espionage and martial arts. Michael has nerves of steel and chooses to carry himself in a down-to-earth but serious manner. Michael also shows a great deal of expertise when he assumes an undercover role that requires a unique personality or accent.