MANILA, Philippines?Bill Paxton has an interesting concept about ?big love.?

While most TV audiences worldwide associate the term with his critically acclaimed HBO starrer?about a polygamous family trying to fit in mainstream suburbia?the veteran actor interprets it on another level.

Paxton says it?s all about tolerance. That no matter how different people are, we?re all still basically the same.

?Big Love? is the story of modern-day polygamist Bill Henrickson who tries to cope with the demands of three wives, three households, seven kids, a growing business, and antagonistic polygamist prophets. The show is as provocative as it is controversial.

In this Inquirer phone interview arranged by HBO, Paxton shares his views on the multi-awarded hit series, whose second season premiered last Monday.

Given the show?s controversial nature, what made you accept the title role?

It was the quality of the writing, the quality of the production ... because it was being done through HBO. I?ve come to really admire the movie-like quality of their shows. They?re as well-made as any feature film. And I thought it was original and unique to play a guy like this. I don?t get to do a lot of romantic parts and this is the ultimate romantic part?a guy with three wives and he loves them all.

What sort of reactions have you gotten from religious groups, conservatives, or polygamists, if any?

It?s amazing. The demographics of the show are very wide?people from all kinds of backgrounds, age groups. Women seem to really respond to the show, I think because of all the feminine issues. As far as controversy goes, the show is respectful, in so much that it?s not a satire. It?s not satirizing a group, or religion, or anything. We play these characters very earnestly. I haven?t been confronted with any animosity.

What do you think is the central message of the show?

I think ultimately the show is about tolerance. We take a group of people that seems so strange to most of us and we look at them and we realize, the more we get to know them, we start to care for them. And we realize, yeah they?re just like us. I think that?s probably the theme of the piece.

What are your own views towards polygamy?

I?m open-minded enough to not have a problem with it morally or any other way. Even though it seems like a guy?s fantasy, it?s almost a nightmare for this poor bastard! But it?s his belief, his religion. It?s a man with three women but they?re all consenting adults who agree to enter into a common marriage contract.

Would you consider it in real life?

(Laughs). I?ve thought about it a lot, believe it or not, because I play this guy. I think it has a lot of positive sides. But I?m like most men. I don?t want any confrontations especially in the domicile. To have three wives, I think you?re asking for a lot of conflict in the domicile. But I guess a lot of people have lived polygamous lifestyles. There are lots of places where a lot of people have other families.

What for you is the most challenging aspect of ?Big Love??

The toughest part has been the schedule. We shoot six months straight without a break. It takes a lot of stamina and energy. Also, they put my character through quite a lot as you?ll see this 2nd season. When you play a character who has a lot in his head all the time ... after about six months, you?re ready to be put in a straightjacket. The hardest part for any performer is when you have a good part, you want to do a good job, and sometimes you can pressure yourself.

What does big love mean to you personally?

I love the idea of big love. Again, it gets back to the theme of tolerance. We are on the eve of a historical moment in this country. A moment that I think is long overdue in terms of this presidential election. I?m obviously supporting Barack Obama. I think that not only will that be a great symbol to the diversity of America, it will also be a great signal to the world that we are a global village. That we share too many things to be torn apart.

Did you ever imagine you would be doing nude and sex scenes on TV?

I didn?t think that at my age I would be doing it! I could have imagined it 30 years ago, but it?s so funny ?coz I?m in my 50s and suddenly, I?m the guy with three wives. I?ve had to stay in shape. I gotta be pumping iron, working out, drinking light beer. But it?s been a lot of fun.