Interview to LFN cast on swedish Magazine

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="335c8020.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="258" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> Interview to LFN cast on swedish Magazine</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>              <IMG SRC="33690900.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>LA FEMME NIKITA'S MEN ** TOTAL FILM** JAN. 2000</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>       <IMG SRC="3a8df160.gif" border=0 width="223" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="3a8df160.gif" border=0 width="223" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This article was written by: Isabelle Reffas </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Translated by: Diana Bokman & Heidi Briones</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>**LA FEMME NIKITA'S MEN** </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dark, trendy, sexy and action filled, the American TV show "La Femme Nikita" is inspired by Luc Besson's film "Nikita". But the TV series gives an interesting twist to the original story : the heroin is no longer a cop killer on drugs but an innocent unjustly framed. Nikita enters the devious world of Section 1, a secret anti-terrorist organisation whose leaders Operations (Eugene Robert Glazer) and his charming but lethal advisor Madeline (Alberta Watson) are often more ruthless than the people they chase! The Australian newcomer Peta Wilson brings an animal sensuality to the part of this heroin ready to risk her life to save innocents but repelled by the amorality of her job. At first, "La Femme Nikita" may look like one of these shows were you give a long legged heroin a gun and see what happens, but it's much more. LFN is probably the first TV series whose heroes commit unspeakable deeds and where nothing is ever at it seems. Add a large dose of romance and sensuality to the plots and you'll have an idea what LFN is about. As the shooting of the 4th season started in Toronto, "Total Film" met 4 of the men in Nikita's life because one the strength of the show is its ensemble cast. The 4 actors we interviewed portray friends who can become foes for in her world there is no certainty and no happy ending either. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>**ROY DUPUIS is a star in Quebec thanks to the TV series "Emilie" and "Scoop", and overseas we saw him in "Screamers" and "Hemoglobin". In LFN, he portrays Michael, Nikita's brooding mentor, cold as ice but sexy as hell. Nikita and Michael ambiguous romance has become one of the strong focus of the show thanks to his presence. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>What attracted to you to the part of Michael? Was it his secrecy, his intelligence? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Roy Dupuis : All of that plus Michael's mystery and seduction. The story in general. I loved the original Luc Besson movie but I had doubts about the TV series because I usually don't like remakes. But I met with the producers and screenwriters and I had the feeling they would respect Besson's universe. Until then I had refused TV show offers from the States for 5 years because nothing was interesting enough. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Michael went through a lot of changes in season 3, will he become more humane this season? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD : Not really. He still has the same goal, the love he feels for Nikita since nearly the beginning but Michael isn't a character who can evolve a lot. I think he already has actually. He's been in Section for 15 years and as long as he stays in this environment I don't see him becoming Mr Everybody. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There's a lot of on-screen chemistry between you and Peta Wilson. How do you create that? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD : It's a team work, it takes two people to make it happen. It's a gift too probably. It takes something innate, a certain dose of sensuality. If it's already there it's even better but it's acting really. The situation Nikita and Michael are in helps too. That's why it's so interesting to play those scenes because their relationship is always complicated, they're never really intimate. And so the audience can imagine nearly everything they want about the two of them. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What's your favourite episode? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD : I don't really have one but I have favourite moments. There were a lot of scenes in "War" I enjoyed. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you have a lot of input in your character development? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD : Again, it's a team work. I give them my ideas, even when it comes to camera angles and lights sometimes. But especially ideas about the character because that's the way I enjoy working. I am certainly the one who knows Michael best after living with him and portraying him for 3 years. Sometimes, I read things about Michael that don't fit him and so I try to put back the writers on the right track. Usually they listen to me. They learnt to trust me. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How do you see your future after LFN? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD : I'd like to direct documentaries. But it would have to be something I have written. I already have several subjects in mind. I'd like to film reality and be behind the camera for a change. It would be a new adventure. I miss theatre too. And I had a script I was writing but I had to put it away these last 3 years because of my involvement with the show. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>**DON FRANCKS is Walter, Nikita's best friend and father figure. The 67 year old actor and jazz singer's career spans from "Finian's Rainbow" to "Johnny Mnemonic". A self described "gypsy", you can tell there's a lot of Walter in Don Francks but it might be the other way around. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>How did you get the part of Walter? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Don Francks : I auditioned for the part of Operations actually. Joel Surnow the producer called to tell me I didn't get the part but that they wanted me to play Walter. They said they wanted to keep the persona, the headband, the earrings. Literally they said "we'll buy the whole package". </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Your character is very outspoken but very mysterious at the same time. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>DF : Walter cries, he laughs, he's disappointed but we don't know much about him really. The outspokenness comes from seniority, since he's been there longer than anybody else. He doesn't like to put up with any shit and he finds ways to assist the other characters. Even Michael will soon ask Walter for a small bit of help about Nikita this season. Walter loves Nikita so much he would do anything for her. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Will we learn more about him this season? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>DF : I don't know but I did want to write a script about him. It was called "Walter's day off". It was to show where Walter would go and some of the things that would happen to him without anything to do with Section whatsoever. But I don't think it will happen. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There seems to be a lot of camaraderie between the actors of LFN. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>DF : We're incredibly close. There's a deep love between Eugene Glazer and myself, Matthew and I phone each other, we share books, I adore Alberta Watson, to be able to spend time with Peta is a joy, we adore each other, and I'm very very blessed to know Roy too. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>**MATTHEW FERGUSON is Seymour Birkoff Section's young computer genius. He is often Nikita's ally and has developed a huge crush on the beautiful blonde. Before LFN, the 26 year old Canadian actor had appeared in the "English Patient". </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>What do you enjoy about TV? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Matthew Ferguson : The cast ensemble. The chance to develop relationships with other characters as well as with other actors over 4 years. It's very unique. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did the screenwriters used your off screen friendship with the other actors for the show? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MF : I don't think the writers knew of my friendship with Don Francks off stage but the joy we had playing together was obvious. So, they developed that relationship largely based on what we did with the few scenes we had together in the second season. I also enjoy playing with Chris Lemke (Note : Hillinger another semi-regular character), he's fantastic. He's so funny all the time and he never stops cracking jokes, there's no off switch on his mouth! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What would you like to see Birkoff do in the show this season? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MF : I like when Birkoff gets out of Section, when he gets to go on missions because it's a challenge for him. I'd like to see him evolve definitely but I'll have to take my cues from the scripts. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you plan on doing after the show ends? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MF : I just want to get another job. I love working. At the moment, I'm learning about directing shadowing the different directors of the show. I don't know if I'll end up directing an episode but I'm definitely learning. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How would you like La Femme Nikita to end? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MF : I'd like to see somebody go free. Anybody. It's not important who but that would be nice to see somebody get to go free. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>**CARLO ROTA portrays Mick Schtoppel, a professional informer for Section, too talkative for his own good. Carlo Rota guest starred in several TV shows ("Highlander : The Raven", "Earth final conflict") before becoming a regular member of the LFN cast. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>How did you become a regular cast member in LFN? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Carlo Rota : I had 5 lines in one episode of the first season. When they called me back the next season, I thought they had made a mistake, that they were calling back the wrong person! Then, last season I found out they wanted me to become a regular character and that I had been installed as Nikita's neighbour. The fact I continue to not be killed is absolutely amazing! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think Mick is Nikita's friend or foe? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>CR : I can't say. When I act I always try to find the good parts in a character. I keep in mind even really, really bad people have mothers. Mick thinks he's a really good guy. As far as Mick is concerned, he knows he screws up every so often but for the most part he's doing best with what he is being given. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What would you like Mick to do this season? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>CR : I'd love Mick to be put in a situation where he has to pretend he's somebody else for Section. He would have to confront a really bad guy and he would need to either put another accent or pretend to be even worse than him. I'd like to see him outside Nikita's apartment every so often and we will this season. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How do you see Mick leaving the show? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>CR: He wouldn't get killed and he would meet that special woman who stole his heart. That's really what Mick needs. It's a cry for help! Nikita is never there for him, his mom is not there. So what does he do? He sleeps with this one, he sleeps with that one but that doesn't make a man happy! </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>  <IMG SRC="339f31d0.gif" border=0 width="243" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="33afb1e0.gif" border=0 width="251" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>SouthWest Magazine art.                                    </B><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOUTHWEST AIRLINES MAG. "><U><B><IMG SRC="1d682480.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="72" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>