CynbytheSea Interview with Matthew Ferguson
(Birkoff / Jason)


Matthew, the members of CynbytheSea wish to express our sincerest gratitude in you spending time with us, we are grateful for this opportunity, and will spend years following your career, you have fans for life...thank you..
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1.) What is your fondest memory of filming of "La Femme Nikita"?

MATTHEW: Ironically, my favorite memories on Nikita are times I spent laughing with the other actors - Ironic since we never laughed on screen; Don and I laughing about an invisible character we invented who would often annoy the lighting department named "Iridescent Hew" - laughing with Roy as he knocked on a pillar in Section and with his dry sense of humor said " that's not real" - as if no one was going to pull the wool over his eyes! - laughing with Peta during our love scene in Cat and Mouse - laughing with Gene in the lunch room as he told stories about his early days in N.Y. and laughing with Alberta and Gene in the Perch to the point where we got in trouble. This was great since Alberta is notorious for being able to contain the giggles - - but not this day. Thanks for your questions.

Claudia Conde ~ Argentina
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2.) One all time favorite line of yours, was really early on LFN, from "Charity", you were teasing Nikita, and you told her she had the "hots for the guy", she replied, "up yours Birkoff..you said.."anytime babe, my number's in the book" Was that in the script, or ad-lib on your part?

MATTHEW: I agree, that was a great line written by Michael Loceff, who wrote much of Birkhoff's stuff. It was cut from the final script. Luckily he was there on the set that day and when I asked him to put it back in he said "sure".

Brenda Allison ~ Missouri, USA
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3.) Did Roy actually slap you on the back of the head in "Simone", or was it a sound effect? If real, did it hurt?

MATTHEW: Thanks for reminding me - Roy did hit me in the back of the head. no it didn't hurt - I thought it was great and glad that he felt comfortable enough to take that liberty since that was still early on in our relationship.

Leah Day ~ Australia
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4.) Have you done any stage work, plays, musicals, etc., if so, what was your favorite role and why did you like it so much?

MATTHEW: A couple of years ago I played Lucio in "Measure For Measure" on stage and I loved his flippancy in the face of tragedy. - I am currently playing Bobby Lee on "Odd Job Jack" starring Don McKellar- the worlds first sit.com. After viewing episodes you can play games on line.

John Leister ~ Australia
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5. ) Was there anyone on the set that you became really good friends with, while filming the series "La Femme Nikita"?

MATTHEW: We all got along great - Don and I laughed together on set ALOT and Peta came to visit me at my house a few times- truly I love them all. And I often forget to mention Michael Loceff, one of the writers with whom I have become friends.

Kelly Shaw ~ Oklahoma, USA
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6.) You've played very different types of roles in your acting career, what makes you choose a part, how do you prepare for a certain role?

MATTHEW: I aspire to be the Michael Caine of Canada - I rarely turn down work, there's something to learn in almost any role. The exception being if I find the project itself offensive - or occasionally on a series I like, I've been offered a small part and want to hold out for a better one in a later episode.

Chrissy Langeveld ~ Netherlands
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7.) Please share with us some of your new endeavors, that you have and will have, since finishing the "La Femme Nikita" series?

MATTHEW: I've done alot of work since Nikita - including two series - "An American In Canada" and "Snakes And Ladders". I especially enjoyed " An American In Canada" playing Derek the stoned and angry yet strangely sweet floor director.

Sandy Meredith ~ Kansas, USA
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8.) If you don't mind a more personal question, what kind of music do you like?

MATTHEW: I love all kinds of music- here's a good story- about one of my favorite songs - Free Falling - I was on top of the Hollywood mountains last week near the Hollywood sign with one of my oldest dearest friends " Kenny Mitchell" from the movie "Miracle". I was describing to him how I want to hang glide one day because whenever I'm ontop of a mountain I get the urge to jump off and just sail down. He was describing to me the lay of the land " there's Beverly Hills, there's Mullhullond Drive etc", that day I hear " Free Falling" in the car and realized that Tom Petty sings " I want to glide down over Mullholland" - a word I had previously not known in the song - and I realized that Tom Petty must have had a similar experience on that same mountain - wanting to jump off and glide down over Mullholland.

It's a great pleasure to be able to ask you some questions, I have been very fond of Birkoff, in part because I'm a computer geek myself - just not as smart as he was - and in part because you've made him so sweet and endearing. So thanks for doing this interview with us.

Dana Vrajitoru ~ Indiana, USA
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9.) Was it hard to learn all the computer related gargon and make it believable on camera that you understood what you were talking about?

MATTHEW: It was fun saying stuff I didn't understand. and sometimes didn't even make sense i.e. the Z cube function.

Thanks for giving Cynbythesea this amazing opportunity

Kristen Smith ~ Melbourne, Australia
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10.) I have a statement for Matthew, not any questions. I would like to express my appreciation to you for truly making Birkoff such a good friend in many difficult issues. You always came through for Michael and Nikita and that made you who you were. If you didn't have these qualities inside yourself it wouldn't show through in your character. You made Birkoff the kind of character that was made to be taken home and spoiled. Thank You.

MATTHEW: Thanks for your sentiment. I must share the creation of Birkoff with the writers as well.

Cheryl ~ Plattsburgh, New York
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11.) Matthew, Is it true that you had really long hair and cut it for the audition or is this just a myth that somehow starts and continues by itself? Which do you prefer? Most of the women have said they prefer the long hair. I personally like the 'Jason' look that you had.

MATTHEW: It's true - I was going for the Robert Plant look.

Warren Stewart ~ Perth Section
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12.) Thank you Matthew, I will think of you in the role of Birkoff every time I see an Oreo cookie, may your career be long and fruitful!

MATTHEW: Thanks Mary - careful with those Oreos though - I understand Dick Van Dyke gained 30 pounds one summer due entirely to Oreo addiction.

Sincerely, Mary De Francesco ~ Rome, Italy
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I thought you were the cutest thing ever when I meet you at the conventions I went to..that smile even on "La Femme Nikita"..adorable. Thank you Matthew for being a huge part of LFN and my life..enjoy those Oreo's.

13.) Do you prefer to work on stage or on Television?

MATTHEW: Stage vs. t.v. and film - they are so different when I've done one alot I crave to return to the other- thankfully I'm able to do both.

Deb Schwartz ~ Michigan, USA
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14.) Who inspires you Matthew?

MATTHEW: Okay - you inspire me with your patience and persistence - also my friends who you don't know - but my amigo Michael Jones who is broke continues to write beautiful songs because he loves it - my friend Kenny Mitchell who moved down here to L.A. to pursue acting and is doing great - and my parents who dared to leave the city and move to the country and start garlic farming - in truth people who have the courage to face change - that inspires me to try to do the same........

Cynthia Wilkerson ~ Texas, USA

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