Carlo, you have given us many hardy laughs, and it has been a wonderful pleasure to have interviewed you. We wish for you many great years of success, and we want you to know that you certainly have fans for life! Thank you also Debra for interceding on our behalf. Carlo, from the members of CynbytheSea...we love you. ******************************************************************************
1.) What was it like changing characters all the time on "La Femme Nikita"? Was it difficult or fun playing a different character within the show when you had been playing the lovely Mick-I used to have a crush on him... for so long. CARLO: Hello Leah!! Fun, fun, fun. I loved playing Mick but it was a really great challenge to mix it up and play a second then a third role. I miss Mick too! 2.) Favorite Peta-on-set moment. CARLO: I seem to remember Peta with her legs around my head. What was that episode? I'd broken into her apartment and ended up between her thighs...hmmm. 3.) If Mick could have his own series, what would it be about and who would be in it? CARLO: I think Mick should become a Private Eye. His sidekick should be a strong woman who actually solves everything while Mick takes all the credit. Maybe a Sela Ward type. It could be called "Mick Private Dick". I simply adored your portrayal of Mick Schtoppell! Leah Day ~ Australia **************************** 4.) Unfortunately here in Argentina we don't get to see "The Great Canadian Food Show", I would love to, which is your favorite type of food or your favorite dish? Do you cook yourself? CARLO: Ciao Claudia, I was just in Bs. As. in November and December. I loved it there! I would have loved even more to meet Portenos who wanted to hang out for a bit. The most attractive people in the world live in your city. I have no "favorite dish". Or rather it is usually the one that is put in front of me...(this is a boring answer I know but true..Only today I was going crazy for some simple celery, olive oil and salt) I ate the most amazing meat (naturally) in Argentina. There was one really great parilla that I went to a lot called "Melinda" Yes, I do cook. I like to cook. It's very therapeutic for me. 5.) In LFN was it your idea to play Mick the way you did or the writers? If you had a choice would you have done anything different? CARLO: It was a team effort. They used to let me run with it though. It's the best situation to be in. You don't want complete freedom 'cause that can lead to various problems but loose reins, very loose reins, I love to work that way and they understood that. 6.) You seem to have fun playing Mick, if that's so, Which one do you prefer to play Mick or Jones, or Martin? CARLO: There is no replacing Mick. One last thing about Buenos Aires; on two occasions people approached me and asked if I was on LFN. I think the show must have been very popular there! Claudia Conde ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina ***************************************************** 7.) How do you feel working with the food industry? CARLO: I don't work with it much any more unfortunately. I have always enjoyed it in the past though. I brought my father to a conference once. He was a very well respected chef before he retired. So, you can say I grew up within the industry. It was certainly very rewarding for him but he worked very, very, hard and as a result I rarely saw him as a child. So, I have mixed feelings about the industry. The Food Show was fun and a real education for me. When I worked in the restaurant biz. I enjoyed it but thoroughly burnt out to such a huge extent that I decided to become an actor. (I must have been more then slightly mental) 8.) If you had the chance to pick your next character what would that be, what type? Do you have any proposals for a future role? CARLO: I would like to play a cheeky character on the show "24"..Maybe if we all cross our fingers together it will happen. 9.) I also loved your character as Mick Schtoppel you gave me laughs so many times..How was it working with Peta and the other actors and crew? What about working with Roy Dupuis? CARLO: Working on Nikita was always a treat. I established an excellent relationship with Peta very early on. I worked less with Roy who often was very private but never the less like all the cast and crew members, it was always a fantastic time. 10.) Did you make a special bond with someone while shooting LFN, or someone you’d like to work again with? CARLO: I bonded with Joel and Jon and the wardrobe department and would work with them again in a heartbeat. 11.) Something you remember, a memory, a laugh from La Femme Nikita? Can you name us few of your favorite scenes or episodes? CARLO: The hot tub scene that I did with two generously breasted young women was a blast. We shot it at the end of the day on Friday. I was encouraged to stay in the hot tub and a crew member brought me a beer. What can I say, sometimes your job is good and sometimes it is really good. Essentially though, it was always a hoot being Mick. Thanks Andri! What is Cyprus like? Is it great place to visit? Wishing you all the best! Congratulations for your Great Food Show! Andri ~ Cyprus ********************* 12.) On your Great Canadian Food Show, I see that you travel around for Canada's best food. Is there any chance of you going outside the Canadian border, and into the USA for the same idea? CARLO: We tried to sell the idea of the show to the U.S., but met with little success due to existing competition. At the time when we were shooting the show we very much thought that taking the show to an international level was the thing to do. Unfortunately, limited resources and budget dampened our ambitions, as well as my schedule being inconsistent and often taken up with filming other things. 13.) You have acted in so many outstanding programs/series, which did you find the most absolute most challenging and why? CARLO: This is a great question that I have never really fully considered. I think that the reason I have never thought about it is that the challenge for me has nearly always been in getting cast. Once that happens, everything is glorious. The auditions are always super challenging and hard on the nerves but once you get the call, for me at least, it's like being given permission to play. Sure sometimes days run long and you get tired and cranky but for the most part, even if there are difficult cast members or directors around, acting, even tough emotional stuff is like playing. 14.) Do you think that in some instances that directors seem to type cast you? CARLO: Sure. That is not always bad. I'd rather be type cast then not work. Also, since you asked about challenge, perhaps the challenge when I find myself playing a similar character to one I have played before, is to find something new, something fresh. 15.) On La Femme Nikita we all loved "Mick" do you think that you would be willing to partake in a La Femme Nikita Movie if all the original actors were present? CARLO: Bring it on!! That would be great. Unfortunately, there are conceptual issues for a show that was a movie, but if someone wanted to make her then do it soon before we get too long in the tooth and end up looking like Star Trek characters! 16.) I noticed on La Femme Nikita that several of the scenes had to do with food/beverages, did this have any parallel to your culinary program or was it just a coincidence? CARLO: A bit of both. I love acting with food though. It is something that can really add to a scene. There was a scene I did in a film called "Boondock Saints", where I eat a sandwich. I just watched it again recently. It's amazing how much the sandwich plays in the scene. It's like the sandwich becomes another character. By the way, the last I heard, the sandwich was doing really well having re-located to LA and has been cast in the several hit TV shows. And let me thank you for your willingness to participate in our interviews! Sandy Meridith ~ Kansas, USA **************************************** 17.) How long have you known that Mick would turn out to be Mr. Jones? Was it sometimes in Season 4 or earlier? And did you know in Season 4 that Mick was only an actor playing Mr. Jones? CARLO: I found out towards the end of Season Four. You never know how things are going to pan out when the creative minds behind the show get together. I was very pleased with the choice! 18.) Do you think that Martin was cancelled? If not, what do you think happened to him? CARLO: Martin moved to Spain. A little coastal town called Almaria. He opened a B&B after marrying a local girl named Pilar. They had ten children. Mercury, Venus, Terra, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Roger (?) I want to add that I loved your character on La Femme Nikita and that I'm impressed with the breadth of projects you've done since the show ended. Thanks Dana. That's very nice of you to say. I drove through Indiana on my drive down to LA. When I drive back is there a part of the state that I shouldn't miss? Dana Vrajitoru ~ Indiana, USA *************************************** 19.) What was it like working with a movie queen like Lauren Hutton? CARLO: I think I may be suffering from early Alzheimer's. Have I ever actually worked with Lauren Hutton? I met her once. When did I work with her though? 20.) Is there one thing in your life that you have never done but would like to? CARLO: Work with movie queen Lauren Hutton? Smooches back to you Deb! Smooches.. Deb Schwartz ~ Michigan ,USA **************************************** 21.) When you did the show NeroWolfe, did you know that you would be asked back to play different characters each time you were on it. I found this to be an interesting idea. Did you? CARLO: I didn't at first but was thrilled to find out what the plan was. I think the idea is terrific and very similar to English style rep. theatre where you may see five different plays with the same cast playing different characters. It's not an idea that flies much on American TV but I loved it. 22.) What is your normal speaking voice? Your voice changed as you did in LFN as Mick/Jones/Henderson. So which is real? CARLO: The voice, the one I use everyday is very Texan and very, very gay. No, not really...er...I use my real voice on the food show and I guess it has English origins and I am told it is relatively deep. 23.) You have traveled the world. Have you ever been 'down under' to Australia and/or beneath the Equator? CARLO: I have never been to OZ. but can't wait. It's just so bloody far! As I was telling Claudia above, I went to Buenos Aires and had no idea I would be on an airplane for fifteen arse numbing hours. There is so much to see south of the equator. Australia is a must but I will need at least a month. Last year also traveled around S.E. Asia and all the best people I met were Aussies. I need to work like a bastard for the next six months and then it'll be travel time. See you there! Warren Stewart ~ Perth, Australia ******************************************* 24.) Considering your passion for the culinary art in the show "The Great Canadian Food Show" (thanks to satellite and seen in Italy) have you ever thought of being the chef? Also, have you ever been to Italy where there are so many locations to try great culinary recipe's...If yes, where in Italy? CARLO: Ciao, Hildita. Non so se lo sapevi ma i miei arrivano da Casale Monf. Ho i genitori che si sono ripatriati e vivano in Piemonte. My father was a chef for 50 years before he retired having had an extensive apprentership and experience in hotels and restaurants all over the world. I never really thought of becoming a chef and unlike some other food show hosts I could never call myself a chef because I would never be able to look my father in the eye. As far as Italy is concerned , as I said, my parents live in pro (AL) and my sister lives in Milan. I hope to be in Italy in June. I can't wait. I haven't been back in two years and I really miss it. Essentially, even though I am a cultural mish-mash due to all the places I've lived, In my bones I feel Italian. And the food...wow. 25.) My best friend, Daniela "the queen of the dubbers" says that you two have meet at CQS4, she had promised you that she would send you an LFN episode for viewing it in your Italian voice ... are you still interested? CARLO: I saw it. I have always been perplexed at the choice of voice when Mick was dubbed but I guess it was a creative choice that flew in Italy. As far as Daniela is concerned, she may not have told you that we eloped to Las Vegas and were married a few years ago. We chose a Scottish Highlands themed chapel. Unfortunately the marriage broke apart because Daniela insisted that I constantly wear the kilt I wore during the ceremony and also insisted that I speak in the same high voice that the show used to dub Mick. I'll never forget her though. She broke my heart. She also used to call me Carota which was endearing and naughty at the same time. Ciao Hildita. Ci vediamo alla festa di Fubine! Hildita ~ Italy ****************** 26.) Could you tell us something about your audition for LFN? At the beginning did you believe it was only for one episode or for more? When it occurred, were you surprised when they asked you to act also in next episodes? CARLO: Yes, Vera. When I auditioned it was for that smallish role in the first season. How that turned into five seasons and Mick only the Gods know. I was totally surprised and thrilled to be asked back and even more thrilled to see the character growing and evolving. It really was a great job but I never expected it to flourish the way it did. 27.) If you had the chance to play another part from LFN, which would you take and why? CARLO: I don't think I know how to answer this question. I've never really thought about it. Er..I would like to be...er..I don't know. I don't think I would want to be anything else then I was. I really want to visit Prague. What's that like? Vera ~ Prague, Czech Republic ***************************************** 28.) What geared your interest to the dramatic arts? And where did you train for this special study? CARLO: This, Cynthia, is a question that has no straight forward answer. I never knew as a child or youngish man that this is what I wanted to do. It came upon me all of a sudden when I was 29 years old. Very strange but very strong was the feeling. Strong enough that I was able to inform my nearest and dearest's that I wanted to be an actor. When you speak those word as an adult to other adults that translates to people around you that you have LOST YOUR MIND! So, in retrospect, I guess it took a certain amount of courage and conviction. Where that courage and conviction came from, I don't know. At the time I really felt I had no choice as it is what I wanted to do and I studied with everyone who had a decent reputation. Luckily, I knew a number of people in the industry and even though they may have thought I was having a nervous breakdown, some of them steered me in the right direction (often by telling me what to avoid), some of them never returned my calls. Everything I learned, I learned from friends and coaches in Toronto. 29.) You have a 2006 movie titled " Hotel", that is still in production. Little is known on the storyline, can you fill us in with the plot and you're role in this latest endeavor? CARLO: Yes, this is actually a TV mini-series of six episodes. It is a comedic take on hotel life by writer director Ken Finkleman. It was a great show to be involved with. Very different. The show breaks into musical numbers and has a lot of quirky characters. I play 'Albert' the unflappable front desk manager. The shows have been received very well by the critics in Canada. I really hope they can sell them abroad. 30.) There is extremely sparse information on your biographical aspects. Would you be willing to provide some insight to your heritage, your upbringing and special interests outside of acting? CARLO: I am honored that you would be interested. I'll give you the Cole's (Cliff) Notes; Born London of parents who come from Italy. Piemonte (father) and Sardegna (mother). We lived all over the world, growing up. Ended up in Canada where I worked in restaurants till I became an actor and now I'm in Los Angeles. I missed out quite a bit I know but I feel that there are a lot of very boring details. 31.) With a global world of chaos, how do you find the humor you seem to exhibit so freely in a way that deems to be a natural part of your personality? CARLO: Humor is a must. In the next few years it will be more important then ever. I don't know why it's always been there but it has ever since I was five. 32.) Of all that you have learned through your travels, your discoveries and your experiences through your stay in time, what wisdom and understanding did you come to convey into your own life and a bit of a "morsel" you can leave to us. CARLO: A little while back someone pointed out to me that doubt is too lonely to know that it has a twin brother; faith. Yikes! Listen to me, I've become a west coast California type! Cynthia Wilkerson ~ Texas, USA ***************************************** SPECIAL COMMENTS: CARLO ROTA I have really enjoyed answering these questions. Thanks so much for asking them and forgive me for taking so long. I am very proud to have been a part of a show that has had such great and loyal viewers. I hope you are all privileged enough to make yourself a fantastic dinner and have more then a few laughs. If enough of you keep your fingers crossed I may end up on another great show here in LA. many kisses, Carlo
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