Finding Forbes March!!!

Danni Minogue, Kyle Minogue's sister does a model shot with Forbes March

34th Annual Emmy Awards in 2007.



TV movie series, Mutant X (2001-2004)

 Speaking with Forbes March made me feel like I was meeting Corey Haim in the mid 80s, I mean it was that exciting. For being voted one of the "50 Sexiest People "and the "Sexiest Star of One Life to Live " he seemed surprisingly very humble. Destined to go to med school, Forbes took a different turn one day while selling watches. He almost turned down the idea of acting because of his lack of experience. I know for all you Soap Addicts out there...I'm guilty of it too...we are so glad he did not!

Where did you get your start? Were you discovered at a mall like Tiffany?

No, (laughing) I was selling watches actually…on the street.



"Matt Malone" in the movie Manhattanites (2008),


What, those fake watches you see in Times Square…you were one of those guys? That’s worse.
Yeah, I was young. So I was selling these fake Gucci watches…and you want to know who my best customers were?
Who?


"At first they told me I wasn’t tall enough to model…"

 People who owned real Gucci’s. They always bought the fake ones. I would tell them, ‘it’s like insurance for your watch man’ …so, I was selling my watches in a modeling agency to the staff there and I was discovered…sort of.
What do you mean?
At first they told me I wasn’t tall enough to model…
So the acting came first, okay…I was wondering about that actually.
The acting came first. And when one of the agents asked me could I act I said no. But when I left I took one of their business cards.
Thank god you did that!
Yeah but I didn’t have any experience in acting. So, shortly after that I reconsidered. I was just selling watches and saw the rain wasn’t going to stop and went back in and got my first gig (cast as Brandon in 1991 on Northwood . It was a Canadian Series like 90210). So that ran for a bit and after that when I began to look for work again I couldn’t find it.
Wow, so when you weren’t looking…
It found me. That’s the way life goes…always.
Not to jump around, but I have this picture here of you and Danni Minogue, Kyle’s sister...she is a huge Australian star. Growing up my sisters and I used to watch Kyle on the popular European show, Neighbors.
Really? She was sweet, very shy…she was very beautiful.
What was the photo shoot for?
I have no idea, that was a while ago.
I have this other one where it looks like you’re hosting an Emmy?
That was the 34th Annual Emmy Awards in 2007.
You’ve done some cool movies.


Forbes starred in the 2005 comedy, "Dirty Love" starring Jenny McCartney

 I was Matt Malone in this movie called Manhattanites (2008), I was in this great indie, Way Off Broadway (2001). I got a Meth Fest Nomination for Best Actor in LA (Pasadena) for that one.
Wow, what's it about?
It’s like a requirement for every actor to do an indie flick like St. Elmo's Fire.
Not a bad requirement, sounds like that would be fun.
Oh, it was, I really liked the energy of all the young actors in the making of the film…it was very sophomoric.
Were you cool in high school?
I didn't think so...I wasn't really a part of any click at all. I was kind of all over the place; I was in three school choirs but I also played football, track, and I was on the wrestling team. I sure didn't have the cool kids phone numbers.
You always get mistaken for Jason Lewis, do you consider that a compliment or an insult?
He’s modeled longer than I have. I’ve acted longer then him though. He’s single and is having a good time.


 In 1999 Forbes March made People Magazine's "50 Sexiest People" list

 What is your work ethic like?
I like to work...I always take the best jobs that are offered to me and I've been pretty lucky to work steedily.
When you were modeling, did you have an agent?
When I was at my peak I had 13, one just to do the schedule, it was crazy.
Do you have a favorite director?
I’ve always wanted to work with Woody Allan. He seems so confused by the world and I can really relate to that.
What’s your favorite music?
I like everything. I really like Adam from American Idol…he’s amazing! He sings like his life depends on it. I think he’s going to be huge. I remember my mom telling me she wanted to go see Bob Dillon once but my father refused to go because he hated rock-n-rock at the time…this is before he got huge. I think this guy is going to go very far…he’s great, he’s just so great.
How has your lifestyle changed since becoming a parent to two children 9 years ago?
I really changed since my second child was born… I feel like I am no longer a boy. I was introduced to my wife when I was modeling in Milan and took her back to the States with me shortly after we got engaged.
You lived in Paris, right? What was that like? Compare it to NY?
Yeah, I lived close to Moulin Rouge. I lived in this tiny but cool apartment. I used to look out at the street performers doing mime and watch them from my window while sipping wine.
How has the recession hurt the acting and modeling world?
It hurts it in a major way! I mean when you see TV shows themselves advertising on their own shows, you know you’re in trouble.
Advertising on their own shows?
A lot of shows aren’t getting the ads because with so many people using the Internet, buying illegal movies, playing video games and not watching TV, these shows aren’t getting the ads, the shows suffer, the actors get paid less and less, it’s horrible…it’s so bad and many people have no idea just how bad it is.
What do you prefer to do? Model or act?


Forbes played the role of Brandon in 1991 on Northwood

 Acting...acting is an out of body experience...you're free to do whatever. Modeling is a good lifestyle but acting is what I love to do.
At your age, would you still be considered a marketable model, it's my belief that sometimes the older men get, the better looking?
I don’t know…I’m not really into that stuff, I’d rather act.
You were voted One Life to Live’s sexiest actor and one of America‘s 50 most Beautiful People in 1999?
Yeah.
How do stay so humble?
It doesn’t mean anything to me…sometimes I feel like I should appreciate it. I don’t see what other people see.
You did an amazing TV movie series, Mutant X (2001-2004) a sci-fi, that looked like fun…
It was wicked !
What was your super power?
I could become hard as a rock and was able to stop bullets and I was able to stop cars. We had amazing stunt men to work with…we worked with this one guy who beats people with sticks…we had a martial arts studio right there on the set. At one point, we were short seven minutes and had to shoot it with a fight…we decided to hire every stunt guy in Toronto…we did things with that show that most movies cannot do. The other guy I was working with was really cool. I think it was very extraordinary…considering our budget. It wasn’t an A, it was a B,,,but it was wicked fun.
How would you compare making a soap opera to a series?


Publicity Photo (undated)

 Soaps are very much an actor's medium...they're very neutral scenes to begin with so it's up to you to create the character. Once I was messing around and I based Nash on an animated fox. There’s a scene where Robin Hood dresses like a stork…I would just spin around. In soaps if they don't like you, they won't keep you.
Getting back to the modeling…you just act now?
For the most part. There was one point I was in a different country every week…when tax season came it was a mess!
I could imagine.
There was so many pages, all on spreadsheets, from so many countries in different currencies. I hit a wall after several years of just living in one place after another and another. I started to forget…I woke up once and didn’t know where I was. I couldn’t find any clues. I opened the shutters in a panic and finally realized I was in Germany. I was in China for my birthday shortly after that and everyone was singing Happy Birthday in another language. I had to check a calendar to figure out if it really was my birthday because I didn’t know what day it was.
Reminds me of Lost in Translation.
I had to stop…I think it’s called travel panic when you travel so much you just snap.
You modeled for Crew, Tommy Hilfiger, Giorgio Armani, Nautica…you also lived in Europe, Asia, South America…and now you live in Upstate New York.
I’m doing my third principle role in a soap in New York right now (One Life to Life “Nash“ 2005-2008), (All My Children “Scott“) I just recently started as a principle role on As The World Turns.
What do you dislike about acting?
Nothing, I love it. I guess the only thing I don’t like is the wait time. For example today I worked less then fifteen minutes and the rest was waiting time…sometimes actors wait in those trailers for several days. Ever see those trailers parked outside movie sets in Manhattan?


"Nash Brennan" on One Life to Live

 Yeah.
Now you know, there’s probably an actor waiting to work.

You learn something new every day. I saw there was a big petition to keep your character on One Life to Live.
Yeah, something about Nash really connected with the audience. When they killed Nash they were very upset and there was a big campaign to keep me on the show. It's strange to have thousands of people you've never met writing in your support. It's nice...it's kind of mystifying. Soap fans are wonderful people!

Chatting with Christine Meyers

Christine Meyers, one of the stars of Beautiful Kid (pictured above) written by Mike Carty spoke with me about her number one passion, acting. Her and her new husband live in sunny LA and are soaking up their creative juices together(they are both working actors). It was fun to learn about the acting world out there and where it’s taking her. Her journey seems to have only just begun.

When did you move to LA?

My husband and I came out here almost two years ago. We were back and forth for a while but now we’re settled here.

How would you compare NY to LA?

I was just thinking about this…it’s taken me awhile to adjust to LA. I was in New York for ten years…everybody knows it’s a survival city and I was getting tired of the lifestyle and ready for a change.… so I really thought I would come to LA and immediately love it but it took me some time to adjust. They’re hard to compare because the lifestyle is very different.

Terror has said you were the favorite actress.

That’s so sweet to hear.

Didn’t you win an award?

No, but Dan won for best actor which was very deserved, he gave his everything to the film, he really did. And John won for best supporting actor which was awesome.

In college you studied acting?

Yeah, I studied acting (BFA) at NYU and graduated in 2000. I studied at Playwrights horizons for the first couple of years, then I got a minor in social/issue based theater, and then I studied at Stone Street Studios which is when I signed with an agency and started working professionally.

I read somewhere that you were in Vanilla Sky?

That was soon after I graduated….I had never been in a big budget movie production before so I answered an open call for extras. I was so excited to be there! I was talking to everyone, finding out what they all did. I ended up being moved to a spot right in front of the camera. I got to be directed by Cameron Crowe and while we were shooting Tom Cruise began an improv scene with me. Cameron Crowe liked it, so we improved a few more times. The improved scene didn't make the cut by I am still in there for a little scene near the beginning.

What’s he like?

He’s really nice, I had a good time.

Can you compare being part of a big production film like Vanilla Sky to a smaller one like Beautiful Kid?

I like that indie vibe…I like the scale. On an independent film, I feel very involved in the project and the whole process as opposed to a big film where you have less involvement unless you’re a big talent. I have had leads in a few more indie films that are in post production now. Making an indie film is special because you end up spending so much concentrated time with a small group of people and they become your family in a way. And when you go onto another film you meet new friends and become close to them and you start the process all over again.

How are indie actors paid?

Well it depends. For the ones that I worked on I was paid a day rate…and then the rest depends on percentages that you agree on in your contract for if the film gets bought and released…so we hope it gets released and everyone loves it.

On the set of Beautiful Kid, did you have a favorite person you liked working with?

Well the people I worked with the most were Dan and Javier and I worked a lot with John and they were unbelievable. Being the only girl on the set a lot of the time could have been tough, but I felt really safe and protected. A lot of that had to do with Colum and Patrick as well - they made the sure the environment was very supportive which was amazing for my first time on a feature set. And I realize now what a gift it is to feel that supported creatively because then you can be free to explore and play with your character. And John made me laugh all the time, he was so spontaneous, he would just pull out these phrases! And he really helped me to understand the characters and the vibe that we were going for in the film.

And Malachy! What was it like working with Malacy McCourt?

I had limited scenes with Malachy but he was great. He’s come to a couple of plays that I did in New York over the years and he is really wonderful actor and artist. And Frank…I thought was very present and free. I really enjoyed working with him. Especially after reading his books and being a fan… I worked him up and then to have met him! So, I guess I am saying I didn't have a favorite person!

What about the young girl?

Halley? Halley was great…she was unbelievable, I was really impressed with her work in the film. We didn’t have a lot of dialogue together. I did see she was really able to take risks. Her character is kind of the voice of reason and to she had to be the "mother" in a young child's body and that takes a lot of groundedness. And you can see with the way that her career has gone how talented she is. I was very impressed by her.

Is there more jobs for acting in LA?

Yes, because entertainment is the main industry here but the flip side is there are many more people in the field….it was a huge eye opener for me. I had no idea it was so big. At first it’s a bit daunting and you can get stuck thinking about all the actors here who look like you and do what you do and how hard it is and then you kind of realize that it’s pointless to think this way. Once you kind of determine what you want for yourself and what you have to offer, all you can do is go into the room and do what you do to the best of your ability. I’ve also found that the creativity here is incredible. Everyone has an idea and is working on something. Production in the industry is weird right now with the recession, but with Youtube and other outlets…it’s still a pretty creative time. So there is negative and positive aspects to it.

Your husband’s an actor?

Yeah, we met almost eight years ago on the set of Guiding Light.

Doing what?

I was working for a week shooting the part of a college girl who was friends with one of the main characters and he was a recurring character and we happened to be shooting on the same day….we just got married last June.

Where did you go for your wedding?

Cape Cod…

You did a few plays?

I did many off, and off-off broadway shows. I also worked with a theater company that was run out of one of the hospitals and dealt with education on HIV/AIDS and STDs. We would be trained and then develop shows that would be taken into the NYC schools, teen programs, and colleges in the Northeast. It was a great job and it was great to work with an issue I feel very strongly about. Since I’ve been out here I did a play that was a grant from the LA History project for Edgefest Theater festival exploring the history of the LA public school system and it's ability (or lack of ability) to meet the needs of the students and community schools…so there is theater in LA.

I just saw this incredible play, The Fifth of July and I remember thinking, how do these actors remember all these lines, it seems so impossible! When you’re doing plays whether it be in an education setting or as a huge production play, how do remember all those lines?

The memorization of the lines is part of your job as an actor. So if you don’t have a system you‘re in trouble. Memorizing is actually pretty easy for me. It’s playing a snapshot and it’s really about connecting with what the story is and once you get that, then the lines kind of come anyway and they just make sense. I actually love the type of acting a play entails because you get to play the whole arc of the character at once. Whereas in films you just do little bits. Sometimes it’s hard to walk off set and feel good about what you did.

Would you ever teach acting?

I have. I ran a theater program in New Jersey and I enjoyed it but teaching acting is not my calling. I actually do a lot of counseling of actors…I’m a nutritional counselor.

Oh, that’s your other job?

Yeah, I counsel actors who are losing or gaining weight for roles or who are trying to clean up their diets or stay at a healthy weight without starving themselves. Being in the business…your body is your instrument. When I started working professionally, I saw a lot of eating disorders and fad diets and I was thinking how can one be in this business and not have issues around food? I knew that if I was going to make a career out of acting, I wanted to get a clear handle on how to care for my body, keep it healthy, and lose or gain weight safely. So I went to a school in NYC, and while I was there I had an actress approach me about counseling her. And found out I really love it. It is very important to address this aspect of being an actor because if you get a part where you have to lose weight and you starve yourself to do it then by the time you get on set, you are in no shape to be creative - all you can think about is the fact that you are starving! And your work suffers. Versus, knowing how to lose the weight in a healthy way so that you are still creative and able to work and you’re not running off the set to grab slice of pizza. There are so many actors that have to leave the acting because of the damage they’ve done to their bodies.

Look at Jared Leto gaining like a hundred pounds for his lead in a role or Christian Bale becoming a skeleton for one of his…I think it’s great you are there to provide actors the right tools to do this and not damage themselves permanently! Can you compare yourself to Fiona or Bridget (the female characters of Beautiful Kid)?

My character, Bridget was quite a product of her environment. She was a character that really had a lot of pride toward the community and the people she grew up with. I think she’s very smart in her own way. Whereas the other character, Fiona really applied herself and was interested in getting out of the community. Having a future elsewhere. Bridget didn’t have that drive. I think they were pretty opposite, but I think both are smartly developed; one is engrossed in the world she grew up in and the other wasn't…and then there’s Dan's character who’s caught between the two. Bridget gave him a lot of slack for his desire to leave…she wanted her family of friends to remain there, those two guys were her family.

Are you more of a Bridget or a Fiona?

I left my home at 17, so in that way I’m similar to Fiona. But I go back to visit my family a lot and I have a lot of loyalty towards them, so in that way I am similar to Bridget. I guess a combination of the two. It would have been really hard to play this character without an understanding of why she does the things she does. She was very protective of them. Her actions were sometimes ones I wouldn’t chose, you know? When she has little understanding of Dan's character's desire to move, I wouldn’t do that. But I think Mike did a great job writing characters that are not black and white. You feel bad about what happens in the end, you'd love to see him move on, but yet there’s love there…he did a great job with creating "gray" characters. They are great to watch and to play.

I agree with you Christine! Beautiful Kid was beautiful! Everyone loved how you played your character. I think in no time you will be awarded best actress for it. I’m looking so forward to seeing you in Madness and Genius, please let me know of its release!

The Absolutely Amazing Anne Judson Yager!

Anne Judson Yager is no stranger to the big screen. She has played the lead role in several films including Whittier in the movie, Bring It On. She is currently playing Maggie in the on-going internet series, Catch. She spoke with me about acting among other things. I found her to be very down to earth for someone who has walked the Red Carpet more than a dozen times...

Anne, I've noticed when you are playing the "good girl" on screen, you're a blond and when you're the "bad girl" you are a brunette? Is this deliberate or just my imagination? I heard when Sara Jessica Parker plays her "darker" roles she tends to do this too. Are you blond?

There is something that is down right priceless about the ability to change your hair as a woman. Many woman get dramatic cuts and colors after breakups and during big changes in life. It definitely brings out different sides of ones personality. As an actress it's no different. Maggie, the character that I play in the Internet Series Catch is just like many women. Although she goes through a few more dramatic changes than most. You'll see her (and her hair color) change quite a bit. Yes, I'm a blond.

James Huffman (the writer, director and producer of the Internet series, Catch.Com) has often said he loves working with you, do you feel the same way about working with him?

James Huffman is a multitalented visionary. He's one to keep your eye on for sure. When I heard about the projects that he had slated and the vision he has for Indie City, there was no doubt that I wanted to be a part of it.

How did you meet up with such a dynamite group that is known as IndieCity Productions?

I met James through a lucky frequent flyer mile incident. My parents came out to visit for Christmas but because of the restrictions on their air fair, they had to leave early Christmas morning. A girl friend of mine invited me over and James Huffman happened to be there as well. We started chatting, he invited me to an Indie City meeting and the rest is history in the making.

What was your childhood like, were you encouraged/discouraged to act?

I spent most of my summers making up games and shooting my own films and shorts. Fortunately I was supported 100% My parents have always done they're best to see my vision for my life and not just their own. Everyone should be so lucky!

Would you want your own son or daughter to get into acting?

Hmmmmm. That’s a tough one. I would say that if there is anything else in the world that would make you happy, do it. If not, and acting is something that you HAVE to do, then go for it! There are challenges and rewards in acting that nothing else can bring.

How do you manage to keep it together with all the pressure...is it easy for young starlets to break down like we've seen (Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton) do? What advice do you have for young actresses out there?

The advice I would give young actresses is to take the time to figure out what it is that you really want to be putting out into the world. Start creating the career that you want through your thoughts and then go speak it into existence.

You played the lead role of a high school character in the extremely successful, Bring it On Again. At the time, were you also in high school yourself, how did you manage to graduate with the making of the film? (Home school?)

I was already out of High School when I played Whittier. And actually the movie was set in College. It was the sequel to Bring it On which was set in High School.

You are an amazing actress who can easily shift from one emotion to the next and you are very believable. What was your training? Is there a consistent technique that you use?

I've studied with Arthur Mendoza who studied under Stella Adler for 11 years and with Shari Shaw who is the personal coach to many stars. I stay in class and try not to take myself too seriously. That'll kill ya. ;-)

I really like the concept of Maggie (except for some of her actions,,,obviously) and sympathize with her character for the way she gets fed up. Although, the outcome is extreme, her disappointments are universal. Do you feel the dating scene is as bad as Maggie thinks it is? She really is a trooper though, she doesn't stop looking...that's for sure (laughing).

True love seems to be a pretty universal desire. The x-factor that is in serial killers is something that most people don't take into consideration during the dating process, maybe that will change for people when they start to watch the series.... don don don doooooonnnnn.

(Laughing) How long does an episode of Catch.com usually take to make? When can viewers expect to see Catch.com 4 and 5? Have you finished filming it yet? The concept (of the short Internet movies) is really light years away, you guys are really advanced, when do you see it really taking off?

James does weeks of prep before we get to production. We usually shoot en episode in a day or two. Filming is on going and James is working on a screening party that's going to have a great host and some fun surprises. I'll keep you updated on that.

What is your sign? Do you believe in horoscopes? I am an Aquarian and I do tend to be creative and free-spirited, what about you?

I'm a Pisces. I do believe in horoscopes as a tool. The symbol for Pisces is two fish swimming in opposite directions. That’s me. I go with the flow but I’m pulled in different directions.

Of the following top paid actresses, who do you aspire to if any at all: Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie or Kate Winslet?

(Publicity Shot for Bring it On Again starring Anne Judson Yager)

Those are great choices. Drew Barrymore and Kate Winslet truly inspire me. Both of them have had to overcome the "Hollywood body" image issues which is not easy to do. They've also chosen some pretty awesome projects to be a part of. I mean ET! Really? How lucky was she? And Titanic? The other actress that I love dearly is Reese Witherspoon. Man in the Moon was one of my favorite movies growing up. And Pleasantville is one of my all time favorites. I'd love to play her sister in a Ya-Ya Sisterhood kind of film.

Have you traveled to other countries in the making of any of your movies? If so, what was that like?

I shot a commercial in Spain. Now, here's the trippy part... it was an AM/PM convenient store commercial. AND they brought in palm trees to make it look like California. Hey... I wasn't asking questions.

Compare NY to LA.

NY and LA are totally different worlds. I think they speak pretty loud and clear for themselves. Really, what justice could I do to them? They are both rockin' States with so much to offer!!!

I thought about this the other day...Catch.com is really intelligent for its use of foreshadow, use of music, its quickness. What other components in your opinion make this so unique?

A female serial killer looking for love is not a concept you see every day. As time goes on you'll get the chance to see what internal struggles, wants, desires and secret talents Maggie has. She's a pretty incredible character.

You got rave reviews for your lead role in Believe In Me as well as Bring It On Again, what movie did you prefer to make? It seems like they were made around the same time, am I right? How do you balance work and family?

I made Bring it On Again in 2002 and Believe in Me in 2004. As far as family, I'm not married with kids so at the moment I have the luxury of focusing on my career.

You are very recognizable, is it difficult to go to the store without being bombarded with paparazzi? Do you have a good relationship with them? I've seen Paris treat them like her friends, are you that trusting with them?

I get along just fine with the paparazzi.

What is the "Red Carpet" like? What celebrities that you've met made your heart pitter-pat? Or, are you un-phased by all of that?

Red Carpets are fun. I shared an elevator with Sidney Poitier once. How could your heart not pitter pat for that man?

I am so lucky to have been able to interview my two favorite male actors, James Huffman and Forbes March, if you could interview your favorite male actors, who would they be?

Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp and Denzel Washington

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Married with at least one kid and on a TV show or doing a few great movies.

What are your current projects?

I have a couple of pending projects and of course, Catch.

What is your favorite clothes designer that you usually wear? Are you a T-shirt and jeans type or do you always like to dress up?

I'm a sweats and t-shirt kind of girl for the most part but sometimes I love dressing up for events or just because. When I'm feeling a little down I like to put on something fabulous and do errands. It helps my spirit immensely. It’s fun doing errands as a diva. I usually end up having a fabulous day!

What is your favorite make up splurge?

SmashBox for sure! They have a great High Definition foundation that is meant for television. They have great products.

Thank You Anne!

Thanks for making me a part of your blogging world.

John Michael Bolger takes a break to discuss Michael Mann's Public Enemies

John Michael Bolger has been an actor in NYC for over 20 years. He played FDNY Lieutenant Johnson for four years in the hit NBC series, Third Watch, has had a reoccurring role in Law and Order, NYPD and ER. He did an amazing job in the family movie, Rounding First, made us laugh in Delirious (with the late John Candy) had a small but significant role in Carlito's Way and gave an outstanding performance in Closer to Home. Today he meets with me to discuss his latest and greatest role in Michael Mann's masterpiece, Public Enemies which will be out in a few short months. This movie stars: John Michael Bolger, Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, Christian Bale, and Tatum Channing, among others. Clip from Third Watch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQtFGh8STiU

When did you do that funny commercial? If there was an academy award for commercials, you’d win it!

When did I do that commercial? Let me see, it must have been six years ago…it’s one of those Vegas spots…

Did you get paid well?

No, it just got me a lot of exposure…it’s the karmic invoice.

What do you mean?

I don’t sweat shit like that…it’s all part of “the plan” truly. Until my karmic bill is paid up, I still have outstanding accounts.

That was great exposure…so; it just became a public service announcement then?

Yes…and that big guy was Grace Jones’ brother.

How did long did Third Watch run?

About um…seven years, NBC had me on there for about four years.

That show was great, I like this clip too, it really gives the audience a good view of your character. Tell me more about the character you play in your new movie?

He’s a East Chicago Indiana detective, he’s corrupt, dangerous, basically a monster and he has one Achilles heel and that is his lover, Anna Sage, “the lady in red.” But I can’t get too much into that because people have to go and see it.

Are you like your character in that…

Am I a monster? No!

That’s not what I’m asking; I’m asking would you risk everything for a loved one?

Yes, it’s my code of ethnics and honor, it was eerie to play this character because a lot of him was me…and I had to look at myself more than I ever looked at myself before but in the end it was cathartic and revelatory.

Really, what was cathartic about it?

Martin Zarkovich was known as the peacock or the sheik. The money he would make with all these gangsters…he would go out and buy all these flashy clothes. After I researched more about him, I realized that he had an incredible need for attention. It also made me realize that I, John have an incredible need for attention thus being an actor, thus being combative, and thus being flamboyant. I had met my match and had to come clean on a lot of issues and have…thank you Michael Mann!

Ah, that's sweet. That's a great tribute, he seems like a fantastic director. How long did it take to shoot the film and where did you guys do most of the shooting?

We shot for four months and we shot all through Indiana, Wisconsin, and primarily Chicago…these were the actual places that they robbed and hide out.

How would you categorize your character…is it one of the bigger roles?

Yes, it’s the character who changes the whole tide of the film…they give you the location, they give you the clothes but it’s up to you to do the soul searching, it’s was quite a hard character to play but it paid off in the end…I did it all for the love of a dame. One reviewer already wrote, “You don’t know if it’s Zarkovich or Bolger’s anguish.”

So, you were believable then, that's a great thing for an actor to be able to do that. Let’s talk about your Michael Man connection…

Okay, that’s easy. Twenty years ago, I had no credits, I looked like one of the Village People…I was studying acting at HP studios…where I’d recommend you to go like once a week…

Maybe.

Anyway, I was studying with William Hickey and Shelley Winters, no credits, with lots of balls, I was driving a cab, but I liked my headshot, I looked like Wayne Newton, that was me man.

That’s funny.

I wasn’t getting anywhere with auditions so every night I would drive the cab (laughing) I would stick one of my thousands of head shots up on the back window and I would have black eyes drawn on the pictures…this is going to be a long answer…(pause) and I would write a little sign that said, “I’d rather be acting.” One day I picked up a man in a very dark street in the New Tribeca area and he was bombed, he said, “Mayflower Hotel” and proceeded to harangue me about my headshot…he then told me he was a film director, he had a very heavy Spanish accent, he said his name was Hector Babenco and did I ever hear of him and told him, “No and sit back.” By the time we got to the May Flower Hotel, he told me he had a movie coming out the following week called, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” with William Hurt and the late Raul Julia and to keep an eye out for it and I said, “okay.” He tipped me very well and asked me could he have my picture. About a year and a half later, I was at The Actor’s Studio and overheard an actress moaning and groaning about how she was so nervous about having to audition for Hector for a film called, “Iron Weed.” Upon hearing this, I had to find Hector Babenco…with through cunning and larceny, I did.

You were determined.

He gave me an audition. I got to meet Bonnie Timmerman, the best casting director in the business. I didn’t get the job but she liked me and said she would remember me. Not long after that, I auditioned for a show called “Crime Story” and got the part. Michael Mann…he gave me my first professional job and now twenty years later, he’s gives me my biggest acting professional job, that’s the answer, I could have said more but…

He remembered you twenty years later?

Yep.

You just walked in and said hey.

No, no I had to do a whole audition process...

Do you have an agent?

Yes and she got me the audition. I’m very blessed and I’m very grateful.

So, you decided to start acting when you were twenty seven?

Yeah, but at five years old, I remember sitting on my stoop in the South Bronx knowing that things were going to get a little funky so I told my spirited inner child to run as fast as you can and I’ll find you some day…and I did at twenty seven years old, sobriety opened the door, and I started to live my life fully for the first time, I could breathe.

When did the hard drinking life begin?

From twelve to twenty seven and was proud of the fact that I never missed a day of partying…I had a perfect partying record until I ended up flat on my face, my bottom…then the hard work started…who am I? What am I? Why am I? I’m scared…I’m really scared.

When did you complete your memoir?

It’s not a memoir, it’s a fiction novel, “Stoop to Conquer” …I started it 2001 and I completed it in 2008, it’s a coming of age story, set in 1980, set in Hell’s Kitchen with drugs, sex and rock-n-roll, mayhem, peer pressure, redemption, renewal and New York City is the backdrop.

Do you have a publisher yet?

No, I’m going to try to bring it out with the movie. Writing this book made me realize what writers go through, it sends you around the bend, it becomes your lover, your child, your ruler, the pillow you sleep on and then somebody asks you to hand it over…it’s like giving your child away.

What made you write this?

David Miltch, the creator of NYPD Blue and Dead Wood was listening to me talk one day and said, “Bolger, you’re a writer, you should write something someday," so I did.

That’s a good idea to promote it at the same time as the movie…where is the premier going to be?

The world wide premiere will be June 23 at the Westwood Mann Theater in Los Angela's…

Did you have any scenes with Johnny Depp?

Yes and Christian Bale, they’re cool, alive, human, life in their eyes, fire in their soul, present, breathing, nice.

Private?

Somewhat.

I read your dedication for your mom in Kelly Ripa’s book…that was nice.

She was responsible to get all the writers for that book, they put a compilation of short stories together called, “I love you mom.” Writing that piece about my mother was a way of giving back to someone who gave me everything and continues to…she lives out in Long Beach, Long Island.

Where in Ireland is she from again?

Cloone, Letrim.

That's right, we talked about that earlier, how both our parents are from Letrim, sorry about that...(laughing) what was your favorite Indie flick that you did?

Seed.

I read some good reviews about that, it had such a tragic ending. What do you think about that film?

Seed was the story of an everyman who wanted to get the answers to all the questions that we’ve asked all our lives that most people avoid, he was willing to die trying…you really have to see that movie. It was an interesting ending, it could have gone either way, and you could have thought it ended in a good or bad way.

What about “Closer to Home?”

It’s a love story set in New York…about two people who are literally ships in the night and miss one another.

And “Rounding First…”

It was compared to Stand By Me, my performance depicted a man who was searching for his own father and through the realization that he couldn’t father his own son, they all got to win.

What’s your favorite role?

Martin Zarchovich…no, it’s a tie between him and Francis Seed, folks we have a tie!

What about your favorite play?

Long Days Journey into Night written by Eugene O’Neal, the Irish. It’s dysfunction at its highest form.

Michael Mann is your favorite director?

Absolutely. If he called me right now and said, “I have a part for you,” I would walk barefoot…to Canada.

Whoa, you like him a lot. I'm really dying to see this movie now...this is going to be very exciting.

He’s a real director! He’s an actor’s director.

What are his movies again?

Thief, Collateral, Heat, Miami vice, Last of Mohicans, there are so many...he’s big time.

He really is the man. Michael Mann's the man...

Up Next...Kate is coming up!

Several years ago, I went to see Mike Carty's movie, Beautiful Kid and I was impressed by the actors who portrayed his characters. Kate played the unattainable girl in the movie. The girl of every man's dreams. She frowned upon his drinking and way of life. She was college bound and had the power to help him aspire to be something more. However, fate had different plans and the two did not end up together adding to the already unfortunate events of the script. I met Kate briefly at the premiere and remembered her as bubbly. When I met her again almost eight years later I noticed she still had a dynamite personality and looked younger...I wonder what her secret is.

What do you do?

I’m an actress…as an actor you always come up with other interesting side jobs…but I’m an actress. I handed out coupons for a brand name mop…when swifter just came out. And people were like, ‘Fourteen dollars for a mop? No thanks!”

From my research I read you were in many soap operas-what was that like?

I like soap operas (All My Children, Guiding Light, As the World Turns) because they are very intimate and you learn a lot from the cast. The amount you learn in such a short time is immense.

What was it like switching?

It wasn’t a contract role.

Who were you most ga ga over?

I mean it’s always very nice to be around such attractive people…it’s part of the business. I see people for who they really are as opposed to, ‘Wow, he’s really hot but he’s not that nice.’

Biggest role in a movie so far?

I was in an independent film, Unreal that did really well in the independent film circuit. I made such great friends on that movie…when I have production questions, I can reach out to them, it was just a wonderful experience.

I loved you in A Beautiful Kid!

That was about eight years ago, we began to film right after 9/11. I look back and I think, ‘Did I really know what I was doing?’ It was so much fun though, I got to fly by the seat of my pants….don’t tell Mike though.

You were the good girl.

I was the good girl (insert evil laugh).

Do you prefer to play these kinds of roles?

Um,,,you always want to play fun roles. It’s fun to do things differently then what you would normally do.

What was it like working with Column McCann, Frank McCourt, Malachy McCourt and of course, Mike Carty?

It was such a great experience…working with people that are so down to earth, so genuine. I will always have a special place in my heart for the boys. I look back and think about how young I really was and the patience they had with me.

You missed out in the fight scenes.

Yes, I missed all of that…the smashing of the car, the bar scenes, I wasn’t there for any of that…(being the good girl character, the contrast to the have-nots)

Are you from Sydney?

No, I went over to work for a famous family as a Tutor and lived there for a bit.

For whom…(to be left omitted) OMG, how did you get that job?

I was student teaching and a friend who knew I was looking to teach in NYC got me hooked up with them.

You took risks! To just move to Sydney like that, I always thought that’s where you were from!

I did, when the opportunity arrived, they were like, ‘Did you want to think about it?’ I was like, no.

Were you able to get acting gigs over there?


While working…work experience adds to it…when I realized I was going to be there for longer than five months, I began to look for acting work and I was cast in a play, Hell Hath No Fury. It was great to be in a different country and working with many actors. You have this amazing thing in common and you’re half the world away.

Do you still communicate with the family?

Yes…

You’ve been back in NYC for awhile?

About a year and a half…I work with a few agents who submit me.

Is it hard to get an agent? I’m looking for one now for this book and I find it’s really tough.

It’s really hard…because if you’re too new, they want you to get more experience…you have to take all of your creativity and you just have to be persistent. Persistence really is the key. You just have to pick yourself up and look for the person who’s right for you.

Are they nice?

Any business is full of bad people and good people…the beautiful thing about the acting community in the business, everyone has heard of everything so if someone worked with a bad agent, it would be well-known…so there is hope.

Any actresses you aspire to?

There are many. I steal stuff from actors, people on the subway….’oh I could use that….’ I think Kate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, I have so many and right now, I’m drawing a blank. There are also all those people I’ve seen watching plays. There was this one actress in Sydney I saw on stage and I thought she was really good…I forget her name. So, I can get inspired by the famous or the unknown, both can be equally good.

Do you have a set schedule?

Um…it can be a little crazy. It depends upon the day. I make sure everyday I try to get to the gym. I try to work at least an hour a day on work and aside from that it’s up in the air.

How does one survive financially?

Oh, I have a day job…it’s kind of encouraging to me to know that I can work really hard at acting and have a day job and one day I’ll be able to just act.

Can I ask you what you do?

I teach second grade in a private school. I have a brilliant co-teacher who is so supportive of me.

Do you get paid for indie films?

It depends. Being in the business, you do a lot of free work. It’s hard to battle through when there are so many people out there that would do this for free. For some, just to get on TV…just to get the exposure…It’s a really grey area, you know?

Do you expect to be cast in an unexpected success indie, like Little Miss Sunshine or Slumdog?

While you’re waiting, it’s important to enjoy your work, it’s very easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it, you have to love doing it.

Do the actors/actresses get residuals on successful movies?

It depends,,,you can get points…it really depends on the contract.

Currently?

Teaching and auditioning.

Anything?

Everything…I think that would be fun which is good to think like this. I like all different roles, I work hard…

What is your philosophy of life?

Philosophy of life? Oh my goodness, That’s such a big question. I think, happiness. Find happiness in whatever you’re doing.

Favorite make up on stage?

I have to say, Mac…except I also love Maybelline black mascara.

I was going to say, your eyes look really good.

Thank you, you know you have to change (makeup) it so often and it’s really affordable.

While in Sydney, you did movies?

In Sydney I did plays and sort of like a commercial spot, it wound up being a commercial but it was more a campaign for climate change awareness.

No movies?

They’re really strict over there but we are quite welcoming of foreign talent whereas over there they’re more strict to make sure their actors get work.

Two movies all together?

Two features, just did a short film. I’ve done student films and industrial films also.

What is a short film?

Just in a different category…like 20 minutes. I think! But don’t quote me!

Do you have a specific genre?

It depends, as long as the writing is good and being surrounded by good actors…as long as the work is good, I don’t mind.

Music?

I think that’s the hardest question to ask, it depends on my mood really. I like all genres, I guess. I love classical, rock-in-roll…

What’s the longest time you‘ve dedicated to a role?

The acting is such a small piece of the project…it’s inevitable you’re waiting around a lot,,, there are so many other people involved in the process.

Compare the making of a movie to a play?

It’s about the behavior…it’s such a different journey for each. Theater is a different experience that you live out every night whereas films are moments from a day of your character’s life. The same skills are involved, you know, but in different ways.

The toughest project?

I was in a play that for some reason the character did not sit with me, I worked on it, I worked on it…maybe I wasn’t ready for that character…my soul just would not understand that character…it was a great learning experience though.

Ever see Sean since?

(character from A Beautiful Kid) Oh, Dan Brennan! This is what’s great about NY….I was walking down the street and I heard, “Kate?” and it was such an arbitrary experience and it just made me smile. We just shared in the coolness of the moment. He was a lot of fun….it was a good time.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I want to be happy doing what I love and to just be happy. A part of me thinks I’d love to do successful movies but at the same time, setting goals like that is good and bad…it’s good because it’s imperative, but it’s bad because you can’t…you can’t define yourself by whether or not you’ve accomplished these goals.

Thank you so much for sharing your acting experiences with me today.

You’re welcome. It’s like this book I read, The War of Art, about being creative and getting out of your own way…when you’re an artist it’s about treating it like it’s the real deal.

So, I should just get out of my own way?

Yeah, I really like the idea of this book, it’s good.

I appreciate all your encouragement…please let me know about your next play or film, I’m going to rent Unreal tonight!

(laughing) No problem!