Behind-the-scenes with Emmy stars
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E-mail CNTV, September 24, 2013
As we all know, many American television shows have penetrated the international market, and not least in China. Our Hollywood reporter recently had a chance to chat with some familiar faces from the small-screen about their characters and some revealing behind-the-scenes stories, ahead of the Emmys.
Nihao, Nihao, Nihao
With greetings to their Chinese fans, television stars from Emmy-winning shows opened up about their characters. Kit Harrinton, on the HBO hit show Game of Thrones, told me that his character, Jon Snow, is pretty much like himself.
"I think he's a good person and he means well. He respects and likes things and people. I relate to that level. I don't relate to sword-throwing heroic level; he's part of the fantasy elements. But he's a real person in my head and I've lived in his skin for a while now; I know how he reacts to things now, though we are not that similar. It'd be nice if Jon Snow could go for a beach vacation but no, he will always be in the cold," Kit Harrinton said.
Mayim Bialik, the two-time Emmy-nominated actress who plays a nerdy neuroscientist on The Big Bang Theory, told us she is completely different from the character she portrays on screen.
"I have two boys and I write for a website called kveller.com. I do normal mom things. I cook, I clean my house, you know," Mayim Bialik said.
What makes a television show appealing to the mainstream audience is not only certain characters but also the great dynamic between actors. Al Sapienza, best known as the lobbyist Marty in House of Cards, still remembers every detail of working with Kevin Spacey on a fight scene.
"Kevin Spacey had to hit the ground for fourteen or fifteen times. He did his own stunts. He didn't use his stunt double. He doved and hit that carpet. He was bleeding through his shirt. I was like "Kevin, you are bleeding." He goes, ah, it happens all the time. Acting with Kevin Spacey is like playing Tennis with Agassi. It upscales your game, it's faster and it's a lot of fun," Al Sapienza said.
And the fun also lies in working with the creative writers behind the scenes. Stars said they are as anxious and excited as the audience when they get to read the script of every new episode.
"I think it't just really good quality writing. If the writing is really good, it's fun to go to work. You look forward to saying those lines. That's probably the best part," said Matt Le Blanc from "Episodes."
"I just wait to see what they come up with. I get really excited about whatever they do because it's always more than what I can ever imagine," said Sarah Paulson from "American Horror History."
Though television shows inevitably compete with each other, the stars told us that they are all show fanatics who have their own favourite shows.
"My money is on Bryan Cranston. I'm hooked on Breaking Bad. I met Dean Norris last night, and I nearly fainted," said Hugh Bonneville from "Downton Abbey."
"I'm obsessed with Game of Thrones. Its ultimate thing is about family, really. They make it seem like something else, but it's really a story about family and I love it and I'm obsessed," Sarah Paulson said.
It was so much fun talking to the best actors on the greatest American television shows. I learned 3 things about them, they are hard-working, talented and they are hilarious to talk to.
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