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American Morning

Talk with 'ER' Actor Goran Visnjic

Aired August 07, 2001 - 11:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LAURIN SYDNEY, CNN ANCHOR: We all know Croatian actor Goran Visnjic from his role as the often saintly Dr. Luka Kovac from "ER," but in the new film "The Deep End," Goran plays a much more sinister character. He's a blackmailer who puts the screws on Tilda Swinton, a mother who thinks that her gay son has killed his lover.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I think that you should go.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Would you just shut up. What wrong with you? Do you think this is a game? That I came to chat, to offer advice? What, to warn you? Does it work, the video machine? Put this in. I said, put it in the machine!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SYDNEY: He's so scary in this. But he's so not scary in real life.

Joining me now is heartthrob Goran Visnjic.

And welcome to "SHOWBIZ TODAY REPORTS."

GORAN VISNJIC, ACTOR: Thank you.

SYDNEY: Are you sick and tired of that word, heartthrob?

VISNJIC: Yes, Yeah, I mean, of course you're a little bit sick of it, because it's something you didn't work for, you know. Actors like more than, they got the really good reviews or something, because you know that it's the work behind that, you know, somebody saying you're a heartthrob or something, then that's probably just, you know, genetics or who knows what, so it's a little bit like you don't want to hear that too much.

SYDNEY: Let's go to something that you do want to hear too much. You got absolutely rave reviews in this. It was a hit at Sundance. But one of the reasons why the producers wanted you for this role is that you go from being a menace to a good guy. How difficult was that, playing both sides?

VISNJIC: It's sort of difficult, because on a feature film, you know, how it's works like, or on TV, you know, you are going to shoot scene 55 first day of filming, then you're going to shoot end of the movie, and then you're going to shoot the beginning of the film, so it's really to lose continuity of the character, and the film is happening in a really short period of time, in about seven to eight days, and so you are supposed to turn the character completely upside and down in about seven days of film time.

SYDNEY: But it was also like the challenging part of the character and sort of like why I liked that character so much in the beginning?

VISNJIC: It's just incredible that you've been in this country for only four years, and yet you choose the roles that you are playing, not based on money, but on story and who the director is.

VISNJIC: Yes, I mean, you know, money is coming from the TV.

SYDNEY: Oh, yes it is.

VISNJIC: You can sort of -- I mean, I am being too honest maybe, but you can sort of choose exactly what you are going to play, you know, and what's going to be more fun. And I did lots of things in my country since I was nine years old, you know, lots of theaters and films, and so I did like pretty like crazy selections there, and I want to continue with that. And it's like, only matter is like basically good script. Doesn't matter if it's independent, if it's big Hollywood movie, you know. It's just matter of good script, good people to work with, you know, and that's about it.

SYDNEY: OK, since you were so honest about making so much money on "ER."

VISNJIC: I didn't say much money. I said like money, you know.

SYDNEY: We you know that you are not on the unemployment line. What are some secrets? What could happen with your character this year?

VISNJIC: I can't tell you much. I am so sorry.

SYDNEY: I will give you 5 bucks.

VISNJIC: OK, can I have a phone. Can I phone my producers to ask them what I can say about the character? I don't know, but I can tell you that some change will happen, and it will be like really big changes, because we used to see Luka in one light, and sort of couple of different things are going to happen with him. I can't tell you really what exactly, but it's going -- it's something promising, but definitely and worth while watching.

SYDNEY: OK, and the film is promising as well. It opens in New York and L.A. on Wednesday. And we're so glad that there was a doctor in the house today.

Thank you so much, Goran.

VISNJIC: Thank you. SYDNEY: And when we return, the latest on the next "Star Wars" film, and its star shows up in Hollywood with the soon-to-be-ex Mrs. Tom Cruise.

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