10 May 2010 Many “Highlander” episodes were shot in France (Paris, Province….. ).  How much did you enjoy working (and living) in France?  I read that you speak French fluently.  Is that true?  What do you like most about France and the French people? Looove Paris, I spent some great years there and I do miss some of the times I spent. But that is what they are supposed to be. If I tried to recreate them they would never be the same. They are part of my life and memories I will cherish.
I was in Paris during a great time of my life. I was being paid to live and work there and I had a lot of doors open or me that I wouldn’t normally if I didn’t have a successful TV show. Yes, I speak French fluently and I always try to speak it so I don’t forget…. I think it is difficult to pin down what I “like” most about France and the French.  I think style is one thing that is obvious and the grandeur (in the architecture) perhaps another. The food is very rich and flavorful, except some I cannot eat because it is too rich for my diet and the South of France is probably one of the most beautiful places you could ever visit.

I’m a really big admirer of your work and I have 2 questions for you, 1) When will you be next coming over to the UK and 2) What attracts you to a role, be it film or TV ?

I have just come back from the UK after attending the premiere of The Heavy. In all I spent three weeks there having meetings on a couple of projects I am working on as a producer as well as taking three days off to go to Italy for a big family reunion.

What attracts me to a role? Well that depends. Usually I am looking at the script, is it well written, structure that sort of thing….. then who is working on it and what the budget is, because sometimes these factors will decide the quality. The other factor is simple, there are times when it is solely a financial consideration. Hey we all have to pay the bills!

What type of games do you like to play, if you have time?  Do you like board games?  Role playing games?  Card Games?  Games of Intrigue? (Like Clue).....Dominoes?  Or a whole lot of different stuff all mixed up?

Actually when I was younger I was a big chess player, loved the strategy and the complexity of the game. But I don’t play a lot these days and with a game like that you have to keep playing because there are certain moves that you do that lead to a series of others that you can calculate. But, to be honest, I never got more than four or five moves ahead. Today I play a lot of cards, poker, it seems I have the time for that but again it becomes a matter of how much time can you spend on it and with poker what are you prepared to lose.

In all of your travels, have you ever heard of any legends or seen anything that might make you believe in the supernatural? For instance, South America has the legend of the Boto, a pink dolphin which turns into a man and seduces young girls, or Dracula in Transylvania, or something weird like that......? No, but I do believe that there is another world that we cannot fathom. Whether you call it the supernatural, a spirit world, or the other side I do believe there is something we cannot see and a place where our souls can travel to. But as to pink dolphins? No, can’t say I have seen those.

With the holidays now a memory, I was wondering how long it has been since you and your brothers were able to spend Christmas together? It must be nearly impossible to get the three of you together given that all of you live in different countries. Also, I saw the adorable pictures of you and your brothers when you were all little but do you have a picture of the three of you together as adults that we could see? I know you like to protect their privacy so I’ll understand if you would rather not.

As I mentioned earlier I just went back for a family reunion in Italy. It has been 9 years since we have been together as a family and 29 years for one of my brothers to have seen some of our Italian relatives so it was a big deal. I have seen both of my brothers periodically because I am the one who travels the most but having family spread across the planet does mean we don’t get to spend a huge amount of time together. Yes, I do have a picture of the three of us together but, you are right, it is not one that I would publish… Sorry some things I keep private.

While visiting IMDB I noticed that they mention a stage play "The Break" that you appeared in whilst in the UK. There are no dates and I have never heard it mentioned before. While you told us your memories of acting in Bouncers you never talked about this play nor is it mentioned on the theatre page on APFC. So my question would be did you actually appear in this play and if so what you can tell us about it.

The Break was a small school  production that I did when I was very young and really didn’t amount to much and was never really credited anywhere but at the time of my initial entry into acting, anything and everything that I had done was important to show that I had some experience, so I put it down. As to finding it somewhere I doubt you will ever see it published or find it.

I saw all five, I think there were five, videos of Alexa and your flat/apartment being done.  Let me say that the outcome of the work was beautiful.  It was fun watching the process.  Granted most of us fans don't speak and understand Hungarian.  What I'm curious about is what was the building originally?  Also could you please tell us about the ceiling mural in your home?

This apartment was a family home with 6 meter ceilings and a courtyard out back. In Hungary, ground floor apartments are not desirable, although corner baths and wood windows are supposed to show that you have status and money. Both of which we didn’t do because these things are a myth ingrained in Hungarian culture from a time when they had very little and these two things gave a sense of affluence. We decided to create a second floor to add a private bedroom area as well as a second bathroom. Everything in the apartment is, or was, brand new, and I think Alex did a great job keeping the traditional style of the building whilst modernising it with touches of today’s world. The fresco on the ceiling of the living room, where there are still 6 meter high ceilings, was her idea and we brought in an artist to paint it.

'Ask Adrian' 10th March 2009

I saw on IMDB that you said in 1990 you would like to do a vampire movie. 11 years later you did "The Breed". How did you feel doing the character of Aaron Grey?

I really liked Aaron Grey. He was complex: more so than most vampire characters and it was fun doing a project that had a different look to a lot of standard movies. In fact, Aaron Grey has remained one of my top 5 characters that I have played.

Following on from the audio book of George RR Martin’s Dreamsongs, have you heard of or read his series of books, A Song of Fire and Ice. If yes, did you like it? And the real question, have you made any attempts to get into this project or, indeed, would you want to get into this project?

Yes, I know of A Song of Fire and, in fact, it is a project at HBO called “Game of Thrones” that is about to start casting. I think it is a really interesting project and I have read the first script. We are waiting to see where the casting process goes, since, yes, it would be fun to be a part of this.

You seem like a very spiritual person. Is there a religion /belief system that you practice to keep you grounded?

I was raised a Roman Catholic and I still think that it holds good qualities at its base, like many other religions. I try to be spiritual with my daily life, praying before meals and trying to be true to myself.

'Ask Adrian' 10th October 2008

As a fellow Brit and Londoner, have you considered coming back home and doing something here? We have some great programs on British television. I'm sure there would be plenty to keep you interested.

Actually I am very interested in doing English television programs although doing a British soap is not the type of show I would want to do right now. English drama is very well written and some of the mini series are excellent too. I would love to have a part in one of those, like the Tudors, for instance.

A few years ago we heard that you were applying for your American Citizenship. Has that happened and, if so, what are your thoughts on the upcoming election?

Actually, yes, earlier this year I did become an American Citizen so now I have dual citizenship.

As regards the election, I think this is possibly the most important one in our lifetime for many reasons. The state of the US economy and the foreign policy of America have deteriorated since the Bush administration came to office and it is time for someone to try to rectify the situation so that people can once again admire America, not only for its financial strength, but also for its values.

So which candidate would I choose? Well, I have been advised by many not to air my personal political beliefs, but the great thing about the American Constitution is that we all have the right of freedom of speech. That in making our opinions heard, and voicing our thoughts and concerns, we give others the right to make their own decisions and it is what has always made America great. So l would like you to consider this:

Obama is literate, has a strong opinion of the issues at stake and, in the debates, seemed to be able to make his points understandable to those of us who don't quite get the political jargon spouted on many occasions.

McCain is a seasoned statesman and he too has a distinct view on the issues he would like to handle, people like him because he has the grandfather approach, nothing grandpa would do would ever be harmful to us.

Come this election if you are undecided about your choice, and hopefully not for any racial reason, then perhaps the running mates should also become a factor. If you chose Obama and something happened to him then Joe Biden, a seasoned congressman, could quite easily take over the country. On the other hand, Sarah Palin has no foreign policy experience, has only been Governor of the State of Alaska for less than two years and prior to that was the mayor of a town that had less than 9000 people in it.  Although I am all for a woman being in the White House, because even in my house the woman rules the roost, the question to ask is whether she would be able, in her limited experience, to deal with Heads of States, like Vladimir Putin, while at the same time restructuring a failed economy for 300 million people and deal with the quagmire that the US has gotten itself into in Afghanistan and Iraq.

That aside the vote is between McCain and Obama.  So if you don't know anything about the candidates or you are undecided you might want to look on the internet.  When it comes to John McCain, it is very difficult to find much, and, a lot of the time when you do, you hear how he has flip flopped on one issue or another.  Yes, he has been one of strongest supporters of the war in Iraq, calling for decisive actions for victory, and supports lowering federal spending, he is in favor of lowering taxes, though he voted against the Bush tax cuts and opposes gun control. But doesn't that sound like the last 8 years? Senator Obama, on the other hand, has many sites dedicated to finding out more about the man; some say he is passionate, charismatic and hard working and believes anyone who wants Universal Health care, can get it.  Others accuse Obama of having virtually no legislative and no executive experience whatsoever and that charisma alone has created some of the greatest evil doers in history.  However, he did serve in the state legislature for 7 years, and, in fact, as history shows us, President Kennedy and President Lincoln, who also didn't have any executive experience, were some of this country's greatest presidents.

I hope this makes you think and I hope you open your own debates to discuss these issues and vote in this election, because it is too important not to take part if you care about your and your children's futures.

'Ask Adrian' 6th October 2008

What is your primary career goal? In the future, when you look back on your career, if you could say, “I played this character/directed this movie/received this award/achieved this level of fame,” what would this be?

I think I just want to be known as a versatile actor who did his best to create characters that were entertaining for people to watch. As a producer I want to create content that makes people think and sometimes laugh. If we want to change the world you can do it through words but only through a few at a time.

Were you named after anyone?

You mean a cousin, a relative, a best friend, or the neighbour’s dog? No, I don’t think so. Or, at least, I hope not.

What is the best prank you’ve ever played on someone?

Ask Stan Kirsch he was around for most of them! Mind you, that said, I have done a lot more; I just can’t think of the rest.

Regarding George RR Martin's Dreamsongs - was direction given by anyone?  If so, who?  Did you rehearse much? ... if any?  Did you get to do more than one "take?"  If any, very often?  Did you get to take rest (and beverage) breaks?  (My voice would have gotten tired.)

Actually I was thrown in the deep end. I came up with the characters on the spot when I was on the recording studio. I think I could have done a better job had I had time to see who the characters were. That said I had a great time coming up with the different voices based on the character personalities, some of which came from the pronunciation  of the words they said. All in all it took three or four days to record, plus another half  day a couple of weeks later to re-record sentences that were perhaps unclear or needed names pronounced another way, since in some of the other stories in the series already had specific pronunciation.  Oh and yes, my voice did get tired, especially since I was doing a bunch of weird sounds. That’ll teach me!

'Ask Adrian' 18th September 2008

In Lost Colony, you played Ananias Dare. Since this was basically a period piece (with mystery elements) and the role was based on a real person, how much research was required for your character?

There is never a pre-requisite to do research on a character and some actors feel that they don’t have to. Personally, if I am acting a real person, even in a sci fi piece, I will always do research about them. Actually most of my characters, even the fictional ones, come from the research that I do to give me ideas in how to play a character.

At what age did you start sword practicing, and what style do you use?

It was about a year or year and a half before the beginning of the series, Highlander, that I started practicing sword work. In fact, it was a Katana that I practiced with; very similar to the one I used in the series.

You have been a seasoned traveller for quite awhile now.  Do you have a favourite spot in the US and why?

Unfortunately I haven’t seen as much of the US as I would have liked. Most of the time when I travel I end up in large cities and miss the beautiful expanses that make up most of the country. That said I have been to the Grand Canyon, which is amazing and Big Sur, which is along Highway 1 in California, is breathtaking, especially if you are driving it in the late afternoon and peaceful if you want to get off the highway and spend some time enjoying the nature trails.

My favourite thing about the way you played your character in Tracker was that tiny caress between Mel’s collar bones, above the sternum, because it was so…well…alien. What gave you the idea to do that? And do you often invent new gestures for characters?

Sometimes I invent gesture based on what the character feels and who he is. Cole was a light being and all about energy. I came up with that gesture thinking about the energy shakras of the body. I used the throat shakra for communication and an expression of Cole’s thoughts and feelings, and then later used a gesture over the chest for the heart shakra when he felt love and compassion or unconditional acceptance for others.

I was just wondering, what is your secret for looking great? Special diet and exercise regimen, or are you just lucky?

Thanks for the compliment.  I don’t really know. A little bit of everything, I suppose. I do try to keep a good diet, but that also has to be backed up by regular exercise (which I sometimes have difficulty doing these days because things have been very busy of late).

I just wanted to write and tell you how much I have enjoyed your work.  You are able to portray so many different characters in all of your projects.  I was always really impressed with the way you were able to show the progression of Duncan McLeod's personality throughout the series and through the flashbacks.  Although I enjoy watching any of your films, I prefer it when you are not the "bad guy".  I also think that it is great that you are able to use so much of your time to work with your charity as well as with others. 

Now, a question; throughout the "Highlander" episodes, there are many of them that had more of a comedic sense than the dramatic.  Did you enjoy the comedy-type episodes as much as you portrayed?  You all seemed to be having such a great time, was there much joking around behind the scenes with your co-stars?  Thanks for your time and wishing you continued success in your future.

Hi there…this was a response to a question in a previous “Ask Adrian”: “So as to roles that were easy or hard, all of them had aspects of each. If we were talking about which were the most fun and dullest, then that may be another matter.” Well, now that you brought it up…which role was the most fun, and which one was the dullest?

Great now I have to go to a list of my jobs to figure that one out.  Hold on….. well, that’s tough. I suppose City Rhythms was perhaps the dullest in a strange way.  I think when I say “dull” I would categorize that as unfulfilling. As for the most fun I think Highlander had to be the most fun for action or Cover Girl Murders because I was working with some gorgeous girls. But the best fun I think I have ever had to date is one of my latest.  Captain Drake.  I think that we were all laughing so much at the ridiculousness (is that a word?) of some of the things that we were coming up with (not all of them made the film) that we certainly had a blast making it.

Highlander showcases the city of Paris beautifully. I’ve always had a desire to visit that city, but becoming a fan of Highlander has made me even more determined to go there and explore the city and seek out the various landmarks and locations used on the show. Adrian, what is your own personal favorite place in Paris and why?

Ohh… Paris has some great places, I love that city. The gardens of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the back streets behind the Champs Elysee and the old district right across from Notre Dame are probably some of my favourites. But no matter where you walk in Paris you are sure to come across something that is unexpected.  Down a dark street you can come across a magnificently lit statue or beautifully architected buildings. The River Seine is fantastic in summer, although in winter it gets a little cold around there, but in summer it is great for walks along the river banks.

I think you have said that you did not save the scripts from all of your acting jobs. Today, are there any scripts or memorabilia from any roles that you wish you had kept? If so, which ones and why?

No, not from all of them but I have kept a lot.  From my early days on the Colby’s and War of the Worlds, I didn’t keep that many.  I guess you don’t really think about it then, but I now know that at some place and time the scripts will turn up again.  Someone is bound to have a copy.

I have enjoyed reading your commentary on your work. You are articulate and well-written. Since you like to push yourself professionally and try new things, have you considered moving from acting/directing/producing to writing?

Well funny you should say that but I am hoping to have that base covered shortly. I have written several things and I would like to say that I have written some things that have not been credited also but recently I have been putting forward some of my work and I am waiting to see if any of it gets produced.

I am curious as to what you perceive to be the most important quality a director needs, and what is the difference between directing TV and directing film?

Well that is a long one so I will try to be concise. The first thing that I think is important for a director in either TV or Film is a sense of story telling. They have to be able to convert the story to a visual from a written form. A sense of pace and style also comes to mind to give the piece a “feeling” that the director wants to portray.

The last, but above all not the least, is being able to communicate with the actors. Actors come from so many different techniques, that to translate what you need from an actor for some directors is impossible. I wish they had a handbook for actors that Directors would be able to use so they could communicate what they wanted out of the performance. Some great directors, however, hardly even talk to the actor, they are happy with thinking about the pacing of the film, the story telling and the hundred other things that they need to do to make the film. They rely on having the actor bring in a performance, while tweaking them occasionally if they need help.

'Ask Adrian' 19th March 2008

I’m aware of your interest in Shaolin Kung Fu and was wondering if you’ve heard of a monastery in the Song Shan mountains in China where the art is taught by a highly revered monk? I viewed his training techniques on a Discovery Channel program; absolutely phenomenal. Do you find Shaolin Kung Fu more challenging than Hung Gar? Or is it simply a progression in your study of martial arts? What are the differences between the two?

Real Shaolin Kung Fu is the art taught only by monks who come from The Shaolin Temple in the Song Shan Mountains of China. There are many other people who say that they teach Shaolin Kung Fu but actually teach an off shoot of the art. Shaolin Kung Fu is not, unlike what many would like you to believe, solely a martial art fighting form. It is more like a way of life helping you to improve your inner and outer strength, which includes the body, mind and spirit. One of the reasons that I started studying Hung Gar Kung Fu was because the same philosophy was taught by my teacher, Vernon Rieta. I wasn’t only interested in how to kick the c**p out of someone but in an art that taught discipline, respect, strength, both inner and outer, and helped me improve my confidence in myself.  I have found the Shaolin Kung Fu training to be very challenging. Much like many forms you have to study diligently but with Shaolin Kung Fu you have to study a way of life.  I will shortly be writing more about these on the website so please keep an eye out for a new Martial Art section that will go into this in a little more detail.

How do you choose your next project? Do you have an agent who searches for scripts? Do you look for projects/roles personally? Do producers/directors/etc. arrange to meet with you and discuss roles?

It is a variety of things. Sometimes they may be scripts that I have written or perhaps a friend has a project he may want me to work on. Other times it is a very simple fact of someone approaching my agent or managers with an idea or a script that they want me to be a part of. There are also the times I have to go to meetings to read for the part.  It varies. But don’t be fooled, unless you are an actor who is working all the time and making a lot of money or you have other financial ways to pay the rent, a lot of the time you do a  job because it does exactly that, it pays for your living expenses. We all have to have a job and actors are no different to most people. It’s just that some of us choose projects based on how we want to live our lives.

'Ask Adrian', 1st February 2008

It has been several years since Highlander ended. What was it like filming the latest movie, revisiting the character Duncan MacLeod and working with Jim Byrnes and Peter Wingfield again?

It was great working with them again although it was a shame that we were dealing with Joe’s death. I had wished we would have had more scenes to shoot but the script didn’t allow for that to happen. Getting back into Highlander was, I must admit, a little strange although very familiar. I think I saw Duncan going along the same route as his cousin Connor had as well as a lot of his friends who had lived too long and seen too many things. They had lost hope in the world and in living any longer, so to that extent Duncan was a lot darker than I had previously played him.

Adrian, please tell me whether you wore colored contacts to play Spence in Séance?  In some scenes, your eyes look as if they are blue, or is it a trick of the lighting on the set?

They were blue contacts and were very freaky to wear. They gave Spence a coldness although I wish the lighting had been able to play that up a little more. Wearing contacts is okay but can sometimes be irritating when there is a lot of dust on a set. Luckily this time I didn’t really have too many problems with them.

What made you decide to produce and direct?

As an actor I thought it was necessary to really see what a director wanted from me in the way of movement and character. That was the initial reason. Then, as I started to direct, I realized how much I loved it. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was able to control the product that I was in or whether it fed my creative side, or maybe a little bit of both. But I really do love it and plan to do more in the future.  Don’t ask me when because I am not certain.

Becoming a producer was an accident really. I was asked to produce, which meant I got a piece of the financial rewards if the project did well and, to that extent, it made sense. However, I then realized that there were different types of producers. Financial ones, who secured the financing, executive ones who helped bring the project together, or who were part of the company distributing the film. Or there were the producers who creatively shaped the film from the casting process to the look and feel of the product.  I would like to think I fall into the latter category.

'Ask Adrian', 27th October 2007 Since the horrible tsunami all but destroyed the islands, I was wondering how things are. How are the families doing? How is your brother and family? I was interested to know whether the coral reef has started to repair itself. I know your brother and his friend are trying to repair it – how long will it take to start to grow again? There are still many people picking up their lives in that part of the world. The Peace Fund still supports a number of children who lost one or two parents to the disaster although some children have been moved out of the area to their families living in other parts of Thailand. There are still many being cared for by Krabi Relief so we have pledged to help them for this period of time. My brother has been working hard on restructuring the coral reef around Phi Phi Island. He now works for the Dept of Marine and Coastal Resources in charge of growing new coral beds offshore. You can see the new website, which outlines the great things that he is doing. The timeline on your site says that you had your first modelling job as a child. Did you work as a teenager? If so, where and when were your shoots? Do you still have photos that you would show? The first job I ever did was when I was really young ( I can’t remember how old, it was so long ago) for  a travel company called Lunn Poly with my father. I sat on his lap and they made it into a poster. I still think I have a copy somewhere but I kept the picture. I never modelled as a teenager; it was the furthest thing from my mind. At that age I was into girls, playing soccer, getting into trouble and girls, oh yeah, I mentioned that! How environmentally friendly are you? Do you recycle, walk instead of drive, use energy-saving appliances, etc? I think that some of the environmental things that we see and read about are very important but I also think that it may have been transformed into a money making  idea.  Recycling might be good but, then again, I would really look at the real facts rather than trust what people tell you.  For instance, where does the sludge and toxic waste go that it takes to recycle paper and plastic products, or, doesn’t more gas guzzling trucks to pick up the bins of recycling mean more air pollution?  I personally do use energy saving water and electric products and believe that solar energy and environmentally safe transport should become the thing of the future. You have participated in a great variety of projects, assuming many different types of roles, and I am always intrigued by your response to a character. What do you look for in the projects that you choose to participate in? What types of challenges do you seek in your work? Are you primarily concerned with the character himself or with the actions of the particular character when you accept a role? As an actor you have several factors that influence whether or not you accept a role. Sometimes it is the people who are attached to the project because if you are seen working with good people then it raises your visibility in the industry. Then there are times when a good pay check may help with the rent and all the other expenses. Taking those factors out of the equation, when I first read a script, the thing I look for is whether the story flows. The next time I read it I then look at the character and see if he is interesting for me. Is he a challenge? Will he push me somewhere I haven’t been before?  Once I like the role, I then break down the scenes and see what the arc of the character is and whether each scene supports the overall story and, if it doesn’t, how I might be able to achieve that. Then of course I want to make sure that I am going to have fun doing the role. 'Ask Adrian', 16th September 2007 Before I ask my question, I just wanted to say thank you for inviting us to see your play two years ago, Things Just Change.  I had such a great time.  It was my first time flying, and it was well worth the trip from MA.  You were so gracious with your time after the play and spent time talking with us.  It really meant a lot to me to see that you are such a down to earth person.  Anyway, that brings me to my question, what was your favorite part of doing the play and do you have any plans to do more theater? Thank You.  I am currently in New York looking at the possibility of doing theatre here.  I love doing theatre for a couple of reasons.  First of all, it is so alive and it makes me feel that way. Secondly, it is always subject to change and anything can happen on any given night which again makes it very visceral. Obviously theatre is a very different structure than TV or Film because you are working in a linear fashion rather than jumping from one point in the story to another. It also requires more research and character development for me. SO, as you can see, I have great passion for doing theatre and, yes, I will be doing more, hopefully in the very near future. Image left: Adrian snapped at a visit to the New Greek and Roman Galleries - part of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. You made the film Little Chicago a few years ago now, and I was delighted to see the clip you put up on your web site. The clip is very short, but your performance is so beautiful, full of emotion and deeply moving. I hope to be able to see the film someday. My question is, what exactly made you want to do this film? My last assistant, Dena, who was a producer on the film, asked if I would be interested in doing a small role. It was a quick shoot and different role for me so I decided to accept.  I know that it has been finished and is now ready for distribution.  I can’t wait to see it myself.

'Ask Adrian', 8th September 2007 PEACE is such a wonderful way to help children all over the world. What was your inspiration to start PEACE? I knew years ago that I had to do something that wasn’t about me. It was about giving something to someone, something else or the world. I knew this from when I was very young but I never knew what it should be. PEACE came about because of watching children swarm around me at the height of Highlander fame in different places around the world and seeing the reaction children had to a celebrity.  For some reason, children and their innocence and inability to defend themselves in many instances touched me and I realized that helping those less fortunate was something I wanted to put my energy toward.  The word “PEACE” meant a lot of things to me.  It meant inner peace, calm, refraining from violence and so I thought what could it stand for in a charity for kids. It took me ten minutes to find them:  Protect, Educate, Aid Children Everywhere. There are no coincidences. All the katas performed for Highlander – both the series and the movies – appear very intense both physically and emotionally. How did you cope with the filming of them? Was it difficult to maintain focus during lots of short takes, or were they always filmed as one long take in order to maintain the intensity? Or did it depend on the director/shooting schedule/script? Aaaaahhhh yes they were intense. I always wanted things to look authentic - not just another actor doing something on film that he had no experience in.  Seen that before.  I knew there would be many people criticizing everything I did and I wanted to make sure they would have the least amount of ammunition as possible. Which judging by some of the comments I have had from “knowledgeable people” I wasn’t always that successful. :-) Opinions are like *********; everyone’s got one. But I trained and trained for every kata that I did.  Yes, it would depend on the director’s idea of how he wanted to shoot it and I had to modify many of the forms that I did to suit the shooting style. To answer your question - as to maintaining focus - it was always easy to do short takes because the detail of the kata is more important than the whole form itself.  You have to visualize in your mind what you are doing within a movement otherwise it becomes general.  By that I mean, your look to where your opponent is coming from, how you perceive their attack and what you are physically doing to them within the motion, are all very important to conveying the kata to an audience as well as making yourself aware of a real situation. What is …your favorite movie and why? I hate these questions because I am a Gemini and I always like to be stimulated by different things. I like “Braveheart”, “The Usual Suspects”, “Spartacus”, “Henry V”, “Ghandi”, “Traffic”, “Lord of the Rings”, “Quills”, “Chocolat”, “A Fish called Wanda” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral”. Eclectic enough?  Well I told you so.

'Ask Adrian', 28th August 2007 You’ve travelled to so many wonderful places. If you could travel to only one more destination before your travel privileges were suspended forever, where would you go and why? China or India. China, because I have always wanted to go there. It is one of the oldest and most intriguing cultures of the world and I would love to see the ever changing cities and most of all The Great Wall. The other reason I would pick China is because my martial art forms come from there. Both my Hung Gar Kung Fu style and my present Shaolin style originate from the Shaolin Temple in North China, so to see its birth place would be very interesting to me. India because it is full of mystery and I have talked to many people who have been there, loved it and hated it, but always had an opinion. They say it changes the way you look at things. Now that said I hope my travel privileges are never suspended because I like to travel too much. I just got finished reading the last Harry Potter book aloud to my daughter.  It took several days of two and three hour sessions; I tried to be expressive and am proud to report that my girlie told her friends that I "do voices."  (Not accents though!)  You know what?  That book was exhausting, harder than all the previous ones.  With that experience in mind, I was wondering if you would tell us about your experience of reading aloud.  How does it work?  Do you get to rehearse and is there a director?  How do you avoid getting hoarse?  Do you get "do overs'?  How closely do you have to stick to the text?  (Perfectly, I bet. I got to fudge a little.)  How do you decide how a character should sound?  And you do accents, don't you? Okay that is more than one question.:-)  But.... I read the material before I go in.  If I have to do a voiceover I get a breakdown of the characters that I have to do. Working on voice is very technical and I do vocal warm up to make sure that I don’t injure my vocal cords during the sessions, but that too can happen occasionally. When I look at the character I come up with some choices, or ideas you might say, that I will play with when I go in to record.  No, I didn’t have time in my last session to pre-discuss my voices.  I did that when I got there. In fact, sometimes that can be fun because on the spur of the moment you can come up with something weird and interesting. The fun part is doing different accents but I know for a fact that they won’t be perfect but at least the listener knows which character they are listening to. The hard part, I found, is when you have a conversation between two or three people and you have to switch voices between them and, yes, although it sounds easy sitting in a studio, for three days or five or ten at a time it can be very taxing, so my hats off to those people who do it all the time with such ease.

"Ask Adrian", 18th August 2007 Will there be anymore Highlander movies? That is a difficult question at this time. With Bill Panzer passing, the franchise falls to Peter Davis, and it depends on what his vision for the future will hold. How is your Hungarian coming along? Are you learning by osmosis or have you taken formal lessons? Can you understand most of the conversations you hear? Can you read any Hungarian? Hungarian is about the third hardest grammatical language in the world. No, I don't read it except for small words. No, I don't speak it fluently except for small phrases, and no, I haven't taken any classes. As to conversations, yes, I can understand the gist of some and find it a fun game to sometimes try to repeat in English the essence of what someone was talking about. Imagine my delight when I get it right.

"Ask Adrian", 30th July 2007

Since the series ended, you seem to have been traveling constantly. So, I have a couple of questions: 1. Have you calculated what percentage of your time you have spent at home in Los Angeles? (Or Budapest, if you now consider that 'home'?) 2. How many air miles have you accumulated? Yes, I travel a lot. But a lot of the time it is for a movie that I was cast in while I was in Los Angeles. The mileage I accumulate I tend to use on private trips and let the company that is paying for me to travel somewhere accumulate the miles for me. Cushy, huh? Well the only trouble with that scenario is when you aren’t working. I have no idea what percentage I spend in different areas. I just like knowing that I have the ability to see many different things With all the unrelenting paparazzi attention that big movie stars get, and knowing your preference for privacy, would you like to be a super star? To your fans, of course, you already are!! *G* Well, I always thought I wanted to be and then I told myself that it wasn’t that glamorous because there was nowhere you could go without being made the center of attention. I think that way you live in a false reality, too. I have had times when I could not go out in public without being hounded or one thing or another and it was tedious. Although when I get the next big thing that puts me more into public view, I will be much better prepared to handle it. What do you think about British serial dramas from "Holby City" to "Jane Eyre." Have you ever considered acting in one? I think British serials are really well written and I would love to do one, although I don’t think I would care for a long running episodic in England. A mini series and 6- or 10-show run would be great, as well as  any theater.

"Ask Adrian", 18th June 2007

What is the status of your Casanova project? I hope it’s going well. I’ve always found him to be a fascinating man who’s gotten a bum rap, historically speaking. Your project sounds like it would truly do the man justice. Any progress? There is a time for everything. I am working on pitching another idea at present, but Casanova is definitely in my stable of products to bring forth when the time is right. Would you ever consider doing a DVD showcasing the many exquisite katas you’ve perfected? The beauty and skill of your katas are amazing. I love watching them on slow speed so I can appreciate every move. Think about it. It could be a great fundraiser. I’d buy a DVD of you dancing as well. I’ve always felt that “Highlander” failed to take full advantage of your dance skills. Something to think about. Again, as I go forward I will be bringing new things to the forefront. And maybe a DVD of a certain kata would be an interesting merchandise item to make, but at present I have other things I want to concentrate on. When I feel I am ready to do it, I will certainly consider creating a DVD. We know you write wonderfully well, and you did tell us that you have written screen plays. Any plans for another book in the future? No plans for another book, but I am writing at present and it is a medium that I love. The trick is to get it published or made into a film or series.

"Ask Adrian", 13th May 2007 A lot of Highlander fans have seen the leaked cut of “The Source.” Can you comment on whether the official cut will be substantially different, perhaps by giving an example? Will it be worth a second look? From what I understand, the next cut of the film has been substantially modified. There will be a lot of different things that will show it in another light. Dialogue removed and replaced. Scenes cut a different way. Some of the effects have been added and changed. However, I can tell you that there will not be any scenes that have been reshot. You have been an actor for many years now and I think that you're great. My questions are.....In all the years that you have been an actor, in either television or movie roles, what has been your hardest role to play? What has been your easiest role to play? Mmmmh, I don’t know really. You see playing a part is exactly that. Playing. So when you create a character and the character is different than another, it just means that your imagination is “playing” at another type of role. “Hard” for me would be being consistent with an accent. “Easy” for me is a subject matter which is close to my heart. So as to roles that were easy or hard, all of them had aspects of each. If we were talking about which were the most fun and dullest, then that may be another matter. I recently got the opportunity to experience the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. It was an awe-inspiring visit. The beauty that can come from us mere mortals is sometimes overwhelming. I understand that you’ve visited Rome and the Vatican on more than one occasion, so I was wondering what your impressions were. I loved the Vatican and, like you, was awed at the beauty man can create as well as the wealth that the Vatican obviously has. I wasn’t able to go to the Sistine Chapel, but plan on doing that the next visit that I take there. There is something not only awe-inspiring in the building but the place it stands. I believe that all places of religious worship were chosen on that location because they are places where we find the most energy or connection to something greater than us.

"Ask Adrian", 8th April 2007 "What do you see first when you look at photographs of yourself - the composition or the subject?" Since the subject is me, I have to REALLLY like the picture to accept it. Composition is perhaps the first thing that comes into view since you look at slides or tear sheets first and then pretty much tell which set look best. Then it's picking the right one. I personally will go through them, throw out the majority and then ask someone else's opinion because other people usually see things that you yourself haven't. "What were you like as a child? Did you get on well with your brothers as some brothers do?" I was the big brother and didn't really play much with my younger siblings because I was 6 years older than my first brother, so I wanted to play at older boys' games. In fact, up to the age of six I was, apparently (because I personally don't remember), quite a handful. I would always get into something that would invariably get me into trouble. Not because I was doing anything bad, but because, I suppose, I was a curious child. In fact, in one instance I almost knocked my brother out of his cot the day he was brought home from the hospital. But I think the real person to answer this question would be my mother........ No, you can't have her number!   "I've never read or heard you mention what your experience was like working with 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, the guest star on 'Epitaph for Tommy.' My brother was a fan of his back when he was wrestling. I seem to remember that his personality was a little over the top. Didn't he break his sword or yours and inflict a nasty wound to your hand? What was that shoot like?" Yes, I remember Rowdy. He and I talked a lot about martial arts and what it was like to fight in the ring and outside. He knew a few techniques that he showed me. Rowdy was a strong guy, and I remember Bob Anderson (our swordmaster) saying to him after the sword broke that he had to pull some of the hits because, after all, it was make believe. He replied he was trying, but fighting me was like being in a real fight. Who knows - maybe we did this in another life. And yes, Rowdy gave me three or four stitches to my finger. Not when the sword broke but a few days later. On a defensive parry that I was nervous about, knowing how he was swinging, he swung pretty hard and broke the handle on my blade, which then continued to make its way into my finger. Ah, well. Part of the job, I suppose.

"Ask Adrian", 31st March 2007 "I know you directed 'Revelations 6:8' but I'd like to know if there was any part of 'Comes a Horseman' that you also directed? There is such a difference between the two episodes but there are certain scenes that look like they could have been shot by you. 'Revelation' has a much more filmic quality to it. If yes, what scenes were they?" Yes, I did shoot the second flashback sequence between Cassandra and Methos in "Comes a Horseman." It was a matter of logistics. Since we were in Bordeaux and that was the set I was shooting on, it was decided that I would take that scene on. I also shot the 'stickboy' running sequence as it has come to be known, when the horsemen chop him down while he carries his little bundle. Poor Sod. "I recently viewed Nemesis Game and believe that it has to be one of the best performances I've seen you give. The characterization of Vern was perfection. You completely captured all his insecurities, neuroses and vulnerabilities. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and your performance. There was obviously more to him than what you saw. Do you feel you could have done more with the character, or do you think that the characterization of Vern was as close to perfection as is humanly possible?" Nemesis Game was interesting for me. Yes, it was a different character, and yes, I would have probably found more things to bring to him. Nothing is ever perfect. Or is never as perfect as you would want it. But that is the process. I treated him much like I treat all the characters that I play. I do a lot of research on who they might be. I give them lives and mannerisms that I think are part of who they are, hoping in the end that these characterizations are not overkill and support the original script. "Since Immortals heal almost instantly.....how can they have piercings? (Like your pierced ear or Elizabeth's pierced nose?)" Well they may heal instantly, but if they have something stuck in them then they wouldn't heal. For instance, if you stuck an Immortal with a sword, then he wouldn't necessarily die but would be in a rather uncomfortable position for as long as he is being skewered. Not a pleasant thought really - and not one that I would want to try.   To quote the line that closed hundreds of famous Warner Brothers shorts - "That's all Folks". But remember, we'll be posting a few new ones each week so CLICK HERE to send us your question now.