TV fans will recognise Goran Visnjic from the long-running medical drama, ER. Now, the actor is taking a trip into the past, stepping into the jet-set world of Pan Am. He talks to Suzanne Byrne about his guest-starring role.
If you have been following Pan Am on RTÉ Two, you’ll be aware of Kate’s particular problem; juggling life when you’re a jet-setting, girdle-wearing stewardess and undercover spy. Luckily, Goran Visnjic, who once played Dr Luka Kovac on ER, has the medicine she needs. Joining the show this Monday for a four-episode stint, Visnjic plays debonair Yugoslavian diplomat Niko Lonza, who takes a personal interest in Kate on a flight from New York to Monte Carlo. The fiery redhead has had a hard time of it lately; the CIA put her on notice for disobeying orders and her younger sister Laura has moved out. It’s a perfect time to begin a new, ego-boosting relationship, even if it doesn’t begin in the most romantic way.
Can you tell us how your role in Pan Am came about?
Goran Visnjic: It was a little bit because of ER – Jack [Orman] and Lydia [Woodward] were on ER when I first joined the show 13 years ago – and they now write Pan Am together. They were discussing this character and Lydia said we need someone like Goran and Jack was like, ‘you know what? Why don’t we just call Goran?’ So they called me and I had loved the pilot, we talked about the character and I was like, ‘yes count me in’. I am just wrapping my fourth episode, which is how long I am going to be on the show – for four episodes.
Why do you think TV is so fascinated with the 1960s?
I think it is because you see people as evolved and as conscious as we are today but then there are so many subtle but huge differences. For example, everyone now is anti-smoking, it is not cool. But in the ’60s you really were not cool if you were not smoking. With Pan Am, you’ve also got that everyone was dressed up for flights and flying was really special. Today, flying in the States is more like bus travel used to be in the old days. I think we like to see the nostalgia. And also we know these people – they were our parents and grandparents.
How does this Niko compare to Luca on ER?
I would say they are separated for 40 years of time, which is a pretty big gap! My character is in his late 30s, is a diplomat in the UN and is from Yugoslavia in 1963, which is a very different environment than Croatia is today. This the first time I have played as a guest star which means you don’t even have all the details about your character. I knew from the beginning it would be a four-episode arc so you don’t have enough time to develop the character, the way Luca’s character was developed. We spent eight-and-a-half years talking about Luca – his past relationships and family, so he became like a living character.
What was it like to work with Christina Ricci and Kelli Garner?
It was nice because it is a pretty comfortable set. It was weird as a guest star to walk into someone else’s set – they have been shooting for all these months and then you arrive and you are a guest – but they all looked after me. The first couple of days I worked a little bit with Christina and Kelli and they were very cool. We had some scenes in the plane and at the bar. And then the rest of my episodes were all with Kelli and she is really nice and a fantastic actress. It was fun.
Did you feel any pressure coming into such a high profile show for just four episodes?
Well, to be honest, you don’t feel any pressure because it is a big show; I was feeling the pressure of playing a character for such a short amount of time because there is so much information missing about him. That’s what makes it difficult – you don’t have all the things you need to make this character really great – you have to come up with them yourself. On the first day, I was freaking, wondering if I was doing a good job, am I portraying the character the way they thought it would be, but by the last day of filming, I didn’t want it to be over!
Could your character show up again – would you like to be a regular on the series?
Well I don’t think there is a way for me to become a regular, to be honest, because my character is not a pilot or a flight attendant, but I love the show and yes, I would definitely love to come back.
Can you tell us about the mission that Maggie and Niko are mixed up in?
She is led to believe that he is her ticket to get inside this casino because he is a regular there, and she has an assignment to get in there and find a fingerprint. Later on, she figures that it was part of a big set up – ooops! I am already talking too much! Basically, it starts like a job for her but then when she thinks she has completed the job, she starts dating Niko, because she doesn’t think he has anything to do with it – but then she realises it is not so simple. The CIA has a problem with their relationship, Yugoslav secret service has a problem about it too and then it all explodes. And I can’t say anything more!
Tell us a bit about behind the scenes on a show like Pan Am?
Well for starters, it has much bigger scope than I expected. There is a big 707 in a hangar that looks just like a real 707 with lights. Of course, we don’t travel around the world, but the CGI is amazing. The show is based in New York and the city has so many beautiful locations and buildings, so they have been cheating so well. Then when you see all the extras inside the plane, everybody has meticulous hair and suits and dresses from the ’60s. The attention to detail is superb. You really feel like you are in a different era.
Today’s TV schedules have a lot of period and historic dramas. Do you think people are a bit fed up with doctors, cops and lawyers?
I think TV is evolving all the time and especially now you have so many TV shows. A good show is always going to be a good show, no matter what is the main premise. Definitely, originality is a huge part of something being successful today. On Pan Am, it is something you haven’t seen before. It has all these wonderful things that the audience can look forward to and also wonderful things for the writers because they are allowed to take the show all around the world.
Suzanne Byrne
