iF Magazine Interviews New Amsterdam's Zuleikha Robinson
March/21/2008 07:16 PM Filed in: Off-Site
"If you were ever an X-FILES fan, there is a chance
that you had a crush on Zuleikha Robinson, when she
was really the only leading lady Yves Adele Harlow on
THE LONE GUNMEN spin off series. Robinson’s next
television stint was as the conniving prostitute Gaia
on HBO’s ROME, and the actress admits more than a
fondness for offbeat characters. When iF MAGAZINE
spoke to the strikingly beautiful actress about her
series NEW AMSTERDAM, we also found out more about
how this actress has managed to have such a varied
career over the last few years." Read the Interview here.
Exclusive Q&A With Yolonda Ross - Omar's Mother In New Amsterdam
March/10/2008 02:05 PM Filed in: Cast
Yolonda Ross made her feature film debut as the
female lead in the critically acclaimed HBO feature
"Stranger Inside". Her powerful performance earned
her the 2001 IFP Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor.
Before and after, this multi-talented entertainer has
graced numerous productions and branched out into
theatre and singing. Most recently, she made a
memorable appearance in New Amsterdam's 2nd episode,
"Golden Boy", playing the role of Lily Rae Brown - a
love interest for John Amsterdam (Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau) in the 1940's and mother to Omar
(Stephen McKinley Henderson). Yolonda has frequented
our site & forum in the past and was gracious
enough to take a few moments from her busy schedule
to answer some questions for fans of the show and her
work.
John/NA:F: Let's start with the obligatory question of "How did you get your start in the business"?
Yolonda: I got started in acting after coming to NY from Nebraska. I had the opportunity to do some videos, one of them being the Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right". From there, I realized how easy it was to fall into things in NY and had taken some acting classes, without much happening. I had been working in Fashion for a while as a Buyer. Eventually, while pursuing my music, things started to click for me with my acting. Music is a big key to me understanding the emotions of my characters. My first TV role was on "NY Undercover". I can also be seen on SNL in a lot of the sketches between '94-'96.
John/NA:F: Aside from appearing in numerous TV shows, I believe you recently made your on stage debut this past February in the play "Unconditional". Can you tell us a little about that and how it was for you, being live on stage compared to a recorded performance?
Yolonda: Last night was our last performance. It was amazing. I think we hit a new level of the show last night. You just wish you had one more chance to do it again. This was my first theater performance. I really enjoyed it. I'm used to film more than any of the other mediums. I pretty much feel for me personally it's somewhat the same as far as the acting process, BUT, there is that moment when you are in something and you realize, especially in quiet moments, that the audience is right there with you, that YOU are gripping them and holding them there for a moment, that you can never do again. With a movie or TV the viewer can always rewind and feel, or see that moment again. Also, the long rehearsal process with all the cast all day was different for me. It was almost like being in school.
John/NA:F: To add to your list of talents, you also seem to be an excellent singer judging by the songs being streamed on your MySpace page. Do you have or are you working on any recording projects available to the public?
Yolonda: Thanks for the comments on my music. At this time, I don't have a band. I had recently started working with a friend and her band, but then acting commitments came up. I had actually submitted one of my songs for "New Amsterdam". It was for the scene where we are in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel room. The way the scene played out was I was let into the room, and John was preparing the room for my arrival, champagne, music playing (which is what I submitted) and he was dancing a little to the music while I watched him without him knowing it. This whole opening to that scene was cut, unfortunately. They had me in a beautiful outfit! Not to mention how handsome he looked in his suit.
John/NA:F: Back to TV and your appearance in the new FOX series "New Amsterdam", can you tell me how you got a guest role and a little bit about the role you play?
Yolonda: I got the role of Lily by auditioning. It went just like any other job, but it did take an extended amount of time before getting that part. I had to be ok'd by FOX. I first auditioned for John Coles, the director, then David Manson, which was super sweet. I was very excited about the chance to play Lily. I had never done a period piece before, and the 40's is a great era to play in. Lily was a teacher. She and John know each other due to him being her father's lawyer. They started a relationship that her father knew nothing about. It was a very touching storyline and very interesting how they intergrated that subject into the cop part of the show. I think it was very well done.
John/NA:F: What was it like during your time on the set?
Yolonda: When I had joined the show it really was their first week of shooting. The pilot had already been done months before. So this was sort of the beginning of shooting the show. We shot this the second week in August in lower Manhattan and on the soundstage. Everyone was really cool. The days were really long, 'cause they were just figuring out their groove. It's not an easy thing shooting period stuff. And that's what this show is all about. John is all over in time, and that required the proper hair, proper way of speaking for the time, proper dress. A lot goes into each show.
John/NA:F: Is your role on NA a one time thing or do you think there's an opening for a return of some kind given your relationship to Omar and John should the series continue?
Yolonda: After shooting my segment of "New Amsterdam" and the chemistry we seemed to have on film, there was talk of me coming back into the show somewhere down the line. Also the fact that I'm Omar's mother was another factor. More could be learned about John and Lily's relationship. Omar could have the chance to find out more about his mother. As she died when he was young. I believe it was due to illness. Not sure though.
John/NA:F: Finally, where might fans see you performing next?
Yolonda: My next film is "CHOKE", with Sam Rockwell, and Angelica Houston. Not sure of the release date, probably the summer. Also, on DVD soon, the Bob Dylan movie "I'm Not There".
John/NA:F: Okay, I think that's it! I want to thank you for doing this. I really appreciate you taking the time out and I hope your appearance on "New Amsterdam" brings you a lot of positive feedback.
Yolonda: Thanks guys.
...and thanks again to Yolonda for her time! You can find out more about Yolonda Ross by visiting her official site and MySpace page.
Note: Please do not repost/reprint any portion of this Q&A without express permission. Thank You...
John/NA:F: Let's start with the obligatory question of "How did you get your start in the business"?
Yolonda: I got started in acting after coming to NY from Nebraska. I had the opportunity to do some videos, one of them being the Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right". From there, I realized how easy it was to fall into things in NY and had taken some acting classes, without much happening. I had been working in Fashion for a while as a Buyer. Eventually, while pursuing my music, things started to click for me with my acting. Music is a big key to me understanding the emotions of my characters. My first TV role was on "NY Undercover". I can also be seen on SNL in a lot of the sketches between '94-'96.
John/NA:F: Aside from appearing in numerous TV shows, I believe you recently made your on stage debut this past February in the play "Unconditional". Can you tell us a little about that and how it was for you, being live on stage compared to a recorded performance?
Yolonda: Last night was our last performance. It was amazing. I think we hit a new level of the show last night. You just wish you had one more chance to do it again. This was my first theater performance. I really enjoyed it. I'm used to film more than any of the other mediums. I pretty much feel for me personally it's somewhat the same as far as the acting process, BUT, there is that moment when you are in something and you realize, especially in quiet moments, that the audience is right there with you, that YOU are gripping them and holding them there for a moment, that you can never do again. With a movie or TV the viewer can always rewind and feel, or see that moment again. Also, the long rehearsal process with all the cast all day was different for me. It was almost like being in school.
John/NA:F: To add to your list of talents, you also seem to be an excellent singer judging by the songs being streamed on your MySpace page. Do you have or are you working on any recording projects available to the public?
Yolonda: Thanks for the comments on my music. At this time, I don't have a band. I had recently started working with a friend and her band, but then acting commitments came up. I had actually submitted one of my songs for "New Amsterdam". It was for the scene where we are in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel room. The way the scene played out was I was let into the room, and John was preparing the room for my arrival, champagne, music playing (which is what I submitted) and he was dancing a little to the music while I watched him without him knowing it. This whole opening to that scene was cut, unfortunately. They had me in a beautiful outfit! Not to mention how handsome he looked in his suit.
John/NA:F: Back to TV and your appearance in the new FOX series "New Amsterdam", can you tell me how you got a guest role and a little bit about the role you play?
Yolonda: I got the role of Lily by auditioning. It went just like any other job, but it did take an extended amount of time before getting that part. I had to be ok'd by FOX. I first auditioned for John Coles, the director, then David Manson, which was super sweet. I was very excited about the chance to play Lily. I had never done a period piece before, and the 40's is a great era to play in. Lily was a teacher. She and John know each other due to him being her father's lawyer. They started a relationship that her father knew nothing about. It was a very touching storyline and very interesting how they intergrated that subject into the cop part of the show. I think it was very well done.
John/NA:F: What was it like during your time on the set?
Yolonda: When I had joined the show it really was their first week of shooting. The pilot had already been done months before. So this was sort of the beginning of shooting the show. We shot this the second week in August in lower Manhattan and on the soundstage. Everyone was really cool. The days were really long, 'cause they were just figuring out their groove. It's not an easy thing shooting period stuff. And that's what this show is all about. John is all over in time, and that required the proper hair, proper way of speaking for the time, proper dress. A lot goes into each show.
John/NA:F: Is your role on NA a one time thing or do you think there's an opening for a return of some kind given your relationship to Omar and John should the series continue?
Yolonda: After shooting my segment of "New Amsterdam" and the chemistry we seemed to have on film, there was talk of me coming back into the show somewhere down the line. Also the fact that I'm Omar's mother was another factor. More could be learned about John and Lily's relationship. Omar could have the chance to find out more about his mother. As she died when he was young. I believe it was due to illness. Not sure though.
John/NA:F: Finally, where might fans see you performing next?
Yolonda: My next film is "CHOKE", with Sam Rockwell, and Angelica Houston. Not sure of the release date, probably the summer. Also, on DVD soon, the Bob Dylan movie "I'm Not There".
John/NA:F: Okay, I think that's it! I want to thank you for doing this. I really appreciate you taking the time out and I hope your appearance on "New Amsterdam" brings you a lot of positive feedback.
Yolonda: Thanks guys.
...and thanks again to Yolonda for her time! You can find out more about Yolonda Ross by visiting her official site and MySpace page.
Note: Please do not repost/reprint any portion of this Q&A without express permission. Thank You...
New Amsterdam's David Manson To Be On 'Shaun O'Mac Radio' (UPDATED)
March/01/2008 11:31 PM Filed in: Off-Site
David Manson one of the Executive Producers of New
Amsterdam will be on the Shaun O'Mac Radio show
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008. The program starts at
3:00PM PT / 6:00PM ET LIVE at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/shaunomacradio.
Please tune in and join Shaun in welcoming Mr. Manson with a warm NA welcome as we prepare for the series premiere on FOX ...and tell them "New Amsterdam : Forever" sent you!
UPDATE: Mr. Manson was originally scheduled to appear on Monday, March 3rd, but was detained. I, however, did call into the show during the second hour to talk with Shaun and Ken about the series. This episode should be available on iTunes shortly.
Please tune in and join Shaun in welcoming Mr. Manson with a warm NA welcome as we prepare for the series premiere on FOX ...and tell them "New Amsterdam : Forever" sent you!
UPDATE: Mr. Manson was originally scheduled to appear on Monday, March 3rd, but was detained. I, however, did call into the show during the second hour to talk with Shaun and Ken about the series. This episode should be available on iTunes shortly.
Transcript Of Conference Call With New Amsterdam's Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
February/29/2008 01:37 PM Filed in: Cast
On February 28th at 1:00PM CST, FOX held a conference
call interview featuring New Amsterdam's Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau, where members of the press could
call-in and ask questions. In it, Nikolaj talks about
what attracted him to the show, his co-stars, and his
sense that FOX's enthusiasm for the show is growing.
Here is a complete transcript of that call.
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Click Read More for the Transcript. Read More...
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Click Read More for the Transcript. Read More...
Videos: New Amsterdam Cast Talks About New York As A "Character"
February/03/2008 04:40 PM Filed in: Videos
A fourth interview video has been added to the Press
Kit Video Library. In this
segment Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Alexie Gilmore,
Zuleikha Robinson, and Stephen McKinley
Henderson talk about how the city of New York is
treated as a "character" in the series.
Yet more content to come, so keep checking back!
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
Yet more content to come, so keep checking back!
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
Videos: New Amsterdam Cast Talks About What Makes The Show Special
February/02/2008 09:11 PM Filed in: Videos
A third interview video has been added to the Press
Kit Video Library. In this
segment Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Zuleikha
Robinson, and Stephen McKinley Henderson talk
about what makes the show special.
I have still more video content to upload, so keep checking back.
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
I have still more video content to upload, so keep checking back.
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
Videos: New Amsterdam Cast Talks About Their Characters
February/02/2008 03:37 AM Filed in: Videos
Yet another new interview video has been added to the
Press Kit Video Library. In this
segment Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Alexie Gilmore,
Zuleikha Robinson, and Stephen McKinley
Henderson talk about the characters they portray
on the show.
More video content will be added over the next week, so keep checking back.
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
More video content will be added over the next week, so keep checking back.
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
Videos: New Amsterdam Cast Talks About The Show
January/31/2008 05:22 PM Filed in: Videos
A new video has been added to the Video Library. This is
an interview segment in which Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau, Alexie Gilmore, Zuleikha
Robinson, and Stephen McKinley Henderson talk
about what makes the show interesting.
More video content will be added over the next week, so keep checking back.
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.
More video content will be added over the next week, so keep checking back.
Discuss this news entry in our Forum.