Ona Grauer reveals her summer secret to ‘Bridge’ co-star Theresa Joy
Interviewee: Ona Grauer and Theresa Joy
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: July 29, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with ONA GRAUER who plays Abby St. James and THERESA JOY who plays Billy on THE BRIDGE.

 

These two actresses have far different tastes when it comes to celebrating the warmest months of the year.

Talking to CTV.ca at the CTV Fall Preview party earlier this year, Vancouverite Ona Grauer shared her one of her favourite summer activities, much to the surprise of her “Bridge” co-star Theresa Joy, who seems to enjoy more traditional pastimes.

On “The Bridge,” Grauer plays Abby St. James, prosecutor and Frank Leo’s secret lover. Joy plays police constable Billy, who always seems to be getting in trouble.

This summer Theresa Joy was also featured in a photo spread on Maxim.com, and has recently wrapped up filming “Wedding for One,” co-starring with Jennifer Finnigan. Grauer recently appeared on the big screen in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” as Artemis.

 

So what is your favourite thing to do in the summer?

Joy: Camping! I camp for like, four weeks, it’s amazing you know? But I camp by the beach, so I can have my margaritas too!

Grauer: I’m from Vancouver, so I like to go to Wreck beach, the nude beach, in the summer.

Joy: I’ll have to go there.

 

What’s the best summer vacation you’ve ever taken?

Joy: I made a film in the Republic of Georgia, near the Black Sea, and even though I was working, it was summer and it was unbelievable.

Grauer: Right after high school, my dad gave us some money, some camping gear and some mountain bikes, and we drove around the states for two months.

 

Favourite summer song?

Grauer: Bob Marley. Reggae!

Joy: Right now I love Ke$ha.

 

Summer this year?

Grauer: More camping, and maybe the nude beach!

 

Favourite Flavour of ice cream?

Grauer: Tiger!

Joy: What’s Tiger?

Grauer: It’s orange, with a ribbon of licorice.

Joy: Wow, I like the cookie dough Blizzard. That’s the way I have to have my ice cream done, big chunks of cookie dough.

‘Bridge’ stars Inga Cadranel and Paul Popowich: gone fishin’
Interviewee: Inga Cadranel and Paul Popowich
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: July 27, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with INGA CADRANEL who plays Jill and PAUL POPOWICH who plays Tommy Dunn on THE BRIDGE.

 

For these actors, there’s no better way to relax in the summer than kick back with a rod and a reel, some bait and a beer.

According to both Paul Popowich and Inga Cadranel, who co-star together as cops on the original CTV drama, “The Bridge,” they’re both lovers of fishing.

While their series is currently in hiatus for the summer (CTV has ordered a second season of the bridge), CTV.ca caught up with these two actors at the CTV Fall Preview presentation to find out how they celebrate the year’s warmer months.

And if their love of fishing doesn’t surprise you, maybe Cadranel’s favourite summer song will.

Written by Alan Di Fiore, “The Bridge” follows the exploits of police union boss Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas). Popowich plays Frank’s right hand man, Tommy, while Cadranel plays Jill, a detective with a little more than a soft spot for Frank.

Former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell serves as a producer for the series. Full episodes of “The Bridge” are currently available online at CTV.ca.

 

So what is your favourite thing to do in the summer?

Popowich: Fish, drink beer, swim. Not necessarily in that order.

Cadranel: Swim in the lake at my cottage.

 

What is the best summer vacation you’ve ever taken?

Cadranel: I went to the Northwest Territories and went lake trout fishing. I stayed in a cabin for about 3 weeks, it was awesome.

Popowich: Myrtle Beach!

 

Favourite summer song?

Cadranel: Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills”

Popowich: That’s your summer song? That’s awesome! Mine has to be “Feel Good Song of the Summer” by Queens of the Stone Age.

Cadranel: There you go. That is good.

 

How are you spending your summer this year?

Cadranel: So far I’ve been shooting some of a show called “Lost Girl,” then after that I don’t know!

Popowich: I’m getting ready for bass season, which opens July 1st and it’s “Fish On” from there out until the end of August.

 

Favourite flavour of ice cream.

Cadranel: I just discovered it, it’s cinnamon!

Popowich: Chocolate mint, but Butterscotch is a close second.

 

Since you guys play cops, what’s your favourite flavour of donut?

Cadranel: Hawaiian. Because I’m sassy and unpredictable.

Popowich: What would Tommy eat? It would have to be… the honey cruller.

Cadranel: Yeah!

CBS pulls ‘The Bridge’ from summer lineup
Interviewee: Craig Bromell
By:
Date: July 22, 2010
Source: CTV News

 

Note: This is an interview with CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer on THE BRIDGE.

 

Real life drama of ordinary cops
Interviewee: Inga Cadranel
By: Staff reporter
Date: July 7, 2010
Source: Times LIVE (South Africa)

 

Note: This is an interview with INGA CADRANEL who plays Jill on THE BRIDGE.

 

Bridging the cop drama gap
Interviewee: Craig Bromell
By: Debashine Thangevelo
Date: July 1, 2010
Source: Tonight (South Africa)

 

Note: This is an interview with CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer on THE BRIDGE.

 

‘Bridge’ star Ona Grauer would hang with Abby
Interviewee: Ona Grauer
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: June 11, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with ONA GRAUER who plays Abby St. James on THE BRIDGE.

 

For this Canadian actress, she has a good way to define her favourite characters.

Ona Grauer plays lawyer Abby St. James on the CTV original production, “The Bridge.”

During an interview with CTV.ca, Grauer says that if she could, she would hang out with her on-screen persona.

“I always say my favourite characters are the one’s I’d like to be friends with, and I would totally hang with her! She’s strong, she’s determined, she’s successful, she’ savvy, she’s smart,” says Grauer, who admits she always secretly wanted to go into the practice.

“If I wasn’t in acting, I’d love to be in law. Just the thought of eight years of schooling was not for me.”

“The Bridge” stars “Battlestar Galactica” alumni Aaron Douglas, who plays the street cop turned police union boss Frank Leo. Grauer’s character Abby is the lead council for the police union, while also having a secret relationship with Frank on the side.

Grauer, who was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and moved to British Columbia as a child, has appeared in a number of films, including “House of the Dead” and “Deep Evil,” while also appearing on the series “Stargate,” “Sliders” and “Smallville.”

Because of the tight-knit community of actors in Vancouver, Grauer figured it was only time before she would work with sci-fi vet Douglas.

“We have lots of mutual friends in Vancouver, but we had never met, and we had never worked together. So I think when I was testing for the show, afterwards I think we were both calling all our friends and asking ‘What’s he like? What’s she like?'” says Gauer, who adds they have a mutual friend in “Battlestar Galactica” actor Tahmoh Penikett.

“Flashpoint” fans may also remember Grauer from the episode, “The Fortress,” where she played a Russian nanny named Irina Kazkov. The actress remembers filming the episode during a particularly cold spell in January — and as a Vancouverite, wasn’t prepared for the chill.

“It was minus thirty, and I went for a wardrobe fitting, and they gave me a goose-down parka and told me whatever I brought from Vancouver was not enough! They said, take this coat, you’re going to need it!”

Grauer says she still keeps in touch with her “Flashpoint” co-stars, and says she goes out to dinner occasionally with David Paetkau and Michael Cram.

Writing is the draw for ‘Bridge’ star Michael Murphy
Interviewee: Michael Murphy
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: April 16, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with MICHAEL MURPHY who plays Ed Wycoff, the chief of police on THE BRIDGE.

 

With over 100 productions to his credit, this actor is no stranger to TV.

Michael Murphy, who played the title role in the Robert Altman directed series “Tanner ’88,” is Chief Ed Wycoff on the new CTV drama “The Bridge.”

The actor has also appeared in “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Away from Her,” “Child Star” and “Manhattan.”

Following his move to Canada, in 2004 and 2005 Murphy won two Best Supporting Actor Gemini awards for his work on “This is Wonderland.”

Born in Los Angeles, Murphy says he’s long enjoyed working up north, particularly in Toronto on production of “The Bridge.”

“I love working up here. We move around, there doesn’t seem to be any problems. The city is one of the stars,” Murphy tells CTV.ca.

“I’ve always liked the idea of a police thing; I’ve always wanted to do one like this, which is on the street and there’s a lot of action. Even though I wasn’t going to be on the street, I could still see that this was going to be an interesting character. I’ve been very lucky since I’ve come to Canada, I’ve dealt with the very best writers I’ve ever dealt with.”

“The Bridge” is a new CTV series which goes deep into the world of law enforcement, and the charismatic union boss, Frank Leo, played by Aaron Douglas. The controversial former Toronto police union leader Craig Bromell serves as Executive Producer on the series.

Speaking about Bromell, Murphy says “He has the experience, and he knows what he’s talking about, and ensure that this show has a real feel and look.”

Ed is continually working out deals with Frank, in locations like parking garages and lakeside lots, sometimes coming out on top, sometimes getting a raw deal from Frank. In a sense, Ed is more of a political animal, cowing to pressures from city hall instead of supporting cops on the street.

“It’s a very interesting relationship between Ed and Frank. I don’t know what the writers are going to do with my character,” says Murphy.

“We meet constantly in this out of the way places and cut deals. I don’t know how long that can go on.”

“The Bridge” stars Ona Grauer, Paul Popowich, Theresa Joy, Frank Cassini, Inga Cadranel and Stuart Margolin. Adam J. Shully, Laszlo Barna and Alan Di Fiore also serve as Executive Producers.

“The Bridge” airs Friday nights on CTV, with full episodes available online at CTV.ca.

Aaron Ashmore guest stars on ‘The Bridge’
Interviewee: Aaron Ashmore
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: April 8, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with AARON ASHMORE who plays Ben in episode 1×07: God Bless The Child of THE BRIDGE.

 

The Canadian star known for playing Jimmy Olsen on “Smallville” is set for an appearance on CTV’s gritty crime drama.

Ashmore plays a rookie cop named George in the new episode of “The Bridge” entitled “God Bless the Child,” where a kidnapping occurs in one rich neighborhood and one poor neighborhood.

“The Bridge” stars Aaron Douglas as police union boss Frank Leo, a controversial leader who is constantly at odds with the brass. The series, shot on location in Toronto, airs Friday nights on CTV.

Ashmore, whose twin brother Shawn has appeared in the “X-Men” movies, appreciates the break from his regular gig to take on a more mature role.

“I’m looking to play more grown up roles, and it’s nice to step into a part like this where there’s not so much pressure,” says the 30-year-old Ashmore.

“You can get a taste of playing something a little more mature, a little more serious even. I’ve played some serious stuff in the past, but I haven’t played my age. And it’s fun to play a cop, and carry the gun around.”

Ashmore is best known for his portrayal of Marc Hall in the CTV movie “Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story,” and has appeared in episodes of “CSI: NY” and “Veronica Mars.”

“I lean more towards serious roles, I’ve played everything, but that’s what I really respond to. Those are the things I’m most proud of, those types of roles. And when I look back, sometimes you surprise yourself with some of the work you do,” says Ashmore.

The actor says that one of the biggest differences between shooting “The Bridge” and “Smallville,” is that unlike the Superman-inspired series, “The Bridge” shoots mostly on location, instead of a set.

“On location, you have to deal with everything going on around you, like rowdy kids talking, but adds to the atmosphere, or the ambience of the scene,” says Ashmore.

“It makes it real. I think that’s what the show is going for. It’s tough to shoot like that, but that’s what makes the show amazing.”

“The Bridge” also stars Frank Cassini, Inga Cadranel, Michael Murphy, Ona Grauer, Paul Popowich and Theresa Joy.

Theresa Joy becomes ‘everything she wants to be’ on ‘The Bridge’
Interviewee: Theresa Joy
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: March 31, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with THERESA JOY who plays Billy on THE BRIDGE.

 

This classically trained actor finds strength portraying a detective on the new CTV series.

Theresa joy plays Billy, a feisty and tough street cop, who draws more danger and trouble than she deserves.

“I think she’s just totally driven and has a lot of energy, and she just wants to do the job right. Being a girl, you meet a lot of bad guys in your life and you don’t want to be a victim. So I think for her, she’s in a position where she can take them down and she can help other people,” Joy tells CTV.ca.

“Billy has the power to go out there and stop bad things from happening instead of waiting for them to happen to her. When she reads the newspaper, it doesn’t have to brew inside of her; she goes to work the next day and tries to stop it from happening.”

Billy is just one of the many characters that inhabit the world of “The Bridge,” which chronicles the actions of controversial union boss Frank Leo, played by “Battlestar Galactica” alum Aaron Douglas.

Joy has a number of television and film credits, including appearances on “Nip/Tuck,” “Entourage,” “Reno 911!: Miami,” and “Puck Hogs.” At one point, Joy was also a former NFL cheerleader. The actress currently splits her time between Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles and Europe.

When comparing herself with her character, Joy says playing Billy gives her a certain feeling of empowerment.

“Billy’s intimidating and I am not. I’m passive and I don’t like fights… I’ll let people be jerks and shrug it off because I don’t need to confront them. It’s weird, because if there’s a character that is not like me, then I really feel like I’m faking it,” says Joy.

“I never felt that way with Billy, so there must be something inside of me. It feels so comfortable to be her. She’s everything I would want to be. My characters in the past, they’d be someone Billy would have in handcuffs!”

When Joy found out she landed her role in “The Bride,” she discovered what life for police offers is really like.

“I went on a ride along in Buffalo, with the Buffalo Police Department in one of the most dangerous parts of Buffalo, and it was scary,” remembers Joy.

“I thought I was brave, but when I got there, I got a bullet proof vest, and I laughed and thought I was going to stay in the car the whole time. The first time I stepped into a house, it was a domestic call, but it’s the east side of Buffalo and it’s pretty scary, I don’t think I’ve even driven through the east side. So it was intimidating just to be there. The house was dark, the two officers I was with went in front of me, and all of a sudden I was like — ‘I don’t know who is around the next corner, I don’t know who is in the next room, I don’t know who might have a gun’ — I felt so helpless. Of course, they had guns and I didn’t. It was really scary. We did a high-speed chase, talked to some gang members, there was a robbery. I think we basically went through a lot of the crimes I find in my scripts, and that was all on one shift.”

The biggest lesson that Joy took from her ride along experience, was just how similar the lives of the officers on “The Bridge” reflect those of real-life cops.

“As an actor, you’ll read the scripts and hear about marriages going bad with alcoholism and suicide and somebody might think, ‘Oh, its TV, they want to keep the show interesting.’ From what I heard from the police officers, is that it’s all real. It’s hard on them. It’s not like other 9 to 5 jobs.”

During her ride along, Joy also remembers some of the more unusual reactions she received while accompanying the police officers.

“I was in character, in a sense, so I was wearing what Billy wears for the first few episodes. I just pulled something out of my own wardrobe which resembles that… these straight leg jeans and this black leather coat,” says Joy.

“During this one stop, this girl came out and said, ‘That’s what the cops are wearing now? That’s too cool for cops!'”

“The Bridge” airs Friday nights on CTV, with full episodes available online at Watch.CTV.ca.

Cop Out
Interviewee: Craig Bromell
By:
Date: March 19, 2010
Source: Calgary Herald

 

Note: This is an interview with CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer on THE BRIDGE.

 

The controversial former head of Toronto’s police union makes the move to show biz.

So you’re a cop, have been your whole adult life. Then, in two scant years, you slice through the politics to become the head of the police union in the country’s largest city. After six headline-grabbing years in the position, you retire from the force in 2003, but keep up the public profile by hosting a show in the bare-knuckles arena of talk radio. So what’s next? Putting up your feet and having a pina colada or two at the condo in Boca? Not if you’re Craig Bromell, a 26-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service.

Instead, Bromell is the executive producer of The Bridge, a drama series airing on CTV that focuses on the trials and tribulations of Frank Leo (as played by Aaron Douglas, above), a beat cop who rockets through the ranks to become the head of the police union, a la Bromell. Given the show’s dark subject matter–including corruption, coverups, suicide, sex scandals–wasn’t Bromell concerned that he was letting down his former brothers in arms? “I did think about that a lot. I wondered what my colleagues would think. Some will not be happy with me, I know that. I’m saying to everybody… ‘This is what happens. This is really what goes on behind the scenes.’ There’s a lot of wrongs, a lot of coverups. I wanted to jump into that.”

Equally important was bringing something fresh to the genre, he says. Audiences have responded to the show’s mix of grit and drama, with one million Canadians tuning in to the The Bridge’s recent premiere. “Cop shows have been done to death over the past 50 years. I wanted, and Alan (writer Alan Di Fiore, of Da Vinci’s Inquest) wanted, to create something different, that hadn’t been told before. People thought it was going to be a pro-cop show, but to give it authenticity, we have to give both sides of law enforcement. There’s good and evil on any major police service.”

Like Flashpoint, the series is a slickly produced package with no budget shortfalls or Canadiana evident on screen. And like its cop-centred counterpart, The Bridge has been sold south of the border and should be airing for Americans in the near future. “With CBS, we talked to them last week. We’re still looking at the summer. They just didn’t have the real estate for us. They didn’t have any shows to cancel.” And Bromell says the show didn’t pull any punches in delivering his somewhat autobiographical yarns: “Some of the stories are quite disturbing… From a dramatic point of view, we did some stories that both networks were concerned about… Frank Leo’s job is to deal with the negativity.”

Paul Popowich hopes ‘The Bridge’ provides a challenge
Interviewee: Paul Popowich
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: March 18, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with PAUL POPOWICH who plays Tommy Dunn on THE BRIDGE.

 

This seasoned screen actor says his new series provides a fresh new spin on a well-worn genre.

Police procedures have had a long run of popularity on television, including the “CSI” craze and modern reinventions on the theme, from “Flashpoint” to “The Wire.”

During an interview with CTV.ca, Popowich, who plays Tommy Dunn on “The Bridge,” says cop dramas in general have evolved because audiences have become more sophisticated.

“I think that forces people to tell their stories in different ways and take less traditional ways in approaching our show,” says Popowich.

“I think that’s exciting — you don’t know what to expect. It takes you in a different direction, and I hope that’s exciting for viewers.”

“The Bridge” is a new Canadian-made series on CTV. It follows the trials and tribulations of police union boss Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas), loosely based on the one-time controversial Toronto police officer and union head Craig Bromell, who serves as executive producer.

Popowich describes the show as being about “police, politics, power… the uneasy tension we have between law enforcement and society.”

“These are the people we want to protect us, and we give a lot of power to these individuals, and we expect it to be used judiciously responsibly. In our show, we look at that relationship and how it’s influenced by the brass at the top and how it affects our day to day lives as police officers.”

Popowich himself is no stranger to Canadian television, with memorable stints as Mr. Smith on “Twice in a Lifetime” and alongside Neve Campbell on “Catwalk.” The actor has also appeared as a Starfleet cadet on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

Born in Hamilton, Ont., and raised in Stoney Creek, Popowich holds a degree in English, Theatre and Film from McMaster University.

The actor also has a musical side as a piano and guitar player, and at one point was the lead singer for a rock band in Los Angeles. He began his acting career at the age of 15 with a role in “Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveler.”

Now on “The Bridge,” Popowich plays Tommy, the sidekick to Frank Leo, played by “Battlestar Galactica” heavyweight Aaron Douglas.

“Aaron is such a talented actor, and he’s really a very giving actor,” says Popowich.

“It’s easy to be in a scene with Aaron. We’ve developed a friendship on the show, and we can play on that with the banter…. They’ve been friends a long time — kind of like an old married couple in some ways — and they know what each other are thinking.”

“The Bridge” also stars Michael Murphy, Ona Grauer, Theresa Joy, Frank Cassini, Inga Cadranel and Stuart Margolin.

‘The Bridge’ is all about walls and snake pits
Interviewee: Craig Bromell and Alan Di Fiore
By: Brian Gorman
Date: March 16, 2010
Source: The Lindsay Post

 

Note: This is an interview with CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer and ALAN DI FIORE, one of the writers on THE BRIDGE.

 

“The Bridge” is one cop show that’s as much about bad management as bad guys.

The series, airing Fridays on CTV, blends the procedural drama of police work with some brand-new material: the behind-the-scenes politics of a big-city police force.

The character at the center, Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas, “Battlestar Galactica”), is a blue-collar street cop and the head of the police union in a large North American city.

And Craig Bromell, the co-creator and executive producer of the show, knows a little bit about both. He’s a former cop and one-time head of the Toronto police union.

“The head of the police union is up against the politics and the politicians, and the brass, and the media,” he says. “You’re never dealing with that cop saving people.”

“Bridge” co-creator and writer Alan Di Fiore interrupts: “In a big city, you’re dealing with 3,000 calls every day, and 10 percent of those calls are going to result in an officer in trouble for some reason or other. And that can be as simple as failing to follow procedure.”

“Part of the series is about the idea of how far Frank Leo will go to protect a cop, and how far will he cross the line to get the job done, to fulfill the police contract with society.”

The series co-stars Paul Popowich, Inga Cadranel, Frank Cassini, Theresa Joy and Ona Grauer.

It also features Michael Murphy (“This Is Wonderland”) as police chief Ed Wycoff, a coldblooded operator who would just as happily destroy Leo as use him for political gain.

“When Alan created this character, and I looked at it for the first time, I could easily picture five or six different police chiefs,” Bromell says. “It’s a fascinating character, and I think a lot of chiefs are going to look at him and go, ‘That’s so-and-so.’ “

There’s a fair amount of moral ambiguity in the series, and the cops certainly aren’t portrayed as white knights. One female officer tends to lean a little toward the use of unnecessary force — especially if she wants to get off shift in time.

Another is living in his car because his wife threw him out.

And at the center of the two-hour pilot episode was a cop who led a band of freelance thugs dressed as cops on missions to rip off drug dealers.

One constant is the band of “white shirts,” the top brass, who usually seem to be more interested in doing what will advance their careers than in backing their officers or fighting crime.

“Most cops just want to do their job,” Bromell says. “Just let us go and catch the bad guys. But there’s a lot of interference, just for political gain, usually from the brass down, and from the civilian oversight.”

“Once you have politicians involved, or once someone becomes a politician, like a chief or a deputy, it’s all personal: ‘How do I look?’ ‘How am I going to survive this?’

“It’s not ‘we’ anymore. It’s ‘I.’ And it causes a lot of problems in the major cities.”

From 1997 to 2003, Bromell was head of the Toronto Police Association, which put him in conflict with the chiefs of police.

Like Frank Leo, he came to prominence by leading a wildcat strike in his division,

And like Leo, Bromell worked in a division that spanned a rich and privileged neighborhood and a poor, crime-ridden one, connected by a bridge.

“The inner workings of a police union only deal with negativity,” Bromell says. “We never dealt with the hero cop. When I ran the union here — or the guys who are running it in any major city in the world — it’s all negativity.”

“It’s when the cop is in trouble, whether it’s justified or not. We were always trying to improve a situation that was really bad.”

Bromell says he didn’t want the show to be autobiographical. So when they started work on it, he asked Di Fiore to “go off and create the characters and create the incidents.”

“And he was able to get pretty well what I wanted, but he made it all up.”

Di Fiore has done a lot of TV about cops. In addition to doing scripts for “Da Vinci’s Inquest” and “The Handler,” he wrote the TV movie “The Life,” about Vancouver drug cops.

“I’ve ridden with a lot of cops, and I know a lot about cops,” he says. “So stuff that Craig talked about resonated immediately with me, because I had heard this from other police officers over the years.”

“Police officers are faced with two battles. Not only do they have to battle the guys on the street, but they have to battle their own brass to do what they need to do.”

“So we have this unwritten law in society: Do whatever you can to protect us, but if you have to break the law to do it, don’t let us catch you at it.”

‘Bridge’ star Inga Cadranel goes from troubled teen to wearing a badge
Interviewee: Inga Cadranel
By: Tyrone Warner
Date: March 10, 2010
Source: CTV

 

Note: This is an interview with INGA CADRANEL who plays Jill on THE BRIDGE.

 

Crediting her own past experiences, Cadranel says she’s more informed about the role of police officers than most actresses.

The actress, who plays the detective Jill on “The Bridge,” tells CTV.ca that “as a teenager I spent a bit of time in cop shops, so I wasn’t a stranger to the goings-on of how it all works!”

Cadranel says by looking back on her youth, she can now appreciate the role law enforcement played in her life.

“It’s always one of those things where you say you never regret anything and everything is a learning experience — I never thought my checkered past would come into play someday, but now I go, ‘Wow.’ As an actress, I know the processes and the routines… I guess I had a rough teenage life, and it came in handy! It’s the first time I’ve ever looked at these things from the other side, from the cops’ point of view,” says Cadranel.

“It never would have crossed my mind as a young person that these people (the police) are actually human, with families and problems of their own. I’ve learned so much, and I’ve learned to be more open minded. We’re all humans, and everyone’s got their jobs, and this is a job, and they are doing their best. The public’s point of view is that the cops are the enemy, unfeeling emotional guys who want to make your life hell, and this show has taught me about the reality of these people, their humanity, and what it really means to be a police officer.”

“The Bridge” centers on the world of law enforcement and Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas), the hardened street cop tasked with leading the police union.

On the series premiere of “The Bridge,” Cadranel’s Jill shares a steamy make out session with Frank Leo (Douglas) down on Toronto’s waterfront, before cutting things short with consideration for her own girlfriend’s feelings.

“Jill is quite the cool character to play. She’s a bisexual character which is really fun, and she’s a pretty serious cookie. For a female character, she’s like one of the guys, but she’s kind of a hard-ass,” says Cadranel.

“She’s dealing with some horrific stuff on a day-to-day basis, and being a female cop in that world and getting respect, and being at one of the top levels you can be at as a police officer — she’s not easily ruffled. She’s edge and serious. She’s having an affair with the lead guy, which is another fun element.”

Jill isn’t a typical female police office that viewers usually see portrayed on TV — and the actress who plays her couldn’t be happier! Because Cadranel is constantly reading auditions with her husband, and seeing the kinds of parts he auditions for, she says she’s often jealous of the kinds of roles he reads.

“I’m constantly going; ‘I wish there were female parts like this!’ The cool cops are always written for men… just the style is very specific for men,” says the actress, who remembers seeing something different the first time she read the part of Jill.

“She’s written like a guy! She has the same strengths, the same conviction, and the same manner of speaking as a man would, and female actresses don’t get to do that a lot. This is one of those things where I go, ‘Whoa, this is a gift.’ She doesn’t have elements of weakness, or a style I’m used to auditioning for — she’s just got this strength to her, and that’s what attracted me to the character.”

Raised in a show business family in Toronto, Cadranel began her career with a leading performance in the Young People’s Theatre production of The Cabbagetown Caped Crusaders, directed by her mother Maja Ardal.

Cadranel has also won a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Actress for “Rent-a-Goalie,” where she starred alongside her husband, Gabriel Hogan. The actress has also appeared on the big screen in “Killshot,” which stars Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke.

When talking about transitioning from doing a sitcom like “Goalie,” to serious dramatic fare like “The Bridge,” Cadranel says the change has been difficult.

“It’s hard, I won’t lie. Shooting ‘Rent-a-Goalie,’ you just feel like you are goofing off with a bunch of friends in their basement with a camera, like you feel like you are fooling around and having fun. That’s the way to work when you’re doing comedy — to have as much fun in between scenes as possible,” says the actress.

“Going to something that’s really serious, dealing with murders and children’s abductions, has been difficult. I’m not a method actor, and I think I’m just an actor playing a role, but it’s not until I get home and I realize how much baggage I bring with me. My personality gets heavier and darker. I’ve got a toddler at home, and I have to switch gears very quickly!”

“The Bridge” airs Friday nights on CTV, with full episodes available online at CTV.ca.

Vancouverite Frank Cassini in ‘The Bridge’
Interviewee: Frank Cassini and Craig Bromell
By:
Date: March 5, 2010
Source: Urban Trendz

 

Note: This is an interview with FRANK CASSINI who plays Bernie “Rabbi” Kantor and CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer on THE BRIDGE.

 

In the two-hour series premiere, Friday, March 5 at 9pm on CTV, Frank Cassini portrays the on going role of Sgt. Bernie Kantor, affectionately referred to as “Rabbi.”

“I had a great time shooting The Bridge,” say’s Cassini, “the cast was fun to work, the writing is excellent, and the energy of us exploring new characters on-set was palpable.”

“My character is a go to guy. He’s a veteran who offers a good word here and there to his officers. He’s loved and respected, and stands by his officers no matter what”.

In order to prepare for his role, Cassini participated with the Metro police to ensure accuracy. Written by five-time Gemini Award-winner Alan Di Fiore (“Da Vinci’s Inquest,” “The Handler”), and inspired by insights of former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell, the series debuts with a two-hour premiere, before moving to its regular slot Fridays at 10pm March 12.

“Once I jumped in, I thought the only way we were going to be successful at this was if I take in my knowledge of the street.” say’s executive prodcer Bromell, “Plus shooting in an old police station made it authentic,” said Bromell. Bromell’s time with the Toronto force was spent as an officer at 51 Division. The unit patrolled a district that ranged from wealthy Rosedale to low-income Regents Park.

Dividing these two opposing vicinities was a bridge.

“I started thinking about the bridge that separated these neighbourhoods and social classesn and applied it to law enforcement in general,” explains Bromell. “I found there was also a bridge between the rich and the poor, the good guy and the bad guy, the rank-and-file and the brass. So we use the title as a metaphor for many opposing elements.”

In Friday’s special two-hour series premiere beat cop Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas, ‘Battlestar Galactica’) is fed up. Bridge Division is understaffed, and good cops are being blamed for a spate of mysterious drug rip-offs. Then Frank’s mentor, framed by the corrupt police brass, commits suicide. When Frank realizes the brass won’t give his mentor a police funeral, it’s the last straw. He leads a walkout strike, putting his career and the careers of his entire division on the line. Then, when Frank and his fellow officers are blamed for an act of “Contagious Fire”, the brass sees the perfect opportunity to get rid of Frank once and for all. Frank realizes that in order to save himself and change things, he must take over the reigns of the Police Union. He soon finds himself thrust into a treacherous world of politics, intrigue and violence. And just as he’s become head of the Police Union, Frank is forced to make a critical decision that could ultimately bring him down.

‘The Bridge’ also stars Paul Popowich (‘Angela’s Eyes’) as Frank’s partner and confidante Tommy Dunn; Inga Cadranel (‘Rent-A-Goalie’, ‘MVP’) as Jill, the free-spirited cop on the force; Theresa Joy (‘All the Good Ones Are Married’) as feisty tomboy Police Constable Billy; Ona Grauer (‘Stargate’) as beautiful, passionate prosecutor Abby St. James; Michael Murphy (‘Away from Her,’ ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’) as Chief of Police, and political animal, Ed Wycoff; and Emmy Award winner Stuart Margolin (‘The Rockford Files) as Frank’s father, Vic Leo.

John Moore with Craig Bromell on Moore in the Morning (Newstalk 1010)
Interviewee: Craig Bromell
By: John Moore
Date: March 4, 2010
Source: NEWSTALK 1010 (YouTube)

 

Note: This is an interview with CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer on THE BRIDGE.

 

Craig Bromell, executive producer of THE BRIDGE sits down with NEWSTALK 1010.

John Moore with Craig Bromell on Moore in the Morning (Newstalk 1010)
Craig Bromell is the former head of Toronto’s Police Union. He is now the creator and an executive producer of the new show “The Bridge” airing on CTV in Canada and CBS in the US. Check out John’s on-air interview and what they talk about when the microphone has been turned off.

From street cop to TV producer
Interviewee: Craig Bromell
By: Joe Warmington
Date: March 3, 2010
Source: Toronto Sun

 

Note: This is an interview with CRAIG BROMELL, the Executive Producer on THE BRIDGE.

 

Craig Bromell always wore with honour his “made up” image of being a union thug with a badge.

However, a decade after “scaring” the hell out of some “targeted” Toronto politicians, the former Toronto Police Association boss-turned TV producer now says they were not being bugged back in the Year 2000 as many of them feared. It was, he said, nothing but theatrics.

“I was urged at the time to reveal we actually didn’t do that but we were having too much fun watching them jump around,” Bromell said Wednesday. “We were conning the cons.”

However he doesn’t deny having the “1-800 snitch line” for people to offer dirt on politicians. “You wouldn’t believe the stuff we had but we didn’t use it because it was all a bluff as part of our negotiations.”

It worked. They got their pay increase.

“Bully Bromell’s” scripted antics and continuous blurred blue line was the stuff of movies and those same politicians, who spent thousands of dollars looking for bugs in their offices, will be in front of their TVs on CTV Friday at 9 pm to watch this two-hour premier movie because “The Craig Bromell Show” continues in the form of a hot-looking new cop drama called The Bridge.

Back in the day, the show was reality as Bromell had gone from a tough street cop from 51 Division, where he led a wildcat strike, to an almost Jimmy Hoffa-style head the 7,000-member association as president. Later his reality show took to the air waves as firebrand talkshow host on AM 640.

Now 50, the cigar-smoking and scotch-drinking/devoted husband and father, not only called it as he saw it but always seemed to add a little extra vinegar to enhance the sting.

In both roles, you always knew what you would get. However as the curtain gets ready to be raised on his third act as a TV producer, a lot of people are curious ( nervous?) at just what and who they will see in The Bridge. There have been 13 episodes filmed — in Toronto — starring Aaron Douglas as union boss Frank Leo and Michael Murphy as Chief Wycoff who will duke it Fridays on CTV at 10 p.m.

“It’s a fictional series,” assured executive producer Bromell with a chuckle. “It’s not based on any specific person but on characters created by Gemini-winning writer Alan DeFiore.”

I guess we take him at his word as Bromell insisted the show, which will debut on CBS in the summer, is more of a compilation of characters and story lines based on his time at the head of the police union, of conflicts between the men and women in uniform in the street on any big city force and those wearing the white shirts and suits.

“It’s not always flattering,” Craig said from the very table at Bistro 990 on Bay St. where he both “ran the union” and created this new show on a napkin with co-producer Adam Shully. “In fact, it’s very disturbing. There is stuff you have never seen before. We couldn’t get permits for our car chases because they are actually at 100 miles an hour and there are beatings and arrests depicted the way these things really happen.”

“We broke every rule to get this done and took a lot of chances,” he added.

As former mayor Mel Lastman, former Police Services Board member Jeff Lyons or former police chiefs David Boothby or Julian Fantino will confirm, they’ve seen that kind of independence before.

“Enough is enough,” Lyons told the board Jan. 26, 2000. “I was also was intimidated . . . I also had my office swept to make sure there were no bugs there.”

There were no bugs! And, just like the Bromell-led bugging drama at City Hall 10 years ago, The Bridge, too, is nothing but fiction!

Don’t you just love show business!

‘The Bridge’ puts new spin on police force politics
Interviewee: Inga Cadranel
By: Constance Droganes (entertainment writer, CTV.ca)
Date: March 2, 2010
Source: CTV News

 

Note: This is an interview with INGA CADRANEL who plays Jill on THE BRIDGE.

 

There are cop dramas that go by the book. Then there is “The Bridge,” a new CTV police-force series that jacks up the TV-viewing intensity.

Debuting on Friday, March 5 at 9 p.m. on CTV, the two-hour series premiere begins as a frustrated beat cop (Frank Leo) sees his mentor framed by corrupt police brass.

His mentor’s subsequent suicide forces this officer into the treacherous world of police-force politics, intrigue and violence.

“This is a very gritty show that doesn’t pussyfoot around,” says Canadian costar Inga Cadranel, 31.

The series is based on the personal accounts of former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell. That authentic, insider’s point of view helps “The Bridge” reach beyond traditional cop-show formulas, says Cadranel.

“This is no ordinary procedural shows about cops solving a case,” says the Gemini-nominated Toronto actress.

“The storylines centre around unions and politics, all the inner workings of the police force itself,” says Cadranel.

Best-known for her work in the TV comedies “Rent-a-Goalie” and “Jeff Ltd.,” Cadranel portrays a strong-willed detective moving up the ranks of a fictitious Canadian police department in “The Bridge.”

Cadranel’s attitude and believability as a female officer instantly impressed Bromell and his real-life police friends.

“It’s hard to find that realistic mix in an actress. I was lucky to pull it off. But, it wasn’t always easy,” says Cadranel.

The mother of a four-year-old son, Cadranel’s greatest challenge on “The Bridge” came whenever the show spotlighted crimes against children.

In one episode a six-year-old is killed in a Regent Park apartment complex in Toronto.

“I had to watch my partner pretend to pick this kid’s hair fibres out of a wall. It was terrible because I knew the moment was based on real events,” says Cadranel.

Throughout the shoot Cadranel could hear babies crying outside the apartment buildings.

“The whole moment hit me hard,” says Cadranel. “Separating myself from these murdered children took a great deal out of me.”

 

Cadranel is memorably defiant in “The Bridge”

Born into a showbiz family, Cadranel’s parents, Maja Ardal and Jeff Braunstein, are stage actors, directors and writers.

Her brother, Paul Braunstein, is also an actor.

“When we were growing up we had all these crazy, in-your-face guys around the house. For us it was like, ‘Ugh! Actors again,'” she laughs.

As an act of rebellion, Cadranel stayed clear of the family business until high school.

“In was in my blood. I knew this was my calling,” says Cadranel.

Now married to “Heartland” star Gabriel Hogan, who also grew up in an acting family, the model-pretty actress launched her career in Toronto theatre in the mid-1990s.

She has since appeared in television series such as “The Eleventh Hour,” “Relic Hunter” and “ReGenesis.”

Cadranel also appeared in Mickey Rourke’s 2008 crime drama, “Killshot.”

CBS has also picked up “The Bridge” as part of their lineup. Cadranel’ and cast could see their careers explode in the U.S. market should the show do well.

“It’s so hard to predict these things,” says Cadranel.

“This show is super intense and takes many chances. That is a risky thing to do with audiences,” she says. “We’ll just have to wait and see how the public responds.”

Shoe fits as acting duo collaborates
Interviewee: Inga Cadranel
By: Rita Zekas
Date: January 16, 2010
Source: Toronto Star

 

Note: This is an interview with INGA CADRANEL who plays Jill on THE BRIDGE.

 

Mother and daughter share a certain talent but Ardal defers to Cadranel when it’s time to shop.

Actors Maja Ardal and Inga Cadranel don’t have a mother-and-daughter act, but it is inevitable. They share a profession, a shoe size (7), a love of footwear and a wicked sense of humour.

Ardal is back from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she staged her Dora-Award winning one-woman play You Fancy Yourself, now playing in Toronto at Theatre Passe Muraille through Jan. 23. Cadranel has a series The Bridge, set to debut on CTV and CBS, and is off to Los Angeles for pilot season.

They converge at Walking on a Cloud at 2010A Queen St. E. in the Beach because Ardal has been drooling over a pair of Hunter rubber boots for weeks. She is going for the Hunters and a pair of MBTs, shoes with a “rocker” sole that are supposed to be a workout for the feet.

“I have an addiction for winter boots,” Cadranel confesses, trying on a tall MBT boot. “Gabriel (Hogan, her guy) makes me do ‘one pair in, one pair out’ if I bring another pair home.”

Ardal puts on a bootie MBT and struts her stuff around the shop.

“Mom upstages me,” Cadranel gripes good-naturedly. “It has been my whole life. I grew up with two actor parents (her father is actor Jeff Braunstein), and an older brother who acted (Paul Braunstein, Train 48). From an early age, I studied acting and learned to be the audience.”

Recalls Ardal: “I was at TWP (Toronto Workshop Productions) playing Medea, a woman killing her children, and Inga was only 4, I played for an audience of 10 people and my 4-year-old daughter. The next night, Inga comes with a huge bag of toys. She said, ‘Look Mom, I brought you an audience.'”

Ardal, who was born in Iceland, played Mrs. Potts on Road to Avonlea. She is a playwright, performer, theatre instructor and director. In You Fancy Yourself, Ardal plays 12 characters using two costumes and a box.

“The characters are not there (in the flesh) but you ‘see’ them,” she explains. “I do crowd scenes where the mob chases a girl and beats her up. It’s a workout and I love it. There is comedy, drama, a little bit of tears and a sense of understanding. It’s a treatment of bullying, cruelty, love and loyalty.”

Cadranel doesn’t get much in the wardrobe department on The Bridge, either.

“I can wear boots – I am a tough detective, a bisexual cop. I’m the first bisexual on Canadian TV,” she says proudly.

“I have to pull it off and be believable and not be a gimmick. In the beginning, I have a girlfriend but she was scared of my aggression. I have an affair with the lead guy on the show (Aaron Douglas from Battlestar Galactica).

“I wear a fitted man’s suit and a trench coat. You are so butch but it is a nice change from babe roles where I dress up in heels and makeup. In Bridge, there is no makeup. You look like crap and it’s perfect.”

Is Ardal a shopper?

“Inga shops for me,” she insists. “When she buys me clothes, I look better. She tells me what’s hot.”

“My mom had bells all over her dress,” Cadranel recalls. “She was a hippie; I was mortified. Every other mom was in a suit and I longed for a ‘suit parent’ as a kid.”

Cadranel shops everywhere. “I really dress for the way I feel that day. I’ll shop Kensington, American Apparel and H&M for basics. I can do rocker chic and I love vintage. I get weird things like aprons and make them into dresses. I don’t need a label; I can get something at Zellers.”

“She takes after my 84-year-old mother,” says Ardal.

“She would take a blanket, leave the fringe off and make it into a coat.”

Ardal is finishing writing the sequel to You Fancy Yourself, called The Cure for Everything.

“It’s about Beatles, bombs and getting groovy,” she says.

“My mother is sexually coming of age,” jokes Cadranel.

Adral replies: “I’m 60 and doing a teenage sex play. I better pull out that bells dress.”

Meet Inga Cadranel
Interviewee: Inga Cadranel
By: Flannery Dean
Date: December 21, 2009
Source: Rogers Spotlight

 

Note: This is an interview with INGA CADRANEL who plays Jill on THE BRIDGE.

 

Inga Cadranel played Francesca in the Showcase comedy Rent-A-Goalie, a role that won her two Canadian Comedy Awards. Now, the Toronto-born and bred actress is getting serious, playing a tough detective on the new CBS/CTV co-production The Bridge. (The series will debut in early 2010.) Here, the down-to-earth actress talks about comedy, female cops on TV, her and favourite cop drama of all time.

 

The Bridge is a cop drama in a sea of cop dramas on TV — what sets this one apart for you?

[The Bridge] deals with the union, the internal affairs of the police force itself, so that’s what makes it different and interesting… In that regard, it’s an interesting sell to people on the police force, because it’s talking about police in a very real way. It’s saying that not everybody is out there to protect and serve; there are a couple of guys out there who are pretty scary and shifty.

 

The Bridge is a co-production between CBS and CTV, what does that mean to you as an actor, if anything?

It just gets me excited in a new way. The big car chases and the explosions, they get more of a budget for that, so the show is going to look fantastic. I’m really excited to be on a show that’s going to be shown in the States. Obviously that’s the brass ring as a Canadian actor, to have notoriety in the States. This is kind of what we’re aiming for as actors and to be able to do it from home is a gift. That’s always been my dream: to be in an American show that shoots from home so my child can stay in his school and I can stay around my parents and my brother who just had a baby.

 

You play Jill, a major crimes detective. How does she fit in the world of the show?

Jill is definitely the female with the attitude. She’s a bisexual cop and she’s also having an affair with Frank (Aaron Douglas), the show lead. He constantly comes to my partner and I for information even though we’re not supposed to give it to him. But he’s trying to solve the internal side of things. That’s kind of where I fit into the show. He literally pumps me for information!

 

Are you a fan of the genre? What are your favourite cop shows?

The original Law & Order was what got me back into cop dramas. After Hill Street Blues faded away I think the cop drama did too, a bit. I don’t really consider Miami Vice a cop drama, and that’s what we were offered for a while. Then all of a sudden Law & Order came out and it smacked everyone in the face with its realism. No one had ever seen a show like that. The acting was so real. The lighting was raw. It was one of the first shows to use the handheld moving camera. It’s been on for so long that now it’s been branching off. But I couldn’t really get into the other ones. I’m still such a fan of the original.

 

Do you have any favourite female cop characters?

No, I think my favourite female cop character was the girl from Third Watch [actress Tia Texada]. The lead female – I can’t remember her name – my husband/boyfriend/whatever you want to call him, and I used to watch her and say, ‘Wow, she’s awesome.’ She is just real and raw and has one of these faces that is amazing. I love to watch a real human face. Other than that there aren’t that many female cops I can think of that I admire. I was a bit young for Cagney & Lacey! Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) has some moments. Her acting is good.

 

You won a Canadian Comedy Award for your role as Francesca on Rent-A-Goalie…

Yes, I did, which is so funny because when I tell people on The Bridge they are like ‘No way.’ On The Bridge there’s no room for any humour-the show is so serious and dark. I actually got nominated for another comedy award this year and I was in the hair and makeup room and told the other actors and everyone was like, ‘No you’re not.’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am; I’m funny.’ Im trying to prove to them that I’m funny.

 

The Bridge will premiere in 2010. Check CTV and CBS for future airdate.

The Geminis: buddy, can you spare a tux?
Interviewee: Theresa Joy
By: Gayle MacDonald
Date: November 13, 2009
Source: The Globe and Mail

 

Note: This is an interview with THERESA JOY who plays Billy on THE BRIDGE. Theresa’s part of the article is in blue font if you want to just skip to that part.

 

Everyone looks like a million bucks at the Geminis. But most Canadian actors can’t afford too much champagne, Gayle MacDonald reports

At Saturday night’s 24th annual Gemini Awards ceremony in Calgary, the cameras will capture Canada’s top TV talent, gussied up, glam and giving the impression that an actor’s life is impossibly charmed – even grand.

But scratch beneath the high-gloss surface – and chat with a few journeyman actors – and you’ll get an entirely different story.

Talk to anyone who’s helmed a top show, and you hear countless tales of the pay-your-dues-reality of most working actors’ day-to-day existence – like the bloke with a guest role on a hit TV series who couldn’t afford a tux for the Geminis, so had to rent one. Or the gal on a prime-time comedy who blew her monthly budget on acting classes and had to borrow a little black dress. And another actor, with a recurring role on yet another weekly cop show, who almost missed his plane because he was doing voiceover work as a crusty, old panda in a kid’s cartoon. In today’s less-than-booming entertainment economy, they are being squeezed even more, not less.

Indeed, when the show’s over at Calgary’s BMO Centre, most actors will throw off their fancy garb and return home to juggle multiple jobs (bussing tables, driving cabs, working retail) or multiple careers (commercials, voiceovers, radio promos, script writing, stage managing) – the multitasking survival game necessary to pay the bills while they wait weeks, often months, for agents to call with the next gig.

“It’s a very small percentage – perhaps 5 per cent of Canadian actors – who actually make a living strictly acting,” says veteran Toronto casting agent Lisa Parasyn, adding almost every actor she knows has a second, sometimes a third, job.

“The everyday working actor makes $10,000 to $20,000 a year,” estimates Parasyn’s business partner Jon Comerford, who is casting Showcase’s new show Crash & Burn , which debuts Nov. 18. “If you’re a regular on a series, you can make $80,000 to $100,000, but those people are the minority. In the mid-eighties to late-nineties, Lisa and I would have been casting several movies of the week, which shot in 24 days and paid actors $1,500 to $2,000 a day. Those same movies are now shot in 14 days and the average actor makes $600 a day. Practically every show we work on these days is paying [union] scale. American budgets traditionally used to be much higher, but they simply aren’t any more.

“But actors are a rare breed. They do it because they love it. … A certain temperament becomes an actor, but it’s not for everybody.” Further proof that the starting-out actor’s life can be hand-to-mouth was handed down in the most recent Hill Strategies research report that found actors experienced the sharpest decline in average earnings among artists from 1990 to 2005, dropping 34 per cent to about $18,000.

Of course, there are always the lucky few who catch that proverbial “big break.” They’re the same gang (think Paul Gross or Flashpoint ‘s Hugh Dillon) who may lend their voice to plug a car or life-insurance company, but they dabble on the lucrative sidelines because they can – not because they have to. For instance, Dillon, who also stars in the critically acclaimed series Durham County , can be heard in national advertising campaigns for Chrysler and Manulife, and in the video game Left 4 Dead 2 as well.

But for the vast majority of actors, the side jobs are needed to pay the rent, keep the heat on, and buy the groceries.

Everyone in the acting trenches has stories to tell. Single mom Theresa Joy, who recently scored a role as a rough-and-tumble street cop on the upcoming CBS/CTV police series The Bridge , made ends meet for years in a multitude of jobs – bartender (hated it), Buffalo Bills cheerleader (she viewed the stadium crowd of 80,000 as her audience and the skimpy uniform as “my costume”), co-host of Super Bowl half-time shows, beer babe on Budweiser and Labatt’s commercials, and selling clothes over eBay.

The 31-year-old actress also did several independent features, films she describes as “pretty far out there, but I got the lead role, so I took them. Most of them no one’s ever seen. Or likely will.”

Joy, who lives in Stoney Creek, Ont., with her 12-year-old, says her daughter has seen her do some pretty crazy things over the years. “She’s seen me get down, and have to pull myself back up, just about every other week. But acting is what I always wanted to do, and I couldn’t ever give up. It’s just really expensive when you’re getting started. In fact, you’re usually not making money; it’s costing you money.

“When I got The Bridge I was so grateful,” adds Joy. “To have a craft truck and people coming to make sure I’m comfy, is a blessing. Sheer bliss. If I work 13- to 14-hour days, it doesn’t matter to me. Struggling for a long time makes you appreciate where you are – and where you’re trying to get.”

For more than 10 years, St. Catharines, Ont., native Jeffrey R. Smith has paid his acting dues. Now – just off a role in AMC’s six-part miniseries, The Prisoner , with a role in ABC’s upcoming show Happy Town and a part in the feature film Casino Jack (opposite Kevin Spacey) – the actor hopes he’s finally rounded the corner and landed the parts to ensure a steady stream of work.

Roughly speaking, a series lead in this country, on a show with major U.S. distribution, could make between $10,000 and $40,000 per episode. However, Canadian regulars appearing in a low-budget series, possibly without major American distribution, make in the area of $1,000 a day. Most of these shows shoot between four to seven days an episode, (with the actors not necessarily on set every day) and are usually picked up for between six and 22 episodes.

“I’m on a roll, I think,” says Smith, reached on his cellphone in New York City. “A small price to pay for free accommodation,” he quips.

But while things have definitely been looking up for the 39-year-old, Smith still figures his acting income only brings in $20,000 to $25,000 a year – which explains his sideline occupation as a personal assistant to American film and TV producer Michael Maschio, and many voiceover gigs. This past week, for example, he auditioned in Toronto for the part of “some scary squirrel” for a Nelvana kids’ show.

“I also do a lot of radio-announcer stuff, but animation is fun because it’s decent, fast money and it flexes a whole different creative muscle,” adds the actor.

“Last year, when I came back from The Prisoner [which premieres tomorrow night] I didn’t work for almost four months,” recounts the George Brown College grad. “In those times, I have to dip into my lines of credit – and then when I get another job, it’s catch-up. I see some of my peers who have left the business and now own their homes, and that’s the thing I haven’t done yet. But I’ve fulfilled my dream. So I have no regrets.”

Toronto’s Rich Caplan, of the Noble Caplan Agency, says he knows actors who have become so successful doing voiceover work — that they can’t afford to be “actors” any more. Others just turn to a commercial or two a year to get them through particularly slow times. Then, Caplan adds, “there are some actors who find a balance, seeming to be able to do it all, do it well and make a good living.”

In that category fits Caplan’s client, Martin Roach, a 40-year-old, married father of three who lives in Ajax, Ont., and commutes to Toronto daily. Acting for 14 years, Roach dabbles in it all, routinely making six figures a year, juggling TV series such as Slings & Arrows , cartoons, commercials and radio promos.

His trick? Roach credits a strong work ethic, and his great, baritone voice. “Right now, I’m a steak in a television commercial,” he chuckles.

“I guess the amount of work I get is a little above the norm. My voice helps me get into the voice department. … I have zero desire to ever work 9 to 5. If I didn’t act, you’d probably read about me in the newspapers. And not in a good way.”

Aspiring actor Douglas Nyback, 24, also boosts his acting income by moonlighting. The Camrose, Alta., native, who recently nabbed a part in the feature film Kit Kittredge: An American Girl as well as a guest starring role in CBC’s Being Erica , also works 40 hours a week coaching fellow actors at Toronto’s Dean Armstrong Studio.

“My immediate family have always been extremely supportive but I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me over the years and said, ‘When are you going to get a real job?,'” Nyback says.

“It irritates me, but acting is all I ever wanted to do. … But I must say this profession takes tremendous endurance.”

Not to mention, a willingness to do menial labour and be a jack-of-all-trades. Even Brad Pitt wore a chicken costume for the El Pollo Loco restaurant chain before landing a role on the eighties soap Dallas .

And Saturday night, Gemini presenter Cory Monteith, the Calgary-born star of Fox’s hit show Glee , could charm the crowd by sharing the fact that he drove cabs as well as worked as a people-greeter for Wal-Mart before hitting it big as the singing jock Finn Hudson.