Grey’s Anatomy explodes onto our screens tonight with an enormous double feature, fast tracking us closer to season end high drama. While the final episode is yet to start filming I had the chance to catch up on a quick call with the very lovely Giacomo Gianniotti who plays intern Dr Andrew DeLuca, about his role in the show and what he’s up to this weekend.
Gianniotti an Italian Canadian joined the cast of Grey’s in a recurring role in the season eleven finale and was promoted to series regular in January of this year. His character DeLuca was quick to establish himself as a young and very keen intern and even quicker to make an impression on the more senior attending Dr Maggie Pierce, Meredith’s long lost sister and head of cardio, with whom he’s had an on, now off, and we hope some day on again relationship. I started by asking him what it was like to join the cast of Grey’s.
M: Giacomo, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to SpoilerTV. Grey’s Anatomy is a well established much loved show…what’s it like being the new boy in town?
GG: It’s great! Everyone has been so welcoming. I’ve had some great storylines, especially with Kelly McCreary’s character Maggie (Pierce), MaLuca. It’s such an established show that I wanted to make sure I brought something new and different.
M: DeLuca is a loved character, what do you think it is that you were able to bring?
GG: I did some research back into the history. You know the show started with Interns and as time has gone on those interns have moved up and now run the hospital. So the opportunity was there to introduce myself as part of the new group of interns.
M: What’s it like to turn up on a Monday morning on Webber’s service with all this new terminology and medical practice to learn?
GG: I’ve had to have lessons on how to hold the instruments and what everything means. I was lucky enough to be able to see some surgeries live, things that you would never normally see. I was able to watch open heart surgery…which was pretty incredible.
M: I read an article where you talked about the moment you were asked to meet Shonda – when the choice was between two actors – how on earth do you prep to meet the queen of Thursday night drama?
GG: Gosh. You know I just tried to be myself and to see this as a regular job. That’s what this is. I know that’s a very boring answer but that’s what it is.
M: There’s a double episode on Thursday, that’s quite an event, we’re all excited. I understand this is a crucial night for Ben Warren…what can you tell us about the episodes?
GG: Yes, it’s a really big episode for Jason George’s character Ben Warren. A child goes missing in the hospital which leads to a lock down. Ben Warren and my character (DeLuca) are taking a pregnant lady to the OR and get stuck because the doors are locked down. The situation becomes critical and Ben makes the decision to operate. At the time he feels it’s the right thing to do. It’s the second time he’s done this. He did it a few episodes back where he operated on a patient with a clipboard and the patient survived. It’s a situation where you think you’re doing the right thing and the patient lived, so that’s a good thing right? There is fall out and a panel is convened.
M: Ben is an experienced doctor; he’s was a doctor before becoming a surgical resident?
GG: Right! He’s older, more experienced and he makes a decision that he feels is right.
M: DeLuca has been quiet on the surgical front recently; his stories have been really focussed on his romance with Maggie – is there hope for us poor Maluca fans?
GG: That’s right, DeLuca and Maggie are not together at this moment and so the writers have been getting him involved in other areas around the hospital.
M: Are you a Maluca shipper?
GG: Oh yes, definitely!
M: Now there’s a special event going on this weekend, you are raising money for an organisation – what’s happening?
GG: Yes. I’m involved with an organisation called My Friend’s Place (whose mission is to assist and inspire homeless youth to build self sufficient lives.)
Giacomo then explained to me how important this organisation is in providing the young homeless of LA with Safe Haven, Transformative Education and Health & Well Being Programs. He is particularly passionate about the creative program.
GG: They have a Creative and Living Arts program which encourages self-expression and development. They teach them all kinds of creative things like circus skills, drawing, music, making jewellery, to help them build confidence, life skills... This weekend we are taking part in a Tough Mudder race, trying to raise $10,000 for My Friend’s Place. We’re nearly there but we need more.
M: Some of the cast are involved?
GG: I’m really overwhelmed that some of my fellow cast from this wonderful show Grey’s Anatomy are joining me, Martin Henderson (Dr Nathan Riggs), Camilla Luddington (Dr Jo Wilson), Jason George, who plays such a big role in Thursday’s episode (Dr Ben Warren) and Joe Adler (Dr Isaac Cross). They are joining me in this race for this great cause, My Friend’s Place.
M: What does the training involve?
GG: I’m just doing hiking really, 5 mile hikes.
M: According to the website the event is being live streamed…this means SpoilerTV fans will be able to follow you on the web? We need to know what your start time is.
GG: YES! I just heard that today. We’re starting at 9am.
At this point his people give me the ‘last question’ prompt and we swing back to Grey’s and a couple of random questions.
M: Going back to Grey’s - It’s furiously making its way to the season finale…Your fellow Tough ‘Mudderer’ Jason has said in another article it’s a jaw dropper, is there anything you can tell us?
GG: We’ve not filmed season finale yet. We are currently doing the episode before that. But it’s Grey’s Anatomy, I’m sure there will be something big.
M: Will we ever get to hear you speak Italian on the show?
GG (Laughs): Yes, I hope so!
M: Finally, just before you go, I saw in another interview you said the role you’d most like to do is James Bond….
GG: (interrupts): I will be.
M: You want to give me your 20 second elevator pitch to the James Bond producers….
GG: (Interrupts again laughing): I AM going to play James Bond one day…It’s a fact.
Oh Giacomo, I really hope so.
Giacomo Gianniotti is taking part in the LA Tough Mudder event this Sunday, April 17.
You can support the event with a donation here…with a chance to win prizes including spending time with Giacomo himself. Seriously? Yes, seriously.
https://www.crowdrise.com/greysanatomytoughmudderformyfriendsplace
You can find out more about this great organisation here…
http://myfriendsplace.org/
And if you want to join in the race or just sit back in your arm chair and watch the fun you can find all the details here…
https://toughmudder.com/events/2016-los-angeles
Grey’s two-hour event is tonight April 14 starting at 8pm EDT!
BEN’S IMPULSIVE ACTIONS PUT HIS CAREER IN JEOPARDY, ON ABC’S “GREY’S ANATOMY”
“There’s a Fine, Fine Line” – After a missing child forces the hospital into lockdown, Ben decides to operate on a pregnant mother without the proper surgical equipment. Miranda, as Chief, is faced with the repercussions of the event and whether or not Ben’s impulsive actions were justified, on
“Grey’s Anatomy,” THURSDAY, APRIL 14 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) on the ABC Television Network.
“It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” – Miranda continues to deal with the aftermath of Ben’s reckless decisions and forms an advisory committee to recommend proper disciplinary action against him. Meanwhile, April and Jackson try to put their differences aside for the sake of their baby, and Arizona makes a decision that could affect her relationship with Callie forever, on “Grey’s Anatomy,”
THURSDAY, APRIL 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT) on the ABC Television Network.
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