Pasted below- spacing issues theirs, not mine.
Jeffrey Donovan: I Made the World Love Angelina Jolie
by Parade.com
Wednesday January 21, 2009, 11:00 PM
The good news is that Jeffrey Donovan gets to spend a lot of time in Miami in Burn Notice as an agent fleeing for his life after being dumped by the CIA. The bad newsis that a lot of his day is taken up with demanding stunts fighting bad guys who want himdead.
The combination of a tropical paradise and Donovan's cool appeal have earned the USA seriessome respectable ratings. And Donovan has gotten some extra respect for his recent appearance as anefarious police detective harassing Angelina Jolie in Changeling.
Q: We've seen you shirtless before, but this season you're wearing a Speedo in the openingepisode.
A: Taking off your shirt is nothing, but I was nervous about stepping on camera in thatskimpy little thing. It made me appreciate what it takes for a woman to wear a bikini which is whatmy co-star Gabrielle Anwar had on. I thought she looked a lot better than I did.
Q: There's a lot of sexual tension between you and Gabrielle who's helping you survive inMiami. When is there going to be a full blown romance?
A: I hope never. There will always be tension between us but it should never lead to anythingbecause I think it's more fun to play unrequited passion. When things get sexual I equate it toGilligan getting off the island - the show is over. I mean think of Moonlighting when Bruce and Cybill finally took the big leap.
Q: Are you getting any feedback from real CIA agents?
A: I actually am in contact with an operative for the US government through e-mails. As faras understanding the conditions that agents operate under, it's been very helpful. As far as whatthey actually do or what they truly feel, I have no idea. They would never reveal that. I'm kind ofgoing off on the idea that CIA agents are much like actors. They have to go to a strangeenvironment, look like they've always lived there and make people believe that.
Q: What's your take on Miami, where you've been spending a lot of time?
A: Some people see it as a tropical metropolis but I don't think it's a great, big city atall. It's like a very small, very multicultural village. You run into people all the time that youknow. It's great. I love living down there.
Q: So you don't care about the heat and humidity?
A: Everyone complains about it but I don't notice it. I don't know why. Everyone else issweating but me. I love the humidity.
Q: What do you do when you aren't filming?
A: I'm obsessed with golf. For the people who are fans of golf, they know what I'm talkingabout. You hit the ball once really well and it's like a drug. It's like crack. And so youpractice. And you'll play 18 holes, have maybe have five good shots, but that's all you'llremember. You'll say, 'How about when I feathered that three wood over the tree and onto thegreen?' And that's why we love it.
Q: As an actor, can't you just pretend to be Tiger Woods?
A: I have a buddy who's a professional golfer and when my game was going in the toilet, hesaid, 'Just act like a great golfer.' Unfortunately, that's like putting someone at the controls ofa 747 and saying, 'Act like a professional pilot.' It's a little more technical than that.
Q: A lot of people may never forgive you for making Angelina Jolie's life miserable in Changeling. Didn't you feel guilty even though it was only acting?
A: There always has to be a hero and there always has to be a villain. You always love thehero and you always despise the villain. So if I do my job right, then you'll despise me and you'lllove her. It's a necessity. Basically, I think I made the world love Angelina even more.
Q: Do you remember when you first realized you had talent as an actor?
A: I was in the third grade. I actually used to faint on purpose. I could do it so wellpeople thought that I actually passed out. So one day my friends in class were like, 'Do it. Doit.' I started to faint and the teacher leaped over the desk to catch me. She said, 'Jeffrey,are you all right?' and started slapping me. And I thought, 'Keep living the lie. You won't get introuble.' But one of the girls said, 'He's faking it.' And then I got suspended.
Q: What was your life like as a kid?
A: I grew up in a poor family, three boys with a single mom. We were always moving.When you come home and the electricity has been cut off you go, 'We're moving again.' But Isurvived and it made me appreciate everything I have now.