Star Trek 2009 - Zachary Quinto Interview - Blockbuster.co.uk

With a starring role in Star Trek, Heroes' Zachary Quinto plans to live long and prosper. Blockbuster.co.uk's Marshall Julius reports.

Following that fateful answer, every subsequent interview the actor gave, the question arose, time and again, about his supposed dream role and when casting finally commenced on Star Trek, rebooted by J.J. Abrams for a new generation, the powers that be were well aware of Quinto's desire and brought him in to read for the part. Long story short, he got it.

Now, for any actor, stepping into a role so strongly identified with another performer is a daunting task indeed, but Quinto had someone in his corner offering him all the support he needed. While attending San Diego's 2007 Comic Con Convention, Quinto found himself riding in a crowded elevator with none other than Leonard Nimoy, the original Mr Spock. Talk about fate. Silently standing next to one another, no words were spoken on the ride up, but when the doors finally opened, Nimoy turned to Quinto and simply stated, "You have no idea what you are in for."

Subsequent encounters between the two led to a friendship that afforded Quinto some valuable insights not only into the background and psychology of Spock, but the aura that surrounds the legend of the character that stereotyped Nimoy. "Leonard has spent forty years with this character and you can see the ways in which it has really shaped his life. But I know him to be a man with no regrets," attests Quinto. As to his own concerns, "I am just looking at this opportunity as an incredible launching point and I am eager for a diverse, extensive experience as an actor."

A time-bending story taking us back to Kirk and Spock's beginnings, Star Trek sees Quinto's younger Spock teaming up with Nimoy's older Spock to save the Earth from a Romulan (Eric Bana) with a grudge. Rather than being intimidated by having Nimoy so near during the shoot, says Quinto, "I actually felt reassured by him being there. It removed any sense of pressure and anxiety that I might have had otherwise to have him available and involved and clearly supportive and excited.

"It was a profound experience for me because I don't think Leonard ever expected to play this character again," adds Quinto. "It had been 19 years since he last donned the ears and I think for him this was a real opportunity not only to play the character again, but to be integrally involved in passing the mantle. And that for me was an incredible honour and certainly one that I will cherish for years to come."

For Quinto, his Star Trek experience began the moment he first transformed into the half-human, half-Vulcan Spock. "It meant a new set of ears, shaved eyebrows and a bowl haircut. It was a momentous occasion when I put on the ears for the first time," he recalls, a process that took the make-up team two hours to perform each day. Noticeable as they were to the rest of the cast and crew, Quinto admits that after a while he didn't even notice they were there. "Acting is truthful behaviour in imaginary circumstances so the costumes and props were just about commitment," he says. "As for the ears, my body sort of got used to them."

What particularly pleases the 32 year-old actor about Star Trek, available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Blockbuster.co.uk, is the optimistic tone it shares with Gene Roddenberry's original show. "They dealt with problems and themes back then that people had trepidation to talk about, like racial, social and political issues. It was so ahead of its time. What I love about our film is that it's about friendship and family. That's our heart, and while we also have action and drama and comedy, it's ultimately a very moving and touching film."

Zachary Quinto Filmography >

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