Interviews Conducted by Robert J. Beck

On the 21th of November 2008 LotsofInterviews conducted a interview with Ken Lally who played a Villain in the new series of Heroes called only 'the German' who's power was to control metal. Hope you enjoy.

How did you get your role on Heroes?

Very simple, I went to a pre-read, then read for Allan Arkush and got the part. I don't know if they modeled the German in the graphic novels after me, or cast me because I looked like him, but I sure am honoured to be a part of the Heroes legacy!

Had you seen the show before you where cast?

Yes, loved it! Couldn't turn it off. I'm a huge fan of Joseph Campbell and his books on heroes and archetypes. I really liked how the first season explored similar themes of family, karma and destiny—themes that are inherent in the very fabric of our human psyche, and have been since the pictures were painting on cave walls! Hero mythology is one of the oldest manifestations of human communication.

Do you think your character the German relates to the X-Men enemy Magneto at all? Both have the same power and are from the Germany area.
The similarities are damn sure striking. There were photos taken of a YOUNG Dr. Zimmerman in a Nazi uniform and doing experiments in a concentration camp. I dont think the producers put those in the group seen on TV and may have gotten rid of that angle altogether b/c of the similarities between the characters. In history, Hitler's scientists experimented in an effort to create the perfect genetic aryan specimen, so I just figured, Ali and I were the results of those WW2 experiments (being that there is more than one of her and therefore, likely, myself). It seems the writers may have dropped that angle of the story; PROB. because it was just too similar.

Do you have a favourite character?

Probably Matt Parkman; an ordinary guy who has trouble dealing with his powers and his past, and because he is a cop—great respect for that job and what they do. He was the only hero, who was a "hero", before he had powers. Greg and I hung out for a couple days in London at the MCM, he really is one of the nicest people in Hollywood. He's So nice, you think it is fake, but the more I hung out with him, I realized that he really is just that nice. I like it when nice people are successful--Hollywood is FULL of people who arent. Super cool cat and funny as hell. Check out www. myspace. com/kenlally for pictures and videos of Greg, me and the rest of the HEROES panel.

Do you have any stories from the set?

I spent a lot of time with Milo, Blake and Jamie— a great bunch of guys. Milo was very friendly and super nice. Hayden showed up almost every day and even bought us coffee one day—really nice girl.

If you could have any power then what would it be?

Probably super speed, but flight is a close second.

How where the parts were you used your powers filmed?

Pretty much everything was done by remote control. An f/x guy followed my hand movements.

Were there any scenes which you were in cut from the final cut?

Yeah, a really cool bit where I pulled a gun out of a bank guards hand from across the room, with my power. A lot of the fight scene at the gas station was cut too. They shoot so much and try to compress it into a time slot, and it doesn't always fit, so they have to compress and edit out a lot of stuff.

Did you have to fake an accent for the German or is that how you naturally talk?

I speak a few languages and do many accents with a native fluency, that was one of them. I have an American accent, though.