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To get an little information about Genele and her acting I asked Genele some questions, she was very kind to answer them all in a very detailed way! Here are the answers that Genele gave at my questions. Read and enjoy!
Questions & Answers
Q: How did you get into the acting world?
A: I first wanted to be an actress when I was in kindergarten. I attended a children's concert with my kindergarten class and got the opportunity to go up on stage with the performers. After the show one of the performers told my teacher that I had a flare for the dramatics and should be in acting. My teacher told my mom and my mom told me and from that moment, I wanted to act. My mother was reluctant to let me because she knew what a hard business it was and she didn't want me to experience the rejection that often goes along with auditioning. But finally when I was 8 and we were living near Toronto, Ontario, she allowed me to take some acting lessons in the city and got me an agent. About a year or so later, my family and I moved to British Columbia and I got a new agent in Vancouver. I have been with theme for about 12 years now.
Q: How did you get the role at Millennium?
A: I auditioned for the role in Millennium when I was 16 years old. The episode had originally called for the casting of 7 girls, who are all apart of this cult-like group which is headed by one girl: Clare McKenna. I figured I would have a fairly good chance at getting one of the roles since there were 7 to be filled. My agent set up the audition and I was to audition for the part of Maureen (the role went to Kimberly Warnat). Well, the whole day was a disaster from the start because I was late for the audition! I thought for sure that my unprofessionally and tardiness would cost me any chance at getting a part and my spirits were low by the time I arrived. Fortunately luck was on my side and the auditions were running late as well. I went in and read the scene required, which was the scene in the library where Maureen describes the first time Clare sees the vision of the Virgin Mary in church.
After I was finished the director, John P. Kousakis asked me to stay behind for a moment. They asked me if I wouldn't mind reading for the part of Clare, the lead role in the episode. Of course I told them yes! I had 10 minutes to look over the lines of the scenes I would have to read. It made me nervous because I was worried I would not remember my lines, even though it is a cold read and no one expects you to memorize your lines for a cold read. After I was finished the second audition, I felt more confident about how well I did, but I was still reluctant to get my hopes up. I had not worked in about 3 years and was very used to not getting roles, even when I thought I had done well in the auditions. However, later that after noon when I was back at home, I received a telephone call from my agent. She said, "I have good news!" I said, "I got one of the parts?" And she replied, "No Genele, you got THE part!" She of course meant that I got the role of Clare, the lead. I was so excited that I was jumping around the kitchen and laughing! Unfortunately I was all alone in the house and had no one to tell the good news to. So I called up all my friends and my grandmother and I believe I called my dad at work as well. So there you have it. That's the whole story of how I got the part.
Q:How was working with Chris Carter?
A: Actually, I did not really work -with- Chris Carter. Of course he is the creator and was involved, but for the most part it was the crew and actors and director that I truly remember most. John P. Kousakis is a wonderful director. He is firm, but kind and was extremely helpful in fine-tuning my acting skills for this role. He had the amazing ability to bring out the best in me. He would just come up to me and whisper something in my ear about what he wanted me to do, and then I would just do it naturally. I tried very hard to make a good impression and do well because I really wanted his approval.
Q: How do you think about your future acting career? Any movies coming up?
A: Acting has always been my #1 passion and something that I think I will always try to be involved in. Being on set makes me come alive in a very unique way and I hope to continue with it in the future. Right now, however, at the moment I am busy attending university, working towards my bachelors degree in Psychology. After that I hope to get a Bachelor's of Education. School has always come first for me and that, in part, is why my resume is quite short. I love acting, but I also know how many unemployed actors exist in North America. To make a career out of it is a very difficult thing to do and I felt I needed something more solid to fall back on, should acting not work out. So, no there really aren't any movies comming up. I still have 4 more years of schooling to go and being that I am not close to the city, it would be impossible for me to go to auditions and go to school at the same time. But after I am finished with school, I do plan to continue to audition when I can and hopefully make acting a steady hobby.
Q: Who's your favourite actor and actress?
A: Oh I have so many that it would be difficult to narrow it down. But here are some:
Actors: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, Keving Spacey, Alan Cumming, Vin Diesel (he is so sexy!!)
Actresses: Kate Winslet, Halle Berry, Kate Hudson, Mandy Moore, Toni Collette
Q: What is your favourite television series?
A: There are only 3 shows I truly love and am devoted to: The Simpsons, Queer As Folk, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, I do enjoy watching home improvement shows like Trading Spaces and While You Were Out, and of course I love Survivor!
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