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Erik Thomson Chat Transcript

Erik Thomson: Hi everyone. Great to be able to chat to you!

i7entertainment: Elleluvsallsaints has the first question. She asks: Is Dr Mitch Stevens your favourite character you've played?

Erik Thomson: He's definitely one of them! At this stage my favourite role was Hades Lord of the Underworld and Xena. Just because of all the bells and whistles that went along with it.

i7entertainment: All_Sainters asks: How long do you plan to grace our screens with your presence?

Erik Thomson: As long as possible!

i7entertainment: Topcat asks: What would you say to someone who wants to go into acting but has no experience?

Erik Thomson: Get some experience. See if you like it. Do a couple of drama classes and if you find that you enjoy it, keep on with it. See where it takes you.

i7entertainment: Snowpea asks: Have you and the rest of the cast learned a lot about health since you started the show?

Erik Thomson: I've learnt more about medicine.

i7entertainment: Claire asks: Have you always wanted to be an actor?

Erik Thomson: I always have, but I never thought of it as a career until I was 20 and I couldn't bear finishing my university degree. I applied for drama school.

i7entertainment: All asks: What is your relationship like with the rest of the cast? Do you spend a lot of time with them?

Erik Thomson: On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays the whole cast is pretty much together in the whole studio. That amounts to at least 25 to 30 hours a week locked in a room together. We have a great time while we are in there, but we are really glad to get out!

i7entertainment: Sarah says: Hi Erik! Have you worked on a medical show before? How do you go learning the medical jargon each week?

Erik Thomson: No. I have not. We learn the words phonetically, and I try to understand what it is and why I am saying it and I practise the words so much that it sounds as if I know what I am saying!

i7entertainment: Aliy asks: What was it like growing up in New Zealand?

Erik Thomson: I have nothing to compare my childhood to, but New Zealand is an amazing place. No snakes and no poisonous spiders!

i7entertainment: Hey asks: What's it like being on the set with Brian Vreinds?

Erik Thomson: I don't actually spend much time working with Brian but we always get along well.

i7entertainment: Draicana asks: Who is your favourite character on the show–other than Mitch?

Erik Thomson: I'm a bit of a Von fan myself.

i7entertainment: Everyone asks if Terri and Mitch will get together this year?

Erik Thomson: In some ways they do and in some ways they don't.

i7entertainment: Andy asks: What are your plans for the future?

Erik Thomson: Oh god, it's twenty past ten at night! All good, I hope.

i7entertainment: Lou asks: Do you have very long days filming?

Erik Thomson: Yes. Today was one of them! In studio on Mondays and Tuesdays we work from about 7 in the morning till 7pm at night. On Wednesdays, about 8 till 4pm and about 4 to 5 hours on either Thursday and Friday. On top of that, we have to do all the 'homework' of learning lines and scripts.

i7entertainment: Mystiq asks: Where does your slight accent originate?

Erik Thomson: Scotland. I am Scottish-born and was brought up in New Zealand from the age of eight.

i7entertainment: Angel asks: How do you compare your personality with that of your character?

Erik Thomson: Neither of us likes to shave, and we both look as if we've just got out of bed all day.

i7entertainment: Sarah asks: Which Australian actor do you admire most?

Erik Thomson: There are so many...Sam Neil is someone that I regard as a fine actor, although he was born in Ireland and came to Australia from New Zealand.

i7entertainment: Our next question is: What do you do to chill out after a hard day on set?

Erik Thomson: Have a bath–at this time of year anyway. In the summer time I try to get down to the beach for a swim or surf in the evening.

i7entertainment: Taylor asks: What would you see like to happen to your character in future episodes?

Erik Thomson: He gets his helicopter pilot's licence and goes to the Outback to round up feral camels. Imagine how much fun it would be to shoot that!

i7entertainment: Everyone asks: What degree were you studying before you started acting?

Erik Thomson: Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. I've got three papers to go to finish it.

i7entertainment: All_Saints_fan asks: Have you ever considered throwing in the towel?

Erik Thomson: Every second day.

i7entertainment: Sarah asks: What is your all-time favourite movie?

Erik Thomson: It's a film called Lenny starring Dustin Hoffman, about American political satirist Lenny Bruce.

i7entertainment: Likkie asks: Do you ever watch the program on TV?

Erik Thomson: It depends if I've had a crappy day at work or not, because there is nothing worse than coming home after 13 hours on the set to watch another hour!

i7entertainment: Our next question is: How do you feel about being approached by fans on the street?

Erik Thomson: It depends on how they approach me. If it is too full-on (which is rare), you can sometimes get a bit defensive. But generally, I have no problem with it at all.

i7entertainment: Lou asks: Do you get to choose the shirts you wear or are they chosen for you? We love the red one!

Erik Thomson: I try on every shirt in advance and then the designer chooses each one for each episode. I got a new pair of shoes today and they are fantastic! The wardrobe assistant told me they were the 'Rolls Royce of shoe'. They're Rockport.

i7entertainment: Avvy asks: Do you get to have any say in what happens to your character?

Erik Thomson: Only by negotiation. We discuss the character's journey in each script as it comes along.

i7entertainment: Soph asks: How long does one episode take to film?

Erik Thomson: One week.

i7entertainment: BackpackerGal asks: What has been the highlight of your career so far as far as acting goes? What aspect do you enjoy best?

Erik Thomson: That's too difficult a question. I couldn't possibly choose between all the experiences. They've all been so different that it is hard to measure them against each other.

i7entertainment: Mystiq says: Your blue eyes would have to be among the best on TV! What is your star sign?

Erik Thomson: They're digitally enhanced! My star sign is Taurus.

i7entertainment: Luci-May asks: What's it like working with baby Lucy? She's so cute!

Erik Thomson: She's a twin. There are two of them. Their real names are Natasha and Monique. They are really cute but they cry every time I hold them!

i7entertainment: Our next question is: What kind of car does Mitch drive?

Erik Thomson: At the moment, it's one of those big four-wheel drives, ostentatious and environmentally unsound.

i7entertainment: Our final question is: Have you ever had any embarrassing moments on set?

Erik Thomson: Yes. And you see most of them on television!

i7entertainment: That's all we have time for! Everyone's been asking how they can write to you.

Erik Thomson: Write to us c/- Channel Seven, Mobbs Lane, Epping 2121.

Goodnight. Thanks for logging on. Keep watching the show–it's going to get pretty crazy!