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Getting Personal with Graham Abbey

What was your first job?
My first job was at the age of 12, playing a forest gnome in John Hirsch's production of As You Like It. He didn't think I was conveying enough misery, and so he made me bang my head against the centre pillar on the stage until he was satisfied.

What would you be doing if you weren't an actor?
I've always loved writing; I would like to try my hand at that. What I would pen, I have no idea.

What TV show must you watch every week?
I'm a big fan of Californication and the British version of The Office, which I've watched over and over again.

What's on your iPod?
Right now I'm into Ray Lamontagne and MGMT.

What's the last good movie you saw?
A Michael McGowan film I saw at the (Toronto International Film) Festival called One Week, which I loved. And it had a lot of Canadian folk in it as well.


The Essentials

1971
Born March 24 in St. Catharines.

1975
Parents divorce; moves with mother and sister to Stratford.

1983
Appears on the Stratford Festival Stage in As You Like It.

1990-1994
Earns political science degree at Queen's University.

1996
Lands first professional job with Carousel Players, touring in a kid's show about alcohol abuse called Book of the Dragon.

1997-2006
Works at the Stratford Festival, playing such leading roles as Romeo, Henry V, Macbeth and Henry VIII.

2007
Begins work on The Border.

2008
Marries actor Michelle Giroux.


:: Richard Ouzounian, The Toronto Star (09.27.2008)