It was almost six months to the day of his daytime debut when Digest caught up with Dominic Zamprogna (Dominic/Dante) for his first characteristic interview. “I really feel good,” he declares. “A buddy of mine was on a cleaning soap years in the past and he mentioned it’s such as you’re on SURVIVOR since you by no means know once you’re going to be voted off the island [laughs].” The buddy, by the way in which? Joe Lando (ex-Macauley, GL; ex-Jake, OLTL).
It’s been an extended and winding street for Zamprogna on his journey from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Port Chuck The scion of two dance instructors, Zamprogna was born with theater and dance in his blood.” My dad and mom run two dance colleges to this present day,” he smiles. ”They met [in 1972] doing an Engelbert Humperdinck TV particular within the U.Okay., the place my mother was born and raised. They got here again and my dad carried on the stage factor by directing and doing choreography for our skilled theater firm in Hamilton. That’s how us youngsters bought into it. I wouldn’t say I’m fairly a dancer [laughs]. I took ballet, faucet and jazz for so long as they made me. I dropped ballet as quickly as I probably might and carried on with faucet till I used to be about 13 and jazz till I used to be 15 or 16. I can transfer, I can comply with steps and I’ve rhythm, however that’s about it.”
Following in massive sister Gema’s footsteps, Zamprogna gave present biz a shot and landed his first performing gig at age 11. He labored constantly, racking up a powerful resume of tv credit within the Nice White North and a decade later, in 2001, he discovered himself because the lead within the teen drama EDGEMONT. “Once we have been doing it, DAWSON’S CREEK was an enormous hit and we have been pondering of ourselves as a decrease funds, Canadian model of that,” he quips. “It was a enjoyable present. It gave me a number of expertise. However you know the way you want you may return and redo some issues? That is likely to be certainly one of them. I want I had a bit extra maturity and a bit extra understanding of what it’s wish to be No. 1 on a name sheet, however I used to be 19 years outdated and the lead on a collection, and also you don’t notice what you may have generally.”
One factor Zamprogna did take away from the collection was an eight-year relationship with make-up artist Linda Leslie whom he made his spouse final November 1. The couple had been planning to wed in entrance of household and pals, however with Zamprogna’s immediately busy work schedule and the expense of getting everybody journey to the States, the couple took issues into their very own fingers. ”It was me, Linda, my good friend who took footage and the justice of the peace,” he says. “We married on the Griffith Park Observatory [atop the Hollywood Hills] at 11 a.m. on a Sunday. It was lovely. Perhaps we’ll have some form of occasion or reception sooner or later, I don’t know. However everybody’s been fairly completely happy thus far and we’ve had no household backlash as of but.” As for the plain nosy query about if and after they’ll begin a household, Zamprogna acknowledges, “We’ve positively stopped making an attempt to not [laughs]. Yeah, it’s positively within the plans.”
What the brand new yr holds for the newlyweds has but to be seen, however Zamprogna is grateful for every thing he has in his life. “In the event you’d instructed me firstly of2009 the place I’d be on the finish of2009, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he marvels. “We have been dwelling in Vancouver. I used to be doing visitor spots on SMALLVILLE and different collection that movie up there. I used to be fairly completely happy and I didn’t suppose I might get happier that quick! These sorts of issues don’t often occur in fast succession, the place you’re doing nicely and persons are digging you and also you’re digging the job and making all these new pals. I’m actually having fun with L.A. I really like this job. It’s some of the enjoyable issues I’ve ever accomplished, however man, six months glided by within the blink of an eye fixed. That, to me; is a real testomony of having fun with what you’re doing. This may increasingly sound cheeseball, however proper now, every thing is ideal.”
The N Phrase
Zamprogna makes no bones about one explicit ceremony of passage for an actor: the nude scene, which he tackled throughout his recurring stint on the racy Showtime drama THE L WORD in 2008:
“I didn’t put on a number of garments there,” he chuckles. “We have been capturing a scene the place, inside the present, we have been capturing a intercourse scene on a film set. It was the primary time I needed to put on ‘the sock,’ as they name it. After which, leaping right into a pool bare-assed with 5 semi·nude girls, three cameras on you and a digicam crew throughout? That’s a nerve-wracking expertise, let me inform you. My agent known as me the day after I booked it and mentioned, ‘So, how do you’re feeling about nudity?’ And I’m like, ‘Nudity on a present about lesbians? Why would I must be nude?’ However I’ll always remember it. We completed the scene, they known as lower and all of the wardrobe girls have been strolling round with robes draping them over the women, who have been carrying denims and bras, and I’m standing there holding my privates in my fingers saying, ‘Um, the place’s my towel? The place’s my gown? A bib, possibly [laughs]?’ That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and that was positively a kind of days.”
Did You Know?
- In 2001, he appeared within the TV film DYING TO DANCE, starring his future GH co-star Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin) and GH alum Rick Springfield (ex-Noah/Eli).
- Apart from GH, Zamprogna is most acknowledged for his function as “Jammer” on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. “Earlier than that, folks would simply suppose they went to highschool with me [laughs].
Simply The Info
Birthday: April 21
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Ethnic Heritage: His father is Italian; his mom is British.
All In The Household: Has two sisters, Gema and twin Amanda, who each additionally acted in Canada. “Gema runs her personal Pilates studio and does voice work often; Amanda does therapeutic massage remedy. They each have households now,” he shares.
His Take On Dominic: “He’s really a noble man and does need to clear up Claudia’s homicide as a result of he legitimately suppose that she deserves to be handled like anybody else who was killed in chilly blood. Justice must be served.”
