Gil Birmingham Talks to Idol Magazine

Gil Birmingham Talks to Idol Magazine.



IDOL: In New Moon we get to see a lot more of the history of your character, can you explain how your role develops ?

Gil: It’s the introduction of the transformation of the werewolves as we all know, and Billy is the key to the secret, he is the direct lineage of the pact that was made between the vampires. The werewolves, many many years ago, and the stories that he told around the camp-fires, that were considered just native ? I’m the one that’s going to have to explain it to them.

IDOL: So you’re the boss?

Gil: I’m the boss!

IDOL: We heard a lot about your musical talent as well, alongside acting.



Gil:Yeah I’ve been playing music since I was 10!

IDOL: What have you done in your career in terms of music, is it just an interest?

Gil: No it’s my passion. I always actually wanted to be a musician. I wanted to be a rock star. So it’s kind of funny that I became an actor, but it is an extension of the same creative expression, I’ve discovered. So I’ve always still played music. I had that discussion with Johnny Depp, I did a movie with him, and he kind of started the same way, he’s a musician. But then film, finances are more available.

IDOL: So your first screen debut, I believe, was in Diana Ross’ music video?

(Gil laughs)

IDOL: So, it all went from there, how did it develop?

Gil: At the time I was doing body-building contests, I wanted to kind of experience that, and I was at the gym and I got scouted and they asked if I’d be interested in doing a video, and I said yeah that sounds like fun. So I got on the set and had a great time, I actually had a girlfriend at the time who had moved to Hollywood to be an actress, and she said why don’t you start, so I did. And I kind of had a real slow start to it because it wasn’t something I imagined myself doing. But yeah, I guess in a way that video kind of put me on the path.

IDOL: Before you were doing that, obviously you were really interested in music, but you did a degree in administration and you started a career in petrochemical engineering? You have an incredible variation of interests!

Gil: I did, I studied petrochemical engineering, and I did that for a few years and that’s how I financed my college education. I thought that was going to be my career, I had a very practical thinking mother, and she kind of guided me along those lines at the time.

IDOL: Do you still have dreams of being a rock star?

Gil: (Laughs!) Oh, I still am girl! You should see me in my bedroom. In that mirror with my air-guitar, except I use a real guitar.

IDOL: Wow… Are you going to take it forward in the future?

Gil: I hope to, you know I kind of got blind-sighted at one of the conventions, and they asked me to play, and I didn’t bring my guitar, and you know, voila! They found a guitar for me!

IDOL: Brilliant! Can we expect any of that this weekend?

Gil: I don’t know, I’m looking over here (the Massive Events team) rather suspiciously! So let me know, I brought my guitar this time!

It’s been great fun, just recently this last week I was asked to host the Native American Music Awards, in Niagara Falls, and they asked me to get up and play so I performed with one of the bands there, played some original stuff, I had a fantastic time.

IDOL: So did you have some musical idols you looked up to?

Gil: Jimi Hendrix. You know, Steve Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, I was very much into the music. I mean once I picked up a guitar I just knew it was part of my soul.