gt.com: your name is truly unique -- are you worried that people will think it's a stage name?

KAJ-ERIK: No, people ask me that quite often, but that is my real given name. My first name is Kaj-Erik, but not even my parents when they are angry with me call me that! They call me Kaj. In that sense, that is kind of a stage name. I've always just gone by Kaj. I think Kaj-Erik sounds cooler, so I use that!

gt.com: it's very cool -- so, growing up in Canada, what made you want to make the move to Hollywood to pursue such roles as Boston Public?

KAJ-ERIK: I was one of the first few Canadians to actually get a green card and move down to the States, and now it has become so popular. When I did it, it was kind of like this new idea that you could expand and go elsewhere. Unfortunately, a lot of the big roles come out of the States before they even get up here. So, it seemed like the place to go to further your career!

gt.com: on that note, what do you think the biggest difference is in the industry between the United States and Canada?

KAJ-ERIK: It really depends. It is getting so similar these days, especially in the last couple of years. Canada has had so many huge movies made in Vancouver now, such as The Chronicles of Riddick, I-Robot, and Catwoman. It used to be that the industry was sort of reluctant to send the big projects to Canada. But now with foreign exchange and the money, it is so much cheaper for the film studios. Plus, the crews in Canada are so great. I think the only difference is the work ethic; it seems to be slightly different between the two countries.

gt.com: interesting! now, you've done movies, you've done television -- ever a chance you would venture into music?

KAJ-ERIK: If I was musically gifted I would! ::laughs::

gt.com: haha, we'll take that as a no! sticking to the topic of music, what artists can we find in your CD player?

KAJ-ERIK: I can never get enough of Dave Matthews. I always have Dave somewhere nearby me! I got the new Seal album, and that is really good. I like Maroon5 -- they've become so popular, but I have been listening to them for a long time. Now they are huge, and that is really cool. And, I like old-school stuff, like Otis Redding and James Brown.

gt.com: great picks -- back to your career, your stint on Boston Public tackled some heavy issues. did you find that your attitudes or beliefs towards anything had changed after you completed this role?

KAJ-ERIK: Not really, but I was actually quite shocked and appalled at other people's views and beliefs. With [producer] David Kelley, you never know what's coming up around the corner. And so when the scripts came out, it's like "Oh, okay, so that's what I'm doing in the next episode!" You never had an idea of what was going to happen. With the various issues we tackled, some of the letters we got...talk about hate mail. People just being so archaic and not having a clue. There was quite a bit of hate mail towards having a quick relationship with a guy and then a black woman. There was actually more hate mail about kissing the principal's daughter [who was African American] than there was about kissing a guy. It was shocking! You know that there are people out there that still think that way, but it doesn't really hit you that hard until you see it first-hand and it's addressed to you. So that was a little bit of a wake-up, kind of disturbing.

gt.com: wow, that is disturbing. when your shows hit syndication, can you watch yourself acting or is it just too weird?

KAJ-ERIK: I don't like to. I get really critical, but I think most actors are that way! We just did a screening of The 4400 this weekend and the show looked great, it's such a cool show. We've been working on it so long without having any idea of what it was going to look like, so to have it pieced together finally, it was great. But every single actor I talked to said "Oh the show was great, but I hated my stuff!" So I think we just get hard on ourselves.

gt.com: speaking of The 4400, the new character you'll be portraying in is another dramatic role -- tell us more about him.

KAJ-ERIK: I play the brother of one of the returnees -- he was my older brother, and he's been gone for three years. But now that he's returned and hasn't aged at all, we're the same age! And it's our struggle to come together again, it's kind of awkward, but I won't tell you all of it, you have to watch the show!

gt.com: absolutely! well, is the show based on any realism or is it more sci-fi?

KAJ-ERIK: It's got the alien aspect to it and it's got the government aspect to it, but it focuses on these returnees. It's pretty much about these people who were abducted over time, whether they've been gone for two weeks or fifty years, and everyone is returned on the same day and just dropped off. The show just follows all of these people who have returned and haven't aged at all and have no clue what happened to them. It's all about them sort of fitting back in. You really feel for the characters, it's not a government-y conspiracy show. I think it's a show that a lot of people will like because it covers a lot of different things.

gt.com: it sounds like an intriguing show -- so, do you prefer to take on more serious roles, or would you like to try out the comedy genre?

KAJ-ERIK: I always get cast into such serious roles. Which is okay, I guess that's my thing. But you know, I could be funny, I'd like to do comedy! It's rare that I could do a comedy, but I'd like to.

gt.com: that would be great! at what point in your acting career did you say, "wow, I really love what I do?"

KAJ-ERIK: Speaking of the comedy thing, I really didn't mean to be funny, but we were watching that pilot of The 4400, and I had some funny stuff. I got a bunch of laughs in almost every scene I was in, and I didn't even mean to be funny. I think because it's such a laid-back type of character for me. I tend to get a lot of mopey-teenager roles, but the dialogue is so well-written on this. It's so relaxed, and it's so close to where I want to be, I'm really happy to be showing up to work every day. I have a great schedule and work with a bunch of great people. And I don't have to stress myself out too much!

gt.com: fantastic! well, what do you think the biggest misconception about being an actor is?

KAJ-ERIK: We were yakking about Jennifer Lopez the other day, and how she just got married, and we were laughing and joking. Someone made a comment like "Well, what do you expect, she's an actor!" What does that mean?! ::laughs:: The biggest misconception is that actors are just out there and bizarre. I'm sure some of them are, but I think a lot of it is just press. I'd be willing to bet my next paycheck that Jennifer Lopez and all those huge stars aren't as crazy as the way they come across. All the actors I know, from the incredibly famous ones to the unknown ones, everyone is just normal. To them, it's a job like everyone else. I love what I do, but when I'm not working, I don't necessarily like to shop talk.

gt.com: understandably -- how about the best perks?

KAJ-ERIK: You get a lot of cool, free stuff and get to go to lots of cool places! When I was doing Beggars & Choosers, the network flew the whole cast out to Las Vegas for Mike Tyson's fight. We were flown all the way to Vegas, put up with the royal treatment, got to see the fight. And anytime anyone wants to pay for me to go fly somewhere and hang out, I'm game!

gt.com: hilarious! okay, we loved Boston Public and we won't be able to miss The 4400. but, what television show currently airing can you not miss an episode of?

KAJ-ERIK: The Office, I'm actually addicted to it. I finished all the episodes and there weren't enough!

gt.com: let's say you were offered the lead in a romantic comedy -- who would you want to play the leading lady?

KAJ-ERIK: You know who I love right now? Sandra Bullock, I saw her in a movie last night. I've always liked her, she's great and quirky. She'd be fun to work with!

gt.com: oh, awesome choice! finally, what is your advice to those interested in pursuing a career in acting?

KAJ-ERIK: People always ask me how I started and how I got into acting, but I mean, I've been doing it a long time now. I got into the business when it was completely different than it is now, especially in Canada, where it was smaller. And now, I wouldn't even know where to start! The best advice I could give if you're serious about doing it, get into classes and start doing theater. Keep at it, and eventually agents will see you care about what you do and they will take you on. From what I hear, it's hard to get an agent these days! I think if you're in class and do good theater, they respect that and are more likely to take you seriously.

gt.com: great advice, you have been acting for a long time, and we foresee an extensive future in the business. good luck!