Exclusive: Taxi Brooklyn star Jacky Ido

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Published Sep 15, 2014

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In 1998, Luc Besson wrote and produced the French action-comedy, Taxi. Now he has penned a spin-off TV series with French film actor Jacky Ido cast as one of the leads opposite Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy). Debashine Thangevelo found out more about Ido’s character and his plans for Hollywood…

 

BORN in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jacky Ido has left his footprints in a string of French and German television productions and movies.

On a more global platform, he gained recognition for his role as Marcel in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds.

Now in the French-American action comedy-drama, Taxi Brooklyn, the 37-year-old says it did not take much convincing for him to agree to the project.

“It’s very simple. Luc Besson called me and talked about a TV show project that they had. But, at the time, he wouldn’t tell me what it was. He said he might contact me at some point to audition for the part, which was set in New York. So it was three factors: Luc Besson, New York and being the main character in a TV show.”

In an American accent that belies his French roots, Ido continues: “Then they sent me a script and I found out that it was about another version of Taxi; but in the US with a different storyline. I just flipped because Taxi was so popular in France. Finally, when you get to read the script and plant your teeth into the Leo character, it’s difficult to say, ‘No!’ He is such a fun character. He is like everybody’s best friend. To get to play a character so full of life is great.”

Delving deeper into Leo’s background – he is an ex-con which is compounded by the fact that he is an immigrant.

He offers: “He is embracing the second chance that he as an ex- convict is given. To come into the scene in New York and feel the energy, there is a wanting to let go of all the shackles of the past and welcome the new life that is presenting itself.”

When his path crosses with that of Chyler Leigh as NYPD Detective Caitlin “Cat” Sullivan, they end up developing a reluctant “partnership”. She helps him with his immigration woes and he, in return, becomes her driver/ consultant partner after her driving privileges are suspended. As with most major characters, Cat is haunted by a personal tragedy. And she has been conducting an unauthorised investigation into the death of her cop father, which opens up a whole other can of worms.

Back to the unlikely teaming of Cat and Leo, he has the natural ability to bring out the humanity in her like no one else can.

Ido offers: “You are right, there is something very humane about him. And you see it in the way he looks at people. It is full of empathy and understanding. He doesn’t try to be the muscle man. He puts himself in other people’s shoes. That is why he is a good ‘detective’ as well – he has that insight and take on people.”

Now don’t go looking for Lexie Grey in Cat. She now sports short hair, has this tough-as-nails demeanour and runs with a rough crowd.

On being paired with Leigh, Ido notes: “There is so much more to her. She is a great star because of Grey’s Anatomy. And people go crazy when they recognise her. She is a great actress. She is very funny. She knows how to flip a scene and turn it into a comedic one. She was a great partner to have. And we built that chemistry from scratch.”

Of course, when he says chemistry, he is talking about Cat and Leo being as different as chalk and cheese but, at the same time, complementing each other.

He laughs: “Viewers will enjoy the banter from scene to scene. They fight like cats and dogs, and then they are best friends and like brother and sister. They need each other and complete each other on those investigations.”

When asked if he channels Jason Statham (The Transporter) in his role, he laughs off the comparison and offers: “Leo loves driving. He used to be a driver for the mob in Masai. He knows about cars. But it’s not like he is a crazy guy who likes to speed up on the highway. He is more like a technician; more like Ryan Gosling in Drive – a strategist behind the wheel.”

As for the action stunts, he reveals: “Well, my first answer would be yes, I do them. But, of course, I would be lying. I had a fantastic stunt driver, who did most of the physical stuff that the insurance didn’t allow. He is like Michael Jordan behind the wheel.”

The interior shots for Taxi Brooklyn were shot at the Silver Crest Studios, which is where The Sopranos was also filmed, while the outdoor scenes where shot in the vicinity of New York.

“We shot from New Jersey to Long Island. We shot everywhere, in Brooklyn for the most part and Manhattan. The good thing about having French directors shooting the scenes is that they give you the entire landscape of the city,” he shares.

“In fact, New York is the second character and a very important one in the show.”

Does this mean that Hollywood is calling?

He smiles and diplomatically responds: “The thing is throughout the years, I have been involved in so many different projects. I have shot films on a regular basis in Germany. I have shot movies in French, done some independent movies. So I’m blessed to have these range of movies that I can play in. Now I want to go for those high-profile movies because they have so many great characters to play.”

And if he identifies with the character – good or bad – that’s the deal breaker and closer for him.

As for working in this series, which has been penned by Besson, he shares: “I have done a couple of projects for Luc’s company. He has been great and he’s been watching over my career with a lot of interest. And he is steering it in the right direction. I hope to one day shoot a film with him.”

Aside from getting to visit his favourite haunts in New York while shooting the series, he says the show has a universal appeal for several reasons.

“Well, the fact that you have a European/African cab driver in New York is a drawcard. And there is this cop who is not really tuned into the world. The exchange between the two is going to bring interest to the series. It is fun, packed with action and comedy.

“I hope South African viewers will love it as much as we loved doing it,” he says.

• Catch Taxi Brooklyn when it premieres on the Universal Channel (DStv channel 117) at 8.50pm tonight.

 

 

LIFE AFTER ‘GREY’S ANATOMY’

 

THIS is an overview of what some of the former actors of the award-winning medical drama series are doing:

 

Katherine Heigl (Isobel “Izzie” Stevens): After Grey’s, she became a hit sensation in rom-coms from Knocked Up, 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Killers, Life As We Know It and New Year’s Eve. Her star is now on the wane though.

 

TR Knight (George O’Malley): He, unfortunately, hasn’t really made any big waves since leaving. But, amid some stage work, he has featured in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Good Wife.

 

Kate Walsh (Addison Montgomery): After moving to the spin-off series, Private Practice, she has bagged a few movies as well as roles in Fargo and Full Circle and is currently in Bad Judge (not shown here yet).

 

Eric Dane (Mark Sloan): He hasn’t been stealing many hearts. The movie kitty has been dry since 2010. But he is back in a post-apocalyptic drama, The Last Ship.

 

Kim Raver (Theodora “Teddy” Altman): Aside from a few made-for-TV movies, she appeared in Revolution, had a cameo on NCIS Los Angeles and featured in the 24: Live Another Day mini-series.

 

Sandra Oh (Cristina Yang): Recently spotted in a minor role in Melissa McCarthy’s Tammy, she has been doing guest roles – her most recent being in a TV comedy called Betas.

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