Yesterday [Sept 23, 1995 - the day after the third season
premiere] I went to the Creation X-Files Convention in
Reno, at which our Nicholas Lea was a guest. Here's my
report on the happenings.

First of all, I had a great time. There were a lot of good
presentations: music videos, clips of the X-Files dubbed in
foreign languages, the second season gag reel (even better
than the first), selections from various Duchovny &
Anderson interviews. The other guests were Paul Rabwin,
one of the series producers, and Mitch Pileggi (Skinner).
The greatest failing of the rest of the con - there were *no*
Nicholas Lea photos for sale! They had 8 x 10 photos of
practically everyone - including the Smoking Man, Luther
Boggs, Tooms - but no Krycek! I'm very glad I took my
own telepics along for him to sign.

Nick came onstage at 3:40. His hair is shorter now, even
shorter than Krycek's was at first. He was wearing a navy
blazer, loose white pants, a white or light gray V-neck
teeshirt, casual brown shoes and a brown belt. He had a
nice tan and he looked ADORABLE! He sort of crept out
on stage, clutching a large Evian bottle (he said later it was
his security blanket) then ran back and got a tray and came
out holding the tray in front of him. He seemed almost
surprised at the applause - he said he was expecting
tomatoes to be thrown, or something. He said it was his
first convention (and his first time in Reno or Nevada - said
he'd flown in the night before and promptly lost about $100
in seven minutes), and he was obviously a bit nervous. He
was very hyper, tended to babble, and couldn't stay still for
more than a minute and a half. He couldn't decide where to
stand, then after a few minutes he sat on the steps, then
someone brought him a chair which he sat in for about two
minutes, then he was up wandering around again. Adorable.
He said he'd gone up to Lake Tahoe swimming with Mitch
earlier, he seemed to be having a great time.

I didn't have a tape recorder, but I took lots of notes while
he was talking. So I'm paraphrasing a lot of this, but this is
the gist of what he said.

He got his start in the X-Files in Genderbender. He's
originally from Vancouver, and got his start acting in
Vancouver for four or five years, but he lives in L.A. now.
He was championed for the role of Krycek by Rob
Bowman, the director of Genderbender [and Sleepless,
btw]. He'd been a big fan of the show all along and really
wanted the role of Krycek. A lot of "James Dean-y" type of
guys read for the role. He said he tends to get very excited
and emotional about things, so when he heard that he'd got
the role, he ran down the street to the gym where his
girlfriend was working out, ran up to her and started
screaming "I got it! I got it!" 
His girlfriend is - Scully's sister, Melinda McGraw! They
have been going together for about two years. (Someone in
the audience yelled, you killed her last night! He laughed,
and agreed that was pretty ironic.) 
Q: What is Krycek's motivation?

Well, when someone asks Spike Lee what their motivation
is, he tells them, it's your paycheck! I think everybody
thinks they're doing the right thing, nobody thinks he's a
bad guy. (Some hisses.) *I'm* not a bad guy though, I'm
really a nice guy! [very sincere] It's exciting playing the
character, and it will be interesting to see what happens
with him in upcoming shows. 
Q. Are you friends with the other actors?

Yes, they are all great people. David and I are really good
friends, we hang out together a lot.

Q. What else have you done?

Just came from Edmonton, Alberta where I did a Canadian
show called "Jake and the Kid." [Long, boring description
of the plot of the show and his character. Basically, the guy
is an escaped convict who'd been a baseball player in the
50s. He hides out on a farm, gets caught, but plays one last
baseball game for the local team before going back to jail.] 
Also recently did a "Lonesome Dove", played an ex-con (is
there a recurring theme here?) who becomes a
schoolteacher. "You put on the hat and the cowboy clothes
and in ten minutes you're walking like this." [John
Wayne-type swagger]. "The little boy in you comes out and
you're playing cowboys."

Then of course there was "Sliders."

Q. What are David and Gillian really like?

They are both very smart, quiet people. Gillian of course is
married, she's a mother now. David drives this old Dodge
Shadow - he could be driving an Italian sports car, but here
he's driving this old Dodge. They have a working
relationship - the important thing when you're working with
someone is trust. We all went to the party at Spago's after
the Emmys. Dennis Franz was there, and [names a couple
other people]... And Michelle Pfeiffer! [like a starstruck
kid, totally loses the thread of what he was trying to say].

Q. What about all these other shows now that are trying to
be like the X-Files? 
Well, it's inevitable, people will copy anything that
becomes successful. But the X-Files has integrity - Chris
Carter is a genius, he's not just trying to make money.

Q. Is Krycek someone who believes in what he's doing, or
is he just someone who'll step on anybody or kill them to
climb the ladder?

A little of both, probably. But now Krycek has a lot of
respect for Mulder and Scully, after working with them.
Perhaps he's beginning to question what he's doing.

Q. What's with the Cigarette Smoking Man?

What *is* with him? He's repressed, he's angry. [laughs]
He's just a guy doing a job. The great thing about the
X-Files is it can turn you around and change how you feel
about someone. When Mulder goes to his apartment, you
start to feel sorry for him - he's alone in this little apartment,
he's got no wife, no family, just a job with a little power....
[noises of dissent from the audience] No? You're not
buying that, huh? 
Q. What are your favorite episodes?

Well, Sleepless, Duane Barry.... [laughs] Actually, Duane
Barry was great. I wasn't in that one that much, you mostly
just see my tie in that one, there are all these shots around
the table and I'm standing behind, you just see this much of
me [indicates chest to waist] so I can say this one was great.
David and Steve Railsback were just fantastic. Steve
Railsback took this guy, he was just written to be plain
insane, but Railsback added things ... he made him like a
little kid. When he says about the implants "in my sinus
cavities, my gums, my belly button" he wasn't supposed to
say that, it was written "stomach" but he said "belly button"
like a little kid.

Q. Is Krycek going to be killed off?

I thought they were going to. Originally, he was supposed
to have been. I called Chris Carter and said "Please don't
kill me" [pleading, little-boy voice]. Chris said, "I think we
have to, you've been so evil." But they didn't. Chris said it
was best for the show for Krycek to stay around, to keep
causing trouble. But you never know what might happen, so
- keep those letters coming in!

Q. What happened to Krycek after Ascension? Where was
he?

Oh, on a beach in Costa Rica, having a nice big drink.... I
don't know, he was just withdrawn, they were getting too
close to blowing his cover so they took him out, put him on
ice. Then they brought him back to do some more dirty
work.

Q. Do you see Krycek more as another Deep Throat, or will
he end up more like Mulder?

Well, there's only one Mulder. I'd like to see him do
something like save Mulder's life.

Q. Will there be an X-Files feature film?

There's been talk but nothing official. They were talking
about who's going to play Krycek - maybe Rob Lowe. That
would make me throw up. 
Q. How do you feel about the paranormal?

Well, that's a pretty large topic. But yes, I believe in UFOs,
I believe in Roswell. Or, let's say, I'd like to believe it. And
I believe in spirits and ghosts. Wolfman? No. But I believe
in spirits.

Q. Who's the guy with Krycek in The Blessing Way?

That's the Hispanic Man.

Q. Is he important?

Well, he's important to *him*.

Q. Do people ever confuse you with the character?

Yes, sometimes. People will see me and recognize Krycek
and they step back, they don't trust him. I've been reading
stuff on the Internet and online, and it can get pretty scary.
Did you know there's an "I Hate Nicholas Lea" newsletter?
But the Ratboy Brigade, I like that, that's cool. 
Q. Any chance of seeing you in a Speedo?

Well, first I'd have to go about three weeks with no food....
Oh, you mean right now? Actually, I have them on under
my clothes.... [gets embarrassed] No, I can't believe I just
said that! Actually, no, not if I can help it. 
Q. What was going through Krycek's mind when he shot
Melissa? 
"Hope she talks to me when we get home...." After the
scene was filmed, we were in a studio doing the looping, I
had to say "Oh, no..." when I see we killed the wrong
person, and I wasn't sure just how to say it. David was there
with his dog Blue, they were watching, and David said, "Do
it like you went to the store and got the wrong milk" so I
just said "Oh, no" like it was the wrong milk....

Q. One more question...

You said that was the last one! [sees Mitch standing off at
the side with the microphone] Hey, I've got a question for
*you* - will you show me how to play blackjack?

Mitch: I've got a question for you - what if Skinner and
Krycek tangle...? 
Well, Skinner's pretty tough, sure, but Krycek's had some
experience, he's young, he's got the moves....
_________________

That was it for Nick! Then Mitch came out. The first thing
he said was, "Nick was funny, wasn't he? He was worried
he wouldn't have anything to talk about - I guess it wasn't a
problem"

Then at the end of Mitch's session, there was "One more
question" from Nick: "Mitch, are those Bugle Boy jeans
you're wearing?"

After Mitch (if you want that story, ask Paula of the MPEB
- I was sitting at a table with her), they signed autographs
and posed for photos. Instead of forming lines for
autographs, they had people stay at their tables and the
guests went around to them.

Here's how Nick signs his name: Big block "N", one down
stroke, one down and up. Small "i" in the middle of the
"N". Small "ck" sort of stuck on the "N". One vertical
downstroke for the "L". Small "ea". Long heavy underscore
forms the bottom stroke of the "L".

I had him sign two photos, before they announced only one
autograph per person please! (Oops.) My friend took a
photo of me with him. Sigh. Eagerly awaiting her to mail it
to me so I can see how it turned out. He was very friendly,
sat at the table with each group of people to sign and chat a
little. (Said he'd signed his name more than he had in the
last six months.)
____________________________________

Well, it was just great having the chance to see him in
person, and talk to him for a few minutes and get him to
sign my pictures! He is really a sweetheart.

Cody Nelson   <codyne@netwizards.net>