Cory Monteith is best known for playing Finn Hudson in the popular Fox series Glee. He has also appeared in Kyle XY and Smallville.
Corey is tall and broad, with a firm handshake and a ready smile. During a break he chatted about his role in Monte Carlo and his filming experiences.
- What’s your character like?
Owen is completely in love with Katie Cassidy’s character, Emma. He’s on a journey - he’s a Texan boy, and he’s chasing her across Europe so he can take her home again and marry her.
He can be a little misguided, but he’s incredibly romantic and prepared to do whatever it takes to win back his girl.
- Are you as romantic as Owen?
I try to be! I think women like confidence and spontaneity, and Owen has that, for sure. When I care about someone I like to make big, romantic gestures.
A while ago I took a girl I was dating to the most beautiful restaurant. It was on top of a building and we could see the stars as we ate. She ended up being my girlfriend for a while, so I think it worked!
- How flirty are you?
I’m single, and I love that life but I’m not a dog! I’m pretty goofy and I make a lot of dumb jokes - life is too short to be serious, so I guess that’s how I flirt.
To be honest, I’ve never really thought about it - I think I’m too shy and reserved to be a proper old fashioned flirt.
- Describe your dream girl
People who are passionate are attractive - if they’re excited about their life and what they’re doing, that’s really engaging.
It doesn’t matter whether they’re a movie star or an accountant. As far as looks go, I don’t have any specifics. I don’t have a preference for blondes or brunettes.
- Do you have a celebrity crush?
I’ve worked with a lot of beautiful girls, but I’d have to say Amber Riley, who plays Mercedes in Glee. Have you heard her sing? She’s amazing.
- Which of your co stars did you bond with the most quickly?
I think I bonded with them all straight away! Selena is very sweet. She’s really down to earth, and excellent at doing accents.
We playfight like a brother and sister - she’s tiny but determined, although she has yet to hurt me! Leighton is great, and can give a solid high five.
That’s a life skill. I found the best way to get everyone laughing together was to tell a poop joke. I love potty humour - it’s the way to a woman’s heart.
- How do you all relax when you’re not filming?
Because the movie is basically about the three girls, I only have to work one day in four. I’ve had time to jet off and drive around Italy and Cannes.
It’s beautiful there. I’ve been to Vienna and Prague too - the most challenging thing about making this movie is figuring out where to go next!
- What will you miss most about Monte Carlo when you’ve finished filming?
The bread! The bread is delicious, I can get through a lot of that stuff. The way people treat each other here is very different too.
There’s a kind of old world sensibility in Europe - people are refined and respectful and it’s very cool. In North America there’s a different attitude. Everything is faster and less personal.
- You’re originally from Vancouver. Do you get homesick when you’re not there?
Of course! Vancouver is my city and I love everything about it. It’s amazing in the summer, and in the winter there’s snowboarding, which is incredible.
I love the food too. You can get great sushi there. I miss watching hockey, especially watching it with other people who care about hockey. It’s hard to find them outside Canada!
- In the US and the UK, you get a big fan reaction when you’re out and about. Has it been different in France?
There’s not been so much of a reaction in Monte Carlo. People here have their own agenda, and I don’t think that a lot of the people who are here watch Glee.
In Paris there were quite a few people who knew the show, but they had all seen it on UK television. It’s only just started on French TV, so people have been watching it on the internet.
- What’s been your weirdest fan experience?
Just after the Glee pilot aired, a woman in Philadelphia came along to a cast signing with her baby. She’d made the baby a onesie out of a show tee-shirt and asked us all to sign it.
The kid was only a couple of months old. When I started acting I never dreamed that one day I’d be signing a baby!
- What was the funniest scene to film?
It wasn’t meant to be particularly funny, but one day in Budapest when I was really tired, my eye started twitching uncontrollably.
Selena thought it was hilarious. We videoed it, and I’m definitely going to upload it. I think it could be a YouTube classic.
Monte Carlo is out now.
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