Diahann Carroll on USA's 'White Collar' Feb. 9, the interview

By April MacIntyre Feb 9, 2010, 3:17 GMT

A white collar criminal agrees to help the FBI catch others like him using his expertise as an art and securities thief, counterfeiter and racketeer. Capers and noir comedy ensue. ...more

USA Network does character actor casting very well, especially for guest starring roles as they reintroduce a younger audience to thespians who reigned on the smallscreen decades earlier.

And they should, their claim to network fame is "Characters Welcome."

Recently "Burn Notice" reunited the trailblazing female duo of "Cagney & Lacey," as Tyne Daly worked alongside her buddy Sharon Gless (Madeline) once again on the series.  USA also announced the addition of Henry Winkler as Hank and Evan's estranged dad to their summer hit series "Royal Pains."

USA also scored big points for their new slick drama, "White Collar," the episode airing tomorrow (Tuesday Feb. 9) stars the woman who broke real ground for all actors of color on the smallscreen: Diahann Carroll.

Carroll occupied my childhood as the precise and comforting nurse in Julia, as she was my first real exposure to anyone outside my own race, or a story of a working single mother. 

In Julia, Carroll was single mom (Vietnam widow) and nurse Julia Baker.  The doctor, Morton Chegley, was played by Lloyd Nolan.

Given the contentious times of change that the show aired (1968-1971), her actions and presence in my living room taught me everything I need to understand about these issues at six years of age.  Carroll was wonderful to watch in this series.

The show also featured the brilliant actors Paul Winfield and Fred Williamson. Julia's son, Corey (Marc Copage) was my age (six) when the show first ran.  

Years later, Ms. Carroll became Joan Collins' nemesis in "Dynasty" as Dominique Deveraux, and their scenes were like watching the cobra taunt the mongoose:

There was a special role written for Carroll on this highly addictive new original series, "White Collar," which airs on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. on USA Network. 

How lucky for us all to be revisited by an icon of American television. 

Neal (Matt Bomer) brings Peter (Tim DeKay) a potential case for the FBI to handle. Peter is dubious. Enter Carroll as June, Neal's landlady, who needs their help.

Monsters & Critics listened in a conference call where Ms. Carroll talked about this role, and her past work.

The role on White Collar, how did you find it?

D. Carroll The creator, actually, is the person who approached us about doing this role and he really understood the period of time that was—my character, June—that was her hey-day and I thought, well, this is going to be really great fun because it goes back to the period of the Rat Pack.

She was a part of it to the degree where she was married to one of the musicians, or—it's not exactly clear what he wants to do with that area of it and that's another thing that I love—the creativity as you go along. 

That's how she meets the main character, getting rid of some of the clothing that she has kept, her memorabilia from that period that was a wonderful time in her life, but actually, he has a great feeling for that period of time, and so it's been, really, a joy being there and doing it.

Is there anything you have yet to accomplish in your career?

D. Carroll:  I've done theater and television and film and nightclubs, that is true, but I really would love another opportunity to do something as fascinating as Dynasty was, on television. 

I really enjoyed doing that and I'd like to see something like that come about again.  Something that is totally absurd and fun.

What are your thoughts on how the playing field has changed for actors of color - and women - since you started out?

D. Carroll Well, I would have to say that I have a positive feeling about that.  There are so many shows on the air that I'm not really familiar, but I do believe that the stereotypical woman that was dominating television when I started, we've done away with that, for all of but what we call third world women—people—and that's very gratifying that we've done that. 

The integrating is still not on a level that I would like to see it, but I do think it's coming.  I do feel that we are trying and that it's getting better.

Could you tell us anything about June?  What's going to be happening with her on the remainder of the season of White Collar?

D. Carroll June is, at this moment, enjoying her relationship with her new found friend and I think that they're just getting, really, to know each other under all circumstances.

She trusts him and is fascinated by him and also his friend Willie Garson, Mozzie.

You are an activist for breast cancer, and have had a personal experience, what are you working on regarding this?

D. Carroll Any time I have the opportunity to talk, particularly to women who are going through what I experienced, it's always a very gratifying exchange for me and I learned something and I hope that I give them something in return.

Something they can use, something they can move on, and I think that's one of the best things—one of the perks actually if that can be called a perk—when one knows that they have breast cancer—is the exchange, meeting each other, discussing, making new friends, learning new things that they have done that they can pass along to me, and vice verse, and that's what we will be doing.

Talk about Matt Bomer; did he make an impression?

D. Carroll If it's possible, he's better looking in real life and also very charming, and I think this is going to catapult him into the kind of stardom that he deserves. 

He is very hard-working and it's a delight to watch him in front of the camera.  I think the character is perfect for him.  He is really a bad boy who has good instincts and he looks the part.  I'm enjoying it very much.

What would you suggest to propel the strides all people of color have made in American life?

D. Carroll I suppose our lives need to be more integrated.  We have white communities and black communities and white country clubs and black country clubs. 

It's very important when we integrate ourselves, and it helps us to have a better understanding of the world, to people all over the world and this is the time in history that we have become very aware of how important that is, so I think it's just really—we have to know each other and work together and play together in order to write about each other.

What is it that helps you identify with your character?

D. Carroll Oh dear, that's a very complicated question.  Identify.  It can be a negative too, you know, … something that someone has written on the page. 

It's not always something that you are able to verbalize.  It's something that happens intrinsically and also if there's … action to some the action that is required of the character and it moves you in a way that is different from anything else that's on your desk.

That's the piece that you will respond to and wish to have as a part of your life and as a part of your legacy. 

It's something that's inexplicable, really, that's down in your gut and it's moved by something that makes you feel “I'd like to do that, I'd like to be able to say that and make people hear me because I think it's important,” even if it's not—even if it's a negative, it'd still be important, so I think that's as much as I can say about it, because it's something that really is emotional and difficult to verbalize.

What would you say is one of the most important lessons that you've learned, throughout your career?  Is there any advice you would share with an aspiring actor or actress?

D. Carroll: I think, probably, the lesson that I would hope everyone would learn quite early in their career is don’t take it personally. 

Whatever it is that happens, you're accepted for a role or rejected for a role of whatever, don’t take it personally.  It's part of the business and the person that is either hiring or firing—that's their business. 

That's what they are there for and it has nothing to do with how you feel about … It has to do with someone else's perception of should you, or can you, do this particular part, so just don’t take it personally,. 

The business is really about rejection, so don't take it personally. 

If there was one thing you could tell your fans from White Collar about your character that they would find surprising, what would it be?

D. Carroll I think the relationship with Matt is very interesting and it's something that I see in my life, constantly, and that is women who are no longer young seem to find young men interesting and amusing, whereas they were not as interesting and amusing when I was young, and I think that happens to most women. 

We can afford that kind of relationship at this age.

What else do you wish to conquer?

D. Carroll   Well, I don't know, to tell you the truth. 

Living day-to-day is quite a feat, I feel, and I'm enjoying it and getting something out of it and putting something into it is a lot to do.  I've been doing it now for—it will soon be 75 years, in July, and I'm pretty satisfied. 

I've also had four marriages that I went through, which is, also, difficult to do, so I don’t know.  I'm feeling satisfied and so everyday—not satisfied to the extent that im not making—I'm still making the effort and the effort to do what?  Everything.

Are we going to get a glimpse of your musical side on White Collar?

D. Carroll: I don’t know.  We have thought about it.  We've never brought that conversation to a conclusion, but it would please me.  We'd just have to find out how and where it makes sense, if our writers can find that.  I trust them, because the writers are outstanding, and I would trust therm to find the right circumstances, which would make me comfortable.

White Collar has such a robust viewership, what is it about the show that you think draws in the viewers?

D. Carroll Oh, so many things and not only is Matt beautiful, and his partner Tim, is a very handsome man also, the writing is outstanding, I think, and the look of it, it brings you into it immediately. 

You want to know what is going on in that set and you want to know who these people are, that operate in that it grabs you.

It's a grabber and, once again, I must make comment about the writing.  It's really wonderful.

How much will June factor into the remaining episodes for this season and will she return next season?

D. Carroll Well, we'll have to ask the person who created her, but, this season, yes she has some very interesting things to do this season.  I'm not going to let the cat out of the bag.  She has lots of things to do.

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White Collar:

Episode "Home Invasion" airs Tuesday, February 9.                                                                                                           

USA Synopsis: Peter and Neal find themselves on the trail of an elusive femme fatale who is stealing pieces of a valuable collection. Now they must find the woman and reassemble the pieces before an international conflict erupts.

Series regulars: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen, Willie Garson & Natalie Morales Featuring: Sharif Atkins & James Rebhorn

Guest starring: Diahann Carroll, Gloria Votsis & Sarah Carter