This is an interview with the actor portraying Nandor the Relentless in the recently concluded series What We Do in the Shadows. The actor discusses the distinctive, heavily accented voice of the character, confirming it is based primarily on a Polish accent, intentionally flattened to match the character’s pathetic yet authoritarian nature. He reflects on Nandor's inherently well-meaning but misguided personality and highlights his favorite storylines, including the Genie arc, the 37 wives, and the janitor stint. The conversation frequently returns to the actor's playful demand for an Emmy, which he claims is necessary for his post-series career and providing for his new child. The interview also touches upon his role in the 2010 film Four Lions and his future ambition of being cast in the Star Wars universe.
The Actor Behind Nandor Discusses What We Do in the Shadows and Future Ambitions
0:28 Distinctive Voice: The actor confirms that his real voice often surprises fans who are used to Nandor's distinctive, flat accent.
0:56 Accent Origin: The accent is based on a Polish accent, combined with the flatness inspired by Taika Waititi’s character in the original What We Do in the Shadows film.
2:29 Self-Proclaimed Masterpiece: The actor jokingly asserts his portrayal of Nandor is "masterful and nothing less than award-worthy."
3:18 Favorite Storylines: Highlights include the Genie arc, meeting his 37 wives, playing a ghost (Season 2), the Atlantic City/casino episode, the fitness era, and his stint as a janitor.
5:02 Emmy Pressure: The actor states that fans frequently ask why he hasn't won an Emmy yet, and he immediately delegates the responsibility for securing one to the interviewer, Abe, jokingly calling him "Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago."
6:11 Script Strength vs. Improv: While improvisation was used on set, the written scripts were so excellent that most improvised moments were cut, used only to add "extra seasoning."
7:23 Collaboration with Guillermo: He emphasizes his close off-screen friendship and "double act" with Harvey Guillén (Guillermo), describing them as "thick as thieves."
9:39 Timeless Satire: The actor discusses the 2010 film Four Lions, calling it a "great piece of work" and "timeless," though he notes a contemporary American version might be controversial.
12:11 Focus on Fatherhood: Since Shadows wrapped, the actor has been focusing on being a dad and doing voiceovers, humorously noting that his phone did not start ringing with new opportunities.
12:35 High-Stakes Emmy Bid: He reiterates the extreme importance of an Emmy win, stating the interviewer would be "depriving not only me of a career, but my son of a square meal" otherwise.
14:47 Future Ambition: His ideal next role would be in the Star Wars universe, suggesting he could play the "Persian Han Solo."