Casper's done a lot for one character, he is seen as the comedic character, the romantic type, the serious character, he’s also been involved in the 2 main storylines this season with War of the Roses and now the Ownership storyline, and it’s a lot for any character.... Do you think that's effected the opinion of him by the viewers and do you think this is a lot for one character? Good question, I think that Casper was the fans favourite and the writers knew this, he was their shoulder to cry on, he came through at the start when everyone was dealing with the grief of losing last years cast and entertained us, softening the blow, he's a lover and a fighter. He was the main character this season and I think the writers knew exactly what they were doing. From my perspective it was a lot of hard work and heavy hours but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it and hope I did the part justice. In my first interview on this site I said that Cass is a closet hero with many sides to his character, a lot like most people in the real world, he had depth.
Often this series people have been saying you are the new Fletch. How did you feel about this? Did you feel you were replacing a legend in the program or were hoping to create your own unique character? It would have been impossible to replace Fletch, even if I’d stayed it would only be until the show ends next year, how can you match eight years of service by Terry? Fletch was Mr Harchester, he was the stereotypical footballer, arrogant, cocky, charming. There are these characters in every team, Casper was cut from the same mould but again different in other ways. Cass was always from my perspective a little bit smarter, a little bit more manipulative. Where Fletch had fun by getting into trouble, Cass had fun by causing it. Two characters, one great, the other potentially great but both very different.
Seeing as the ownership storyline has been the main focus of the series, how did you feel about being killed of so quickly after it was revealed? I think it was the best way to go, solve a mystery and a drama and start another! I didn't know I was going to be the owner until very late anyway but leaving was my choice and I thank Jane and Ben and the others for being so understanding about it, with those factors we combined to make the last few episodes as gripping as possible. And come on, it wouldn't be Dream Team without someone dying.
For you Rob, was there any specific moments that you enjoyed filming during your time in Dream Team? Or was there anyone specific that you enjoyed working with and instantly had a great working relationship with? Cor Blimey guv, that's a hard one! The person I enjoyed working with the most I admit was Lauren Gold, she's incredibly professional and hard working and we had immediate on screen chemistry, working with her was always a doddle. Ricky was a blessing to have around, that boy has some serious talent and I hope he makes it, I don't know many people as deserving. As for specific moments. Every training session and the bums out penalties we'd face if we lost the crossbar challenge. Some scenes we'd do and we'd laugh so hard we'd have to leave the set. Anytime I worked with Jaime Lomas, the laughter was never far from the surface, dangerous man, we had too much fun. It was wonderful every day walking onto that set and knowing that I was going to have fun with my friends. Tyson was the boy who made sure we had laughs, Danny was the nicest guy. Probably the best moment I experienced was on a daily basis, Lonyo who plays Rossi has the worst banter, and I'd tear him to bits along with the other boys, he always took it in his stride, don't worry Lon, you'll be able to mix it soon!
Will we be seeing you on the screen again soon? What would be your ideal role, if so? I left to pursue other projects, so don't worry I won't be long off your screen, small or silver! My ideal role? I want to be the next action hero! I'm a trained fighter and stunt worker so would love to mix acting and fighting into one gargantuan mission impossible style movie. Or, some good romantic comedy. Failing that there's always porn.
Was it difficult playing such a cheeky character? Sorry to see you go, you were my favourite character! Who is your favourite character? Will we be seeing you in anything new soon? Would you have liked to have stayed on the show longer? Ha! No, it came very easily! I'm a cheeky chappy womaniser myself so that bit wasn't difficult at all, most of the time all I had to do was smile, I swear my cheeky grin did more of the acting than me. There were other sides to the man that I enjoyed, I always had a temper problem so playing the darker I want to maim and kill side of Cass wasn't too difficult. He was real fun to be.
Robert as an actor I would like to ask you who you thought you had better chemistry with, Lauren Gold or Naomi Ryan? Personally, I always thought Casper’s character had a better chemistry with Scarlett than with Ashleigh and it was only because he wanted to make up with his brother so much that he passed up the opportunity rather than his liking of Ashleigh. You can't make me choose! Naomi was a wonderful girl to work with, we really enjoyed trying to bring the romance to life, the problem was that Cass wanted Ashleigh, but was in love with Scarlett, he had to suppress his desires for Scarlett for the sake of him and Gene. In terms of who had the best chemistry.... You tell me?!
You came into Dream Team at the start of Season 9 and you left at the end. How do you sum up the experience as a whole? What was your reaction when you found out you were the owner or did you know the whole time? How do you sum up a year? How do you measure it in smiles? Laughter? Tears? I cried as often as I laughed on that set, sometime it was hard and sometimes easy. My private life was mad, I was homeless and living in my car in the studio car park for a month, I fell in love for the first time and had my heart broken, I lived the experience to the fullest, I loved it day and night. I was in that studio twelve hours a day if we finished early! It was hard but wonderful and it will always stay in my mind as one of the greatest memories of my life. I would come on here every week and talk with the fans and you'd remind me why I do this job, it's because of all of you and the joy you all bring into my life when you stop me in the street, when you post a comment, even the negative ones, knowing that there's a million people each week laughing at something I said. My only real regret is that I won't be a part of your lives anymore... Until Next time.
Who did you get along with best behind the scenes? Have you become friends with anyone? I hope I've become friends with everyone! Obviously there were people I spent more time with, people like Junior, Lauren and Julie I consider some of my closest friends. Jaime, Ricky, Danny I have all the love in he world for, all the lads were great and I still see them about, lying in the gutters holding a bottle of white lightning! I still see most of them and hope to for the rest of our days.
Did you know from the start of series 9 that Casper was the owner of HUFC? They kept us guessing all the time, I would go up the office once a week and say AH HA I HAVE IT IT'S Jerry, My Dad, Jaws, the man on the moon, lassie! I only found out about a month before I left, it was quite a shock let me tell you.
Was it fun playing this really important role in which we had seen many sides of Casper, we saw the sensitive loving side, the cheeky side, the irresponsible and responsible sides? Would you have proffered to play something different? Preferred? No, I would love to play a hard nut character, someone truly evil but Casper was fun and I wouldn't have changed him for anyone else’s. Although at times the boys would get a storyline I’d like. Me and Ricky would compare how may people our characters had slept with in the series, last time I checked he was in the lead but Felix was the winner! Basically I'm only jealous if the boys get more sex scenes than me!
What was it like acting with Eugene? His character is very unlike any other character I have seen in Dream Team, what was he like offstage, was he 'gangster' enough to play the part he was given, in your opinion? This is a good question, Junior reckons he's nothing like Eugene, he even thinks he puts on the accent but I swear this is true, he's one hundred percent the same. You could swap them round, Junior laughs more and allows me to flick him and punch him which Eugene wouldn't but very similar. He's a great lad, we go out and about now and try to meet nice people, he was fun to work with and I think we both learnt a lot together while working together.
As we all know, players in Harchester have met their demise in many ways. Are you happy to go out like you did? Do you think its a fitting end for your character? Its much more of a Fletch ending than Clyde. If you could have chosen another way to go, what would it have been? Oooooh, stopping a mad suicide bomber from blowing up the stadium? something mad, huge and exciting. Do you realise that in the series I've been beaten up by Eugene Twice, he's half my size, Beaten up by two managers, I even got decked by Ashleigh in the HUFC car park and then killed by a single punch! Cass was not a tough guy! Would have liked to have a proper fight, with knives and shotguns, under siege style. I'm never happy with my scenes, I’m a perfectionist.
What was your favourite moment or storyline playing Casper? My favourite storyline? Filming the Christmas special was the high point for me. We had a bigger budget for that episode, we took our time and really made some magic happen I think. Working with Reza the director on that episode was a pleasure.
Have you had much female attention since appearing on DT? I've always had a fair bit of female attention, gos that sounds really big headed but I was a model for a long time and a womaniser for longer. I met a girl I fell in love with and though we're not together anymore it was impossible to tempt me away from her while we were, I'm not the kind of guy you'll read about in the papers sleeping with this girl or that girl. I hope. I do enjoy a varied social life, I'm no good with women however. I can't chat up girls to save my life, I’m actually very shy, so if you see me about and fancy your chances you're going to have to come up to me cos I isn’t got the guts to come up to you.
In your interview earlier in the series you mentioned that Ricky told you to learn how to play football, have you got any better? Yes, when I started the only person worse than me was Junior, we've both improved a lot and I honestly feel I can cut it with the rest, I’d give most people a run for their money but I'm no striker, no finisher, I do have an eye for a deadly pass Xabi Alonso style. I can still only manage about twenty keepy ups but I do a lot of charity work and get to play with sick kids every now and then, I'm better than them at least!! Much love to all the people that have been a helping hand in my fundraising over the last year, every donation has made a difference.
Now that you have left dream team, would you still watch it? and maybe contribute to the forums? I will still watch it, time allowing and always will be a friend to this forum who have been friends to me. Fletch, SteveyD (Good luck with the bubby) and all the guys. BHAFC Braders? Great team mate, must go to a game with me fella.
What you did before Dream Team? And since joining has your life changed at all, such as getting recognised in the street?! You've played a real blinder on the show, good luck in whatever you do next!! Thank you. This time last year I was still at drama school in training to become an actor, I did Basil Brush for a while, just one episode was great fun, a couple of adverts for other countries. Before drama school I worked in bars as security and doorman all sorts of things really. I Definitely was not a footballer though, although I think I could make a difference in the world cup now. My secret dream is to do the crossbar challenge on soccer a.m. I'd win hands down!
Do you think your next role whatever it will be will have as much banter as the set of dream team and what styling product gets used on your hair? I hope my next role will be completely different to Cass, and to be honest I was never any good at the banter so won't miss it all that much! just kidding. And styling product? I used several at different times, fish, matt paste and whatever they had in the make up van, I did my own hair which is probably why it changed from shot to shot, damn it was high maintenance!
What would be your career now if you weren’t acting? I really don't know, probably a male escort! I was always performer, always ha to be the centre of attention even before I knew I wanted to be an actor. At college, before I got expelled I studied philosophy and English, I think I'd probably gone on to become a writer full time instead of part time.
Do you enjoy football yourself? Watching and playing? Who do you follow? Favourite player? Yeah I love my football, I prefer watching to playing, my team is Brighton and Hove Albion Fc, the seagulls, sadly relegated last week but sure to bounce back up if they let me on the pitch. And favourite player at the moment? Ronaldinho, he's the messiah of football, he reminds us why it's called the beautiful game, a maestro of the art who truly enjoys his game and doesn't take it too seriously.
You said in your previous interview that you would hate to see Cass die but if it happened you would love it to be in spectacular fashion I know it was your choice to leave so can you tell us why and are you disappointed with how your character ended up? I wanted to leave but would have been happy for the door to be left open for future series, but I never knew that next series would be the last so if I left it would be for good anyway. The writers made a good decision with Cass. I was never disappointed with Cass, would have been nice for him to have a happy ending, underneath it all he was a lovely guy and deserved better than he got.
What is a typical day like for you starting from morning to night? At the moment my day consists of wake up about 2 p.m, got to the gym, go have coffee read a paper, stare at my phone hoping for good news, come home and play Xbox with my flat mate. exciting stuff. To be honest at the moment whilst waiting for my next job to start I'm just doing all the charity work I can, my appeals mean a lot to me and are the second most important thing to me after my job.
I am just wondering if you watch episodes when they are shown on sky one? What has been your favourite episode so far? No, I get copies and watch them, I don't have sky or even terrestrial television. My favourite episode so far has been the Christmas special. It was wonderful. I worked with some very cool people, also Emma Davies who played my mother has been hit with a nasty illness and I wish her the speediest recovery and look forward to having her back to her raging best. Much love to you Emma.
After the death scene did you get emotional? I'd been at work for about fourteen hours, we shot so much that wasn't in the show tonight, I had to lay on that floor in a really uncomfortable position covered in blood, ink and broken glass for about five hours, I could barely stand after that, and the next day I had to come in, I still had about two weeks filming to do, so no after that scene I most certainly did not get emotional. Drunk maybe but not emotional!
What appealed you the most to playing the role of Casper and what was you doing at the time until you got the part of Casper? With you coming into dream team at series 9 out of every single character you either saw or heard of who would you of liked to work with the most from series one up to your death scene. I finished Basil the day before I started Dream Team. I would have loved to work with Terry, Fletch and Cass together would have been nice. I did get to work with Lamorna Watts on an advert a few weeks back though, great gal.
Great job throughout the series, I’ll miss Casper and sorry to bring the questions away from dream team for a minute but I was just wondering since we've seen you auctioning things off on here to help the tsunami appeal how you got involved in it and why you decided to do so? All my life I’ve been lucky, with women, with opportunities, with my friends with money. It's really truly easy to forget just how hard some people live. In our comfortable society it's really easy to forget about events that happen ten thousand miles away. I've seen horrible things and wondrous recoveries, met and spoke to people whose lives have been changed. Today Lauren Gold ran the London marathon with torn medial ligaments in her knee, she shouldn't have been able to walk, she most certainly shouldn't have been allowed to do the run, but it mattered so much to her the appeal, that nothing on this earth least of all her body could stop her, she finished in six hours thirty minutes, and I guarantee she worked as hard as the people who won it. That kind of drive, that kind of selflessness, a willingness to give of yourself to help another is why I do it, because of people like her who change lives everyday, and because I can help so why shouldn't I?
What was it like working with all these beautiful women and especially the Dream Team Legend Ali King, Is she really as beautiful as she looks? Yes she is, they all are, and sometimes we had to share changing rooms! The girls were stunning, lovely, they really were very hot weren't they? maybe I shouldn't have left!
If you could appear as any character in any programme/film either past or present, who would it be, and why? There's so many! I'd love to be the next Bond, give it a few years and it's mine I promise you. I'd love to have played Rob in High Fidelity, man I understand that character portrayed so well by John Cusack. I missed out on my dream of acting with Jack Lemmon a few years back when he died, really upset me.
What music/bands are you into? Cor hard question. I love my music. Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, U2, Bruce Springstein, they're my kind of stuff, I love my rock music. Tenacious D do it for me, I brought a couple of great albums this year, The decemberists really blew me away and all my Goldfrapp collection. When I'm working out I listen to 2 many Dj's and I write and sing music too.
Who is the best footballer on Dream Team? The best real footballer. For technical wizardry it's either Scott (Carter) or Danny, they do all sorts of tricks. O'mare is the best keeper no doubt and technically probably the best footballer, but Tys is the teacher, how do you compare with the teacher?
Was starring in dream team anything close to the life of a premiership player? Bloody wasn't! Unfortunately we don't earn anything like what the footballer earn! If only. You're not recognised often cos most people don't watch dream team, you don't drive a fast car, I drive a rover, I rent, in a hell hole. Footballers can work a couple hours a day and we might get to sleep for a couple hours a day if we're lucky! But is it as much fun? Yeah probably.
OK, so you have had the taste of a premiership footballers life- if you could choose now between the life of an actor or say...David Beckham, which would you choose? The life of an actor. I I'd wanted to be a footballer I would have been. But nothing compares to the feeling of stepping onto a new set or a stage and performing, knowing that people will laugh with you dry with you fight for you and pray with you. It's a wonderful feeling.
How would you feel if basil brush came in to fill the void left by your character? are the two of you still friends or would you hold a grudge? I'd like to see Basil satisfy women like Scarlett and Ashleigh. But hey we're both red heads, stunningly attractive and witty, why not, if he wants it he can do it and I'll put on a tail and take over his job.
After seeing all the hard work that goes into a TV series such as dream team, along with all its plot lines and themes have you ever thought about writing or directing in the future? Yes, I write plays, films and novels, and I'm directing my first film next year. Behind the scenes is where I want to be, as long as I can be in front of the camera too. It is hard work but I love doing it, writing something new, creating and controlling a character, great fun.
Who was your closest mate off-screen on DT and how did you feel meeting Alison King (The Longest Resident and Queen of HUFC)? My closest friend on set is Lauren, we hit it off and became really good friends, she's a great gal who always makes me laugh when I shouldn't. And Ali was lovely, a great lady who I hope to stay in touch with.
Which character would you have played (past or present) given the chance? I would have liked to have played Liam to be honest, he's a character who's principal I admire. Also he gets to go to bed with Chloe, who could complain about that!
Many of the lads in the show always seem to be getting their kit off for the show, in the showers and in the changing rooms etc, wondered if you ever had a problem with posing naked or doing naked scenes for a movie/TV show? Absolutely not, I love getting my tackle out, no problem. although I did get sent fake tan in the fan mail so maybe the fans wouldn't want to see it but I've absolutely no problem getting naked. I have a film coming up where I'm naked from halfway through till the end, I've been down the gym every day and sunbedding it so I look good for those shots. Might need one of those Swedish pumps though.
Is there no end to your talents... acting, writing, singing, directing... I can outfight any ten guys you put in front of me, turn lead into gold, make love for hours or days if I want, fly, turn green and fart the national anthem of Uzbekistan. twice. Oh and I can run a marathon in ten minutes I just choose not to.
Big fan of you Robert and you pulled three of the nicest birds possible! lucky man but which or the actors is a bit of a hard nut and someone not to mess with? was it you? Also, you don’t have to answer but was there any big arguments that took place? Oh there were always arguments but they were always resolved with love and I mean that. And no, there were no hard nuts, lots of people who thought they were but no one that would really scare ya.
You stated earlier you lived in your car for a month - was this a lifestyle choice or was it forced upon you by Jane's penny pinching? Also, what were the pros and cons of such living arrangements? No I was conned by a con artist while trying to move house and had no time to find anywhere else to live. The schedule was so demanding that I wasn't able to look. I didn't live in my car for a month but was homeless for about that long, sleeping at friends houses when I could or travelling up from Brighton everyday.
You say you're a bit of a writer and that the ownership storyline only came about at the last minute... given more time and if you'd been allowed to encroach on the writing side, would you have done the ownership storyline differently at all? I would have done it very differently, but I think that the writing team did a better job than I would. I claim to be a writer, I want to be and try to be, but these guys ARE writers for a living and have one up on me.
If you were a highly paid professional footballer and Harchester United wanted to sign you - would you join? Or would you be put off by the whole 'death situation' at the club? They're pretty unlucky now that you come to think of it - but on the plus side, they do tend to employ very attractive female members of staff. So would you join? Are you mad? Never! I said in like episode sixteen. "not much of an incentive to join is it? join Harchester and die." In the immortal words of Ewan Mcgregor in trainspotting I choose life.
Do you prefer doing TV programmes, musicals, films or plays? I love them all equally, I know that sounds crap but it's true. For film and TV it's quick, fin and exciting. For Musicals you get to dance and sing and with theatre you have a live audience and there's nothing like having an audience to play off.
Would you ever go on the show Celebrity Big Brother??? No, I'm an actor not a celebrity. It's not the kind of thing that interests me. Saying that this time next year I'll have probably sold out and be on I’m a celebrity, bb and Love island, or celebrity pop idol. It's a fickle business and I know why people do it but as an experience it's not for me.
Kazinsky sounds quite Polish. I'm half Polish and half Russian by blood, but born in England. Kazinsky isn't my real name, it's my grandfathers middle name, unfortunately I wasn't allowed to keep my real name, SUPERMAN was already taken you see.
Were you a dream team fan before you joint the series and how did you celebrate getting the part? No I'd never really watched it before, I knew of it but not a TV watcher by habit. I got the part the day of 21/7 bombings in London, two weeks after 7/7 so celebrating wasn't really an option because I was in town and trying to ring all my loved ones and make sure they were okay.
Rumour has it that you are the second person ever to receive an examiners star for fighting. what exactly does this involve and will you be using this skill in any upcoming projects? sounds like you'd be well able to take on Eugene’s gangs anyway! Oh believe me, Eugene and his gang are like flies to me, if they want someone to pretend fight I'll whoop em. It involves years of training with single sword, broadswords, knives, un armed, joint weapons all sorts of combat routines and being examined in them. the grading goes. Basic pass, Bronze, Silver, Gold medal, Recommendation, Examiner Star. So It's quite big amongst the stage fighters.
Just want to say that tonight has been a blast for me, you guys are why I do this job. I've had so many people say that they're honoured to talk to me tonight. Rubbish, I feel honoured to talk to you, to answer your questions and I mean that. I feel privileged that you have let me into your homes every Sunday for the last year. Thank you all for your words of support through the months and hopefully (in fact I know) this won't be the last you'll see of me.
Goodnight, God bless.
Robert Kazinsky
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