Back to Celebrity Corner

You may have seen Costas Mandylor on television and in the movies; he's been an actor for nearly two decades. Among Costas's many film and TV credits are: Picket Fences (TV), Mobsters, and the Saw movies. He's now shooting Saw IV, which will be out in October. Costas was born and raised in Australia, and got into acting by accident, literally. His first love was soccer. He moved to Greece and was selected to play on the European Championship team. When he was 21, Costas moved back to Australia and played professionally in that country's National Soccer League. However, an injury forced him to give up his career as a soccer player and forced him to do something else. Costas studied acting in Los Angeles. His acting teachers saw something in him and encouraged him along. His break came in 1989; he earned his first role in the movie Triumph of the Spirit. Besides being noticed as an actor, Costas was being noticed for his leading man good looks. He was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 1991, and one of 2000's Sexiest Men. Costas's brother Louis is also an actor.

KT: What has been your most memorable experience as an actor?

Costas Mandylor: I just finished shooting Beowulf with director Robert Zemeckis. Beowulf is the story of good versus evil. It’s from Norse mythology about a Scandinavian warrior who must fight a monster that’s terrorizing towns (Beowulf is scheduled to be released into theaters next November.) What made this so great is that I got the opportunity to hang out with Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Ray Winstone, Brendan Gleason, Angelina Jolie, and Robin Wright-Penn. I must be doing something right to be in their company.

KT: What do you do in your spare time?

Costas Mandylor: I try to hit the gym at least twice a week and eat well. I like to read books.

KT: Are you a technophile or technophobe?

Costas Mandylor: I am a caveman when it comes to technology. I can’t even play Game Boy.

KT: How do you use the Internet and what are your favorite sites?

Costas Mandylor: I don’t use the Internet very much. I always thought it was an intrusion into my life. But, now I’ve come around to view the Internet as necessary to keep in touch with the rest of the world.

KT: What advice do you have for kids/teens to be safe online?

Costas Mandylor: I think that sometimes kids think they can get away with anything, so they’re not as cautious as they should be. So my advice to them is to be careful about what you’re getting yourselves into. That means watch what you put out there. I think that the Internet can be a great thing for kids, but my biggest piece of advice is to not let it take the place of the personal touch. Personal contact is important, and the Internet tends to draw people away from actually being with your friends.

KT: What advice can you give a student who wants a career as an actor?

Costas Mandylor: Acting is a very fulfilling career, if you get lucky. I was one of the lucky ones. When I finished acting lessons, I was told that the first role could take years to come, if at all. But I got my first part within a year, in the movie, Triumph of the Spirit (with Willem Dafoe and Robert Loggia). Then, just six months later, I was cast in Mobsters (starring Christian Slater and Patrick Dempsey). I was spoiled from the get-go. If you’re heart’s into it, you have a shot. My advise is to follow your dreams and your gut instincts. But, between me and you, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.