From Hungarian TV, aired October 21, 1998
Transcribed and translated by Petra

Hungarian Interview

Transcriber's Note: Quite a depressing interview because the reporter is a very stupid one. [dc's note--I agree!!] This interview was made during the Wimbledon Tennis Cup, the reason why they only showed it on the 21th October is that the movie starts here on the 22nd October. It was proceeded by an article in the Women's Weekly -- I think it was either at the end of August or at the beginning of September, but I'm not sure, because unfortunately I lost that issue.

DD: "Duchovny" that is how it is pronounced. Is that true that it means the "man who confesses his secrets" in Hungarian?

REP: No, absolutely not.

DD: So my name has no meaning in Hungarian?

REP: Well, no.

DD: I'm sorry for my name making no sense in Hungarian.

REP: I'm sorry too.

[It's been 5 years that Duchovny has investigated the X-Files in the role of Agent Mulder with his partner Scully. What is in this series is most likely to be non-existent in the real world. Green-blooded aliens, for example, whom are being dissected in the X-Files, terrifyingly attacking insect invasion, fantasy-made flesh-headed creatures, but also cases based on real life newspaper articles about mysterious murders. What's more it's on TV from week to week and from month to month.]

REP: You are doing this for 5 years now, isn't it boring for you?

DD: Oh, yeah, but you know, nobody wants to care about that, really. I keep on telling my agents to get some other roles, but they always warn me that I signed a long-term contact and the studio is paying me because they want the viewers not to notice that I'm bored. So finally it always turns out that I have no other choice, but to make the filming somehow more enjoyable.

REP: And how do you make it?

DD: I haven't found a solution yet. (LAUGH) You know, in my opinion, besides from few lucky people everybody is bored with the things he or she does everyday. So everybody is trying to find out a personal technique at his or her workplace to get through the boredom.

REP: So now you only enjoy your job when you get your payment?

DD: No, I wouldn't say that. Actually I like acting, but I do this X-Files job mainly for the money. I signed the contact, they pay me for that, so I play the role of Agent Mulder. That's it. That's another question that I'd play other roles for less money.

REP: So what's the inspiration for doing this job in general?

DD: That I can make enjoyable things. To play in movies and series that I'd watch too.

REP: Once you said that your parents' divorce made you successful later. What does it mean?

DD: Naturally it is not because of my parents' divorce that I'm successful now. I said it because it was a great shock for me. From that time I started to think a lot more about the world. I became a more sensitive and more tolerant person, probably I'm a bit more complex too. I 'realized' the world and it was important for becoming a good actor.

REP: Your father is Russian-Jewish born, does it mean that you can speak Russian?

DD: No, but I can speak the Hebrew Language.

REP: But as a professor of literature you've read books written by Russian authors?

DD: Sure, but only the translations, because I don't speak any Russian.

REP: And who is your favourite Russian author?

DD: Probably it's Dostoiewsky, because it's easy to understand him.

REP: What do you like more? When women say that you are sexy and that's why they're watching the X-Files or when they claim they like you because you have an intelligent and mystical look?

DD: Both is okay. In my opinion the main thing is that they like me. It doesn't really matter why they like me. If someone watches my movies, because of my good looks then it's good and if someone else does it because she likes my look, then it's good too. You know being an actor is a complex thing. Your outer looks, the tone of your voice and your style is equally important. Because the combination of these has an effect over people. I -- of course -- would like to be liked for these things together.

REP: If you could go back in time and space for one hour in history, what would you like to see?

DD: I think, well, I know it's horrible, but I'd like to see the crucification of Jesus. It's awful, but I'm really curious about it. I'd ask this and that from Jesus Christ.

REP: What would you ask?

DD: No, I cannot tell that one. If I did, I'd hurt millions of religious people.

REP: Aren't you afraid that because of the new X-Files movie you'll be even more stuck to the role of the FBI Agent?

DD: No.

REP: Why not?

DD: Because it simply doesn't come to my mind. Of course sometime later on it might turn out that I was wrong, but I don't think so.

REP: Because nowadays Hungarian people tend to find some resemblance between you and the actor who played J.R. in Dallas. He, too, was playing the same role for years, so now when ever he shows up in another role, people cry out "oh, look here's J.R.'".

DD: I understand.

REP: So are you sure it won't happen to you?

DD: Look, as I've already said, I want to get rid of this role, but not because I'm afraid I'd be stuck in this cliché of the FBI Agent, but because I'm bored with this role. It paralyzes me, and I really don't like it.