Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 28, 1993 TAG: 9312280015
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ian Spelling
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Deep Space Nine" has been everything Siddig El Fadil expected and more, mostly because the young actor expected absolutely nothing.
"It's really the first thing I've ever done, in terms of serious serial drama work in America, so I didn't know what to expect," says "DS9's" Dr. Julian Bashir as he relaxes in his trailer on the Paramount Pictures lot before the start of a long day.
"`Deep Space Nine' is setting the norm for me, this sort of very surreal norm," he says in soft British tones.
"It's not a real norm, you know. I'm going to be spoiled and screwed up when I leave this show. Because I didn't know what I should expect. It has all been very weird and wonderful for me."
Since "DS9" debuted in January 1993, the character of Bashir has wielded a lightning rod of fan criticism.
Bashir is a brilliant interspecies doctor, fresh from Starfleet Medical Academy, but he's also young, brash, naive, arrogant, overly gung-ho and inexperienced, and often quite annoying - traits not commonly displayed by any "Trek" character, much less a series regular.
When the show began, Dr. Bashir was a bit of a nuisance. He had a mad crush on Dax (Terry Farrell). He always seemed to be getting in the way of O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Kira (Nana Visitor). And he was frequently at the receiving end of stern fatherly advice from Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks).
Though Bashir has done some growing up, fans still are in the process of getting used to the character.
For his part, El Fadil, who turned 28 in late November, enjoys the controversy.
"I love it," he says with a big smile. "It was a completely intellectual choice to do it the way we have.
"When I'm at conventions, some people say, `Hey, this guy's really a jerk. What are you going to do about it?'
"Do you know any jerks? You probably know one or two. And now the TV world knows one, too.
"If he's a jerk," El Fadil says, "he's not a terminal case, not a hopeless jerk.
"He'll grow as he learns, like all of us, and I'll have the unusual privilege as an actor to make that happen over the years."
El Fadil was born in the Sudan, Africa, and moved with his family at age 2 to London, where he was reared.
After a traditional British education and a year at University College at London, El Fadil worked at a men's clothing shop for two years before pursuing a career as a stage director.
That, in turn, led to acting lessons.
Not long after, he landed a role as a Palestinian in a British six-part miniseries called "The Big Battalions" (1991), which has yet to air in the United States.
A short while later he was cast in a secondary role as King Faisel in another British television production called "A Dangerous Man: Lawrence after Arabia" (1991).
Rick Berman, the executive producer of "Next Generation" and co-creator (with Michael Piller) of "Deep Space Nine," happened to see "A Dangerous Man" on PBS at the time he was casting "DS9" and at first considered El Fadil for the role of Commander Sisko.
Then, when Berman discovered that the actor was just 26 years old, he invited El Fadil to fly in from London to audition for the part of Bashir. The rest is "Trek" history.
"It has been a tremendous opportunity for me," El Fadil says with enthusiasm. "Our cast is really terrific. I love Los Angeles. I'm dating someone very special, and I have made a few good friends. "All in all, I'm having a really great time."
Trek alert
If you have Trek news or trivia to share - or if you have questions relating to "Star Trek" - write to Ian Spelling, care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
by CNB