Budding actor Gasol talks about latest TV gig

While Pau Gasol's 2009-10 regular-season debut is up in the air as he rehabs his hamstring, one sure way of seeing the man who won an NBA championship and EuroBasket title in the span of four months is to tune in to CSI: Miami on Monday (CBS, 10 p.m. ET) where he showcases his acting talents, taking on a role of a person involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Gasol, who has already appeared on the CBS series, Numb3rs, spoke to NBA.com's John Hareas about the challenges of acting, the latest on his hamstring injury and where he keeps his championship ring.

NBA.com: What is your role on the show?

Pau Gasol: I play a random guy who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's cool because I'm not playing myself or the stereotypical basketball player. It's a little bit of a challenge.

My character's name is Victor and I'm driving my sister's boyfriend's car and I'm returning the car to the guy and I get into a car crash. I can't tell you the whole episode but will tell you that I get out of the car and I see that the other car is severely damaged and I see wounded people in there. One of them I believe is dead and the other I am trying to help and save his life.

It was an intense scene.

NBA.com: What was challenging about playing Victor?

Gasol: There were different parts. Different scenes required different parts. One of the scenes required getting hit by a car - big, big hit. Big crash. You're stumbling, your mind isn't clear, there's a lot of tension, there's fire, people are wounded, some are dead. You have to act and react, remember your lines and coordinate them with your actions. That's challenging enough and to have an interrogation with one of the agents. Plus, you have to follow directions from your acting coach. It's interesting how it all works and comes together.

Then you have to get used to the set. Everybody around you just looking at you and hoping you get it right and remember your lines. There are a lot of things involved in three days of shooting. It wasn't just the typical one day or half day of shooting.

NBA.com: How many takes were your scenes?

Gasol: I had three different scenes on three different days. It depends. There are different angles. You might nail one scene and then they want you to do it again from a different angle and then you have to repeat it.

NBA.com: How did this opportunity come about?

Gasol: I told my agent, Arn Tellem at Wasserman Media Group, that I had interest in doing acting and if stuff came up and it did. My agency had a good opportunity with CBS and they presented it to me and I was happy to have it. I met with the production company of CSI: Miami and it worked out great.

NBA.com: Talk about the overall challenges of acting?

Gasol: I've always enjoyed it whenever I've had the opportunity in the variety of commercials I've done throughout my career back in Spain. Some were intense but we had fun doing them because it's challenging to be able to reproduce feelings and emotions that you're not into at that particular time and you're trying to get them out. Acting is an interesting field.

Back in the day, I remember when I was a kid, I was played a part in two theatrical plays. One of them was the Christmas Carol and I don't remember the other one [laughs]. I played Lucifer, the devil, in the nativity scene. That was fun. I must have been 11 or 12.

NBA.com: Do you have the acting bug? Is this something you want to continue to pursue?

Gasol: Yes. It's refreshing. It's something different from what I do. I love watching movies and I think it's cool to be part of production and movie process. If I continue to have these opportunities, hopefully I can take advantage of them but it's hard with our schedule. The summer is the only time we have off. It's too difficult during the season. It takes time, effort and practice, just like any other job.

NBA.com: Who are your favorite actors?

Gasol: Jack Nicholson and it's not just because he's one of our biggest fans. I admire Jack a lot. Kevin Spacey is also one of my favorites. I think he's really good. Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, you're talking about great actors with great careers.

NBA.com: Have you spoken to Jack about acting?

Gasol: No, whenever I see Jack, it's in his front row seat. I'm playing, I'm doing my job. I'm focused what I have to do. I'm not there to talk to him about anything else.

I haven't had the chance to see him after a game and I'm not so sure I would ask him about acting. It's like when people approach me and just want talk about basketball. It might be old for him.

NBA.com: Are you thinking about taking acting lessons?

Gasol: I'm not planning on it. What I'm doing is pretty natural. I'm don't overact, a mistake that some people might do. If you had bigger roles that are more challenging then naturally you would have to practice more and get an acting coach or the role when you have it. The majority of people have to go to auditions or acting classes and thanks to my position right now, I'm getting those opportunities where I don't have to go on those auditions.

NBA.com: What's your dream role?

Gasol: I don't know. I haven't gotten that far yet. Right now, my dream is to win championships and play basketball for as long as I can and one day having a family of my own, those are my primary dreams. Acting is something I enjoy doing, it's refreshing but you really have to get into it and dedicate yourself to it a lot more than I do to be able to have a dream part and actually pursue it. When I have dreams, I like them to be somewhat realistic.

NBA.com: On the court, you're very consistent with your emotions. Would this surprise some fans that you're acting and appearing on CSI: Miami?

Gasol: I just hope the fans are pleased with my acting skills. When I do play I'm very passionate but I also try to stay calm and keep my focus in the game and try to do the right thing out there, never try to get out of control.

Acting is a different story. It's going to be up to whoever watches it to have their own opinion. Some may say I did a fine job and others may say it's not my forte. You have to respect people's opinions. I just hope they enjoy it and they see it as a cool thing. I had fun doing it.

NBA.com: Where is the latest with your hamstring?

Gasol: It's been a long process so far. It's been tough because hamstrings are pretty tricky. Sometimes you think you're there but you're not there, it takes a little extra time. Right now, I'm healing. I'm doing what I need to do in order to be out there soon. I don't know. I really don't have a date or a plan right now. I'm just taking it day by day. We're just taking small steps forward instead of trying to take one big one and take three backwards. I'm hoping to be out there as soon as possible. Whenever that is, I'm looking forward to it. I'm doing my rehab every single day and working as hard as I can to get out there and our training staff is helping me to accomplish that. That's where I'm at.

I don't have a specific return date in mind because there's no way of assuring that.

NBA.com: How anxious are you to get back on the court to see the Lakers at full strength plus to play with Ron Artest?

Gasol: I've been anxious since Day 1. I'm excited about it. I can't wait for the day I can practice, let alone playing. I have to patient first then think about practice and then think about playing at some point soon I hope.

NBA.com: Where is your championship ring?

Gasol: It's going to the safety deposit box. I'm not going be wearing it around. It's a little too flashy to be wearing but it's extremely special and meaningful for me and I just want to keep it safe and take it out for the special occasions.