Who is James Liotta?
James Liotta is an Actor/Comedian/Performer/TV-Radio broadcaster/ MC/ stage and screen producer and very humbled to have received a couple of awards during my career so far. I have worked in the entertainment business all my life, starting as a professional ‘child performer’. The bug hit early and continues to hit with every new project I am involved in. My Italian background has also played a big part in my life both culturally and through my comedy career.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Probably nothing, the choices we make at the time they are made, are made because generally at that time they were the best possible choice. Too philosophical?
Who inspires you and why?
Apart from some colleagues who inspire me constantly, I’m very lucky to work closely with comedians and performers, who as a teen and young adult, I would look up to. I am forever inspired by individuals and or teams in the entertainment business who have truly worked hard to achieve success, they have worked from the ground up, without being served a silver platter at any stage. Therefore, the most inspiring people for me are entertainers who made something of themselves prior to social media days. Social media is here to stay and is a fantastic tool, but if you managed to climb the ladder in the days it didn’t exist, I commend you.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I believe we can all do this in tiny little ways, sometimes this question leads people to answer it with some kind of grand response but truly, as once gets older, it’s all in the small things. For me, my aim to provide a laugh as a form of escape, be it for 30 seconds or 1 hour, if I can achieve this, even for 1 person a day, that is the difference I can offer.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I’m Italian, so by default I must say ITALY or I may have a few wooden spoons coming my way. Besides Italy, anywhere with a beach/resort would be my next go to. I have enjoyed some time in Thailand but I also loved the organised chaos of Japan!
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Italians (in Victoria) have two ‘must show’ places to any relatives that come from Italy. 1. Philip Island to see Penguins and 2. Ballarat – Sovereign Hill, oh and any observation deck in the CBD.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished reading volume 7 of the Where’s Wally collection, I still don’t understand why no one can find him. Prior to that, I read 3 books earlier in the year, these were: Michael McIntyre’s A Funny Life, Matthew Perry’s Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Things and Tribal Lores written by a close friend Archimede Fusillo.
What are you currently listening to?
I’m old now, I only listen to talk back radio (3AW Melbourne) both for news but also for comedy, Talkback callers are a great source of entertainment sometimes.
Happiness is?
As subjective to answer as the question “What is funny?” Happiness to me is the ability to do what I love to do (entertainer) for as long as I can possibly do it. But this happiness is only there for as long as my audience appreciates it, other then that, happiness is, forgiving others, but also forgiving yourself. Nobody is perfect. (Gee that got deep!)
What does the future hold for you?
I’ll use this opportunity to answer this from a career point as one must never waste an opportunity to promote in this business. I am about to hit the stage at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne with a fantastic variety show, CLUB VEGAS – playing the role of an eccentric Italian master of Ceremonies, Gino Starr. I am thrilled to be appearing as a supporting cast member of a new TV comedy series coming to 7MATE in October called Darradong Local Council. I am shooting a role for a feature film in Sydney this November called Carmen & Bolude. Also, my tickets are on sale for my 2024 National stand up comedy tour, this is my first ever solo tour.
James can be seen as Gino Starr in Club Vegas – The Spectacle, which plays Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre: 1 – 2 September 2023. For more information, visit: www.clubvegas.com.au for details.
Image: James Liotta (supplied)