A Martinez Shares His New Role With His Fans!

Star "cooks" with actress Mercedes Ruehl

Soap Opera Update, 12/5/00

by Laura DeBrizzi

    In "What's Cooking?" -- a feature film by Gurinder Chadha -- more than the traditional turkey is roasted in this holiday-centered piece.  Imploding alongside the stuffing and sweet potato dishes on Thanksgiving Day in Los Angeles is racial and generational relations among interconnected families.  Among those enlisted to clean up the mess are the talents of ER's Julianna Margulies, Kyra Sedgwick (Julia, Another World), Alfre Woodard, Estelle Harris, Mercedes Ruehl...and General Hospital's one and only A Martinez.

    "It's such as wonderful kind of catalyst for getting people to stop and examine themselves," notes Martinez of the film's seasonal setting, which he filmed during a short break from GH.  "I know some of the most radical events in my family history, emotionally, have come around the holidays."

    "What's Cooking?" delivers such revelations full-throttle, expelling thoughts on topics from same-sex couplings and interracial dating to adultery and gun violence.  Martinez's good-guy character Daniel finds himself involved in the former when he begins courting Elizabeth (Ruehl), a woman deserted by her macho husband.

    "The idea that this character stepped out on his wife with a relative...that kind of thing wouldn't have been something that would have flown in my family," remarks the actor.  "One thing that I'm always thankful for is that my father demonstrated by example, and continues to till this day, the importance of treating people with respect."

    Which is basically why Elizabeth finds Daniel so appealing -- he is a teacher, a well-educated man, void of any submissive power trips.  As if taking on such a critical role wasn't inviting enough, Martinez also had the opportunity to work opposite Ruehl.  "Mercedes is so wonderful and a great person and actor," he praises enthusiastically.

    Despite his own storyline, Martinez comments that he was especially entertained by the dysfunctional characters.  "Maury Chaykin (Herb Seeling) is one of my favorite actors in the history of mankind," begins Martinez.  "He is just about as good as it gets.  To see him playing Herb and trying to deal with Kyra and Julianna being lesbian lovers was so funny.  I was in stitches."

    Aside from the comedic moments, "What's Cooking?" is essentially a thought-provoking drama.  One, according to Martinez, that is a "blessing because it reminds us of how much we have in common with people who seem to be absolute strangers."  This is a bonafide reason to give thanks indeed!

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