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AE: So, speaking of actors, what is it like to work with Steve Carell?
ON: It’s a dream come true. Except for Steve’s drinking problem, it’s wonderful. He rarely strikes me, but when he does, it’s because I deserve it. I mouth off. I’ve been an actor for 20 years, and it’s probably the most fun I’ve had. It comes down to that. You love what you are doing right now?

AE: Yes, I do.
ON: Are the people working with you nice?

AE: Yeah, they are.
ON: It comes down to that. Where the boss, the producer I work for, Greg Daniels, is just a nice, decent fellow. Steve’s the same. That sets the tone for the whole show. As an actor, I am having the time of my life.

AE: What inspiration do you use to play Oscar on the show?
ON: You know how I play it? I play it like I am at work, and I am an accountant, and I just want to do my job, and I really just don’t want to be bothered with this documentation that’s going on. It sounds easy, but the more we do it, the more difficult it gets. But that’s how I play it. It’s like, you know what — I am a pretty conservative gay guy, I’m an accountant and I want to be left alone.

AE: That’s the thing about the documentary feel of the show. Everyone has this look of “please leave me alone” on his or her faces.
ON: Everyone has that look except Michael’s character. Everyone else is “Get away, I just want to work. That’s all I want.”

AE: That’s why it was perfect when you responded to a co-worker who compared you to Sir Ian McKellen by saying, “I am an accountant — ”
ON: Working in a failing company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

AE: That was funny. What is it like being a Latino actor working in television?
ON: Playing a lot of security guards and janitors.

AE: So, you are finally playing a professional.
ON: Yes, it’s all well and good to play those other roles, but it sucks. You want to do more things. Everyone has a different path. I got lucky. I can do the comedy thing. I have a show coming out on Comedy Central in 2007.

AE: What’s the name of the show?
ON: It’s called Halfway Home. I act on it, and I am executive producing. It’s about these people who get out of prison who still have do more time in a halfway home.

AE: Any gay characters?
ON: You will have to watch and see. This is something I did for myself. Being a minority and feeling underrepresented, I decided to not sit around to wait for auditions. I created my own work. I sold this.

AE: Is your character a gay Latino on The Office?
ON: What is a gay Latino? I am Mexican American. I don’t have an accent, but I am still Mexican on the show. I am gay on the show, but I don’t play Oscar gay. I know many gay people. Some of them are straighter than me, and I’m straight. People are people.

AE: Have you received any criticism regarding your character?
ON: No. I’ve just heard good things. I think it’s a funny show. For me, that’s the bottom line. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant [the creators of the original, British version of The Office] created this wonderful, I think, great show. I put it up there with Taxi, Cheers and The Odd Couple. I think it’s that good.

AE: Are you going to give us any hints about what we can expect coming up?
ON: I wouldn’t. I think a lot of stuff is going on in the show. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know it’s going to be good.

AE: What would you like to see for your character on the show?
ON: It’s an office, and I would like to see him continued to be employed at The Office. It’s a great show.

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