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AE: What about the dialogue? I think it's ridiculously authentic. In “Live Free or Die,” when Chris topher [Michael Imperioli] said, “Human frailty. Makes me sick sometimes,” I nearly fell off my couch.
[Laughter]

AE: How much of that authenticity is the result of good writing and how much is improvisation?
JG: 99.9% is all writing.

AE: But it was your idea to make Vito gay. You read a book in which there's a gay mobster. When you talked to David Chase about it, did you think he'd go for it?
JG: I didn't talk to Chase. I went to a writer—Robin Green, who wrote the "Live Free or Die" episode [with Mitchell Burgess]. We were doing a scene in season three, and I said, ‘You know Robin, if you ever want to make my character gay, I'd be all for it.' And I showed her the book. She thought about it, but nothing ever came of it.

But then when [Anthony Capo, a member of the DeCavalcante family] killed that guy in Jersey for being gay–you know, that big mobster [“Johnny Boy” D'Amato, acting boss of the DeCavalcante family]—they called me and said, “Joe, what's the name of that book?” So I had to find it and bring it in again. Later they said they weren't going to do anything about it in season five, but in season six. So, they called back and they said, “Joe, you're gonna have a big year.” And I said, ‘okay, here we go.'

AE: That's great.
JG: When you think about it, I'm fuckin' blessed. It's the hottest show and I'm having the biggest year. I can't ask for more than that. It really opens doors for me.

AE: Speaking of being blessed, did you struggle at all with your religious convictions before committing to play a gay character?
JG: No, no. I'm not gay and I don't have to deal with that. There are so many things wrong with the church. I think ultimately God wants everyone to be happy. Whatever you are, you are, and you should be accepted in the eyes of God. And if you're really Catholic, you should accept people for who they are. That goes for any religion.

AE: Amen. So, you've certainly been given the opportunity to expand your range. Was acting in the scenes in New Hampshire more challenging in some ways than acting in the violent scenes?
JG: Those scenes were really in Boonton [New Jersey], not in New Hampshire. Anyway, whacking Jackie Jr. was nothin'. I just did it.

AE: In the last few episodes I think you really captured what Vito is going through—you exhibited his pain and wanting brilliantly in your expressions. You have a very, very sweet face, by the way.
JG: Thank you. David Chase says I've got a very expressive face. A lot comes across without saying anything. I've heard it before and it's a very nice compliment, because as an actor, you try not to overact. I'm self-taught. I studied acting a little, but I didn't really get anything out of it. I'm just trying to figure it out as I go along.

AE: Has portraying a gay man opened your eyes to issues concerning the gay community that you hadn't thought about before?
JG: I think that this is a tortured guy in his life. He's married with kids and he lives his mob life, but he's attracted to men. It's got to be hard for him. So I try to bring that out. This Sunday, I've got a big episode. It's called “Johnnycakes.”

AE: Ah, Mr. Pancake flipper?
JG: Yeah, that's right. He comes into play. I knew that actor [John Costelloe] for 25 years. That made it a little easier. I respect him as an actor; he's done some really great work. So I said all right, Johnny, we're gonna do this. He's straight, I'm straight, and we're doing this thing that hopefully will be good for both of us.

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