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Kristin Davis
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Cynthia Nixon
You could just put on some flip flops, whatever you want and you look
Kristin Davis
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Cynthia Nixon
Hi. How are you? Are you in Portugal right now?
Costas Mandylor
I am. My darling. It's nice to see you.
Cynthia Nixon
It's so nice to see you. And thank you so much for taking time to talk to us from Portugal. I love it.
Costas Mandylor
I love it, too. I. I was traveling a little bit, and it was hard to give. Give the ladies a. A time. But I made it. We're here.
Cynthia Nixon
It all worked out, and we're just so happy to talk to you. We have been really like, we've got to get Costas. We've got to get Costas.
Costas Mandylor
Well, you know what? It's about time we spoke because when I did the show, you, I couldn't get to you and you looked for me. I remember you put out word that you wanted to say hi.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And I had to leave town, which I'll tell you about during the show. And then I came back looking for you. And then it was just like we were at work and you were off.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, no. I know. And you know what I was really trying to remember? I was like, how did I ever meet Costas in the first place?
Costas Mandylor
I think you knew David Duchovny. I. I knew him. I, I, I don't even know where we met. Did we meet in Vancouver?
Cynthia Nixon
I just feel like you were part of life in the 90s.
Costas Mandylor
Yes. There was some people that you knew that I knew.
Cynthia Nixon
Yes.
Costas Mandylor
And then we bumped into each other a couple of times.
Cynthia Nixon
Yes.
Costas Mandylor
And then when I came there, I thought, I'll get to see you, and I didn't.
Cynthia Nixon
I know. And I remember, like, being so excited that we got you. Right. Like, oh, my God, Casas is gonna play the friar. It's amazing. And then I was trying to find you, trying to find you, and then I was like, but how did I even know? I just feel like you were just around, you know, like, in the world in the 90s in a great way.
Costas Mandylor
Yeah. Well, you know, that particular episode had some bad snow and.
Kristin Davis
Oh.
Costas Mandylor
And Kim got really sick when I landed, so I had to wait a week to shoot.
Kristin Davis
Oh, wow.
Costas Mandylor
Yeah. So I ended up at the park of Meridian going, what do I do now? And all my naughty boy friends were calling me, and I was going out every night, going up, and then all of a sudden they go, okay, Kim's getting better. I'm like, okay, I better get some sleep. And what happened was I got some sleep and I said, okay, I'm ready to go. And the producers of the show said, look, we need you to. We're not going to shoot tomorrow. We need you to go to LA tonight.
Kristin Davis
Why?
Costas Mandylor
To do. Us. To do. You don't know this, but this became a bit of an issue. Am I allowed to tell you this? Yes, yes.
Cynthia Nixon
Tell me everything.
Costas Mandylor
I don't want to bore you. No. They say you've got to go. We're doing this on the show, and we want you to go in to test for it. I'm like, what do you mean? Usually you get time to prepare this stuff. What do you want me for? They go, we really want you to try to be this. It was a sitcom. They were doing the same producers, right? Oh, there were some ladies that. And so I went to the. And I said, no, I'm not going. I'm too tired. I got to go on an overnight. I got to meet people at midday.
Kristin Davis
What the heck?
Costas Mandylor
Land at 6am and I'm like, I can't even remember all these 20 pages of thought. I'll never do it. And they go, please, you'll be fine. You'll be fine. And I believed him. I'm like, fine. I like to, you know, study a little bit. I mean, I'm not That good at Just off the. Off the page.
Kristin Davis
I mean, it is.
Costas Mandylor
Oh, well, some people maybe.
Cynthia Nixon
So wait, wait, let's slow down for one second. I have questions already. So someone to do with our show, like Jenny, Cindy, like producers?
Costas Mandylor
Main female producers. Yes.
Kristin Davis
Wow.
Cynthia Nixon
They wanted you to test for another show of theirs in la.
Costas Mandylor
In la? While I was waiting to shoot with you guys. And when I was. When Kim was actually getting ready and feeling better, they said, go today, we'll bring you back tomorrow and you'll shoot the next morning. Or something like that. Oh, my God, I was wrecked in LA. I went into the room with those, you know, 10, 15 people looking at me. I'm like, guys, I can't. I can't even speak. Am I going to make you laugh? And they said they were very nice, but I knew that I wasn't going to do it. I get back on the plane, I come back and I had to go straight to work and I was falling asleep. Thank God your lovely makeup gang put, you know, the old cucumber trick and all this stuff.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, look, you look fantastic. Okay. I'm sorry if you were tired, but it all worked out. Okay, go ahead. So you were. Okay, so this is a fascinating lead up. Like, wow, New York, you're out, you're out, you're partying, all your friends are there, you're waiting because Kim's sick. Then you have to fly to LA on an overnight test for a pilot and then fly back and go to
Costas Mandylor
work, straight to work. And to be honest, I would have been fresher off the partying because that trip was a nightmare. And I must tell you, Kim was funny because in between shots, we were shooting in the church and outside of the church, and she would talk to me and keep me going because I said, kim, I don't think I can stay away. And in between some of the shots, I was actually nodding off as I finished my stuff. I go like that and go back and come back, and it's only happened to me once before.
Kristin Davis
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
Marlee Matlin, which is another story. But that was the only time I was legitimately exhausted. Where I go. And then one of the. One of your producer directors, he was directing it and there was a bit of an argument going, well, why is he so tough? And I'm like, don't blame me, man. I just went and did what I was asked to do.
Cynthia Nixon
Absolutely.
Costas Mandylor
I. I never. I wasn't miserable through it. I just was vulnerably tired. But Kim was wonderful. We left, we joked, and then it Became a little bit tense because of time and, you know, it was cold and that's when it got darker and had to shoot outside. You know, it got darker earlier. So in the end, I survived it. And I think I remember somebody drank my soup that I had for breakfast, and I think it was Sarah. And Sarah replaced my soup, which was very lovely.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, my God, this is such a great, great story. It's so funny because you. You watch something and of course, you have no idea what the heck is going on. And obviously I was around and I didn't know any of what you're telling me.
Costas Mandylor
You had some nice days off.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah, I guess I did. Maybe I was in LA myself. I have no idea. But often we would cross board, right. So, like, sometimes we'd be off. But I don't know in fourth season if we were, like, fully, fully doing that or whatever. Like a lot or a little bit. Right. But the thing that I think is funny is that if you just watch the show now, which, I don't know, the last time you've seen it, like, have you seen it lately at all?
Costas Mandylor
I've never watched the episode, but about a million people have told me about it.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, my God, you're so good. You have never watched it ever?
Costas Mandylor
No, I was too afraid to. I was like, is it funny? I don't know what.
Cynthia Nixon
It's so funny. And you're so relaxed. Maybe. Now I know that you were actually tired, exhausted, but you're very calm. Like, you have this, like, kind of. It's not. I think of you as an actor as being, like, intense, you know, and kind of, like, smoldering intensity. I don't know how to put it. And you definitely have that right because you're this, like, sexy friar who Samantha doesn't get, which is, like, very unusual. You know, Samantha usually gets exactly what she wants.
Kristin Davis
Right, right.
Cynthia Nixon
And the whole time, I couldn't remember this part of the show. I have very little memory of the actual show. So I. I thought you were gonna have sex with her. Like, it really seems like she's gonna break you down because there's such. There is smoldering chemistry, sexual energy. But your face is completely relaxed. You're very. Part of the reason I wanted to talk to you about it is that you're very. It's a different quality than most of the men bring to our show.
Costas Mandylor
Really? Well, it must be exhaustion and. You know what I mean. I try to be cool and laid back, and it was written nicely. I must tell you, there is a Story that I really want to share. When you're ready. But I'll say, I'm ready.
Cynthia Nixon
No, I'm ready now. Share it.
Kristin Davis
Whenever.
Costas Mandylor
You just mentioned to everybody that, that she didn't get me, and I was kind of bummed about it. I'm like, I get on this show that's all about sex in the city and, and you know, girls like me, I'm like, I don't have. And I don't have sex in the city. And when your movie, when your movie came out on that first weekend, the first big, you know, at every theater in New York City and all over America or all over the world. Sex in the city movie. Yeah, I get. I was in, I was doing something in New York and I was with a, an agent and he got a phone call in a limousine. We happen to be in a limousine. And he goes, and it's Friday night before. It's actually before the first showing. And somebody says, listen, we're at this theater. I don't know if it was the Z, it wasn't the Zig field, but it was somewhere around there, right? And he said, we're looking for coasters. Would he do a guest appearance? And, and, and we'd love to have him. And my buddy says, well, he's next to me right now. And they go, no. Said, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I said, where? And he goes, the theater. I said, what do they want me to. I only did one episode. What do they want me for? They said, they want you because you're so good. Well, thanks. But I, we, we ended up in the limo. We turn around, we get to the theater. I go into the wings, you know, the hallway and the theaters are all packed. That was, it was about to go off in the city and I'll never forget waiting and then this. They had an introducer, you know, talking and making them laugh and all that stuff.
Kristin Davis
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
And the theater, all theaters were jam packed, this one in particular. And they go, and we have a special guest here. And everybody went crazy, right?
Cynthia Nixon
This is great.
Costas Mandylor
I, I blushed like you wouldn't believe to myself. I could tell. I was blushing.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And I walk out and people are over doing the clapping and cheering. Wow. There's. There's a balcony to the butt to my right as I'm. This, the screens here and there's people down there and then there's the people up there. And I looked around, they gave me the microphone and I go, what am I saying? And I said, well, that's the warmest welcome I've ever had. And the warmest welcome for the only guy that never got laid in sex. And they went crazy.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, that's so good.
Costas Mandylor
And I went, ladies, thank you very much. And all the gay guys were to my right. And I go, and ladies down there, thank you very much. And everybody kept clapping and laughing, and it was really fun, funny. And I said. I said, if they make a second one and I get a chance, I'm coming back as the gigolo. And I handed the mic up and I left, and the movie started, and it was a smash. It obviously.
Cynthia Nixon
That's amazing. I love that so much.
Costas Mandylor
Yeah.
Cynthia Nixon
But it's. You are very, you know, you. You hold, like, an unusual place in the show. You know what I'm saying? And that, number one, she doesn't get you. But number two, you're so present in a very different way than most of the guys are. Like, most of the guys are kind of like, trying to hit on us and whatever, doing things, and then there's something up about them or whatever, right? You're the opposite, right? Like, you're so beautiful, you know, you're just like the way they filmed you and your lips and your eyes, like, it's. You're so luscious. And she's just all, like, all fascinated, and she's so confident that she's going to get you. And, you know, you're watching and because it is our show, and obviously, usually she gets what she wants. You're thinking, like, she's gonna wear him down, right? She's like, she brings you the soup cans. And, you know, she does all the things, right? She has this plan to raise money for your church and all the things, right? And you look like you're thinking about it at a couple different points, right? Like, you do kind of seem like, yes, it might happen. And then at one point, she gets down on her knees. You know, you're on your knees and then you stand up and then she's in. The way they film it, it looks, you know, extremely evocative. And then you're just like, no, look.
Costas Mandylor
The tension was pretty heavy on that day. And I remember if I wasn't so tired, I was going to rush. I was asking people where the nearest sex shop was, because I was going to rush out and buy something that would be of phallic value. And I was going to put it between my legs towards the end of the scene where I stand up so my. My cape would be protruding to make everybody laugh.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, my God.
Costas Mandylor
Not for the camera. But for the crew. But I. I thought. But what if people get pissed off? So I. I. Coward. And I didn't do it.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, my God. Really funny. You were downtown. I think there was a pretty close sex shop you could have gone to.
Costas Mandylor
I'm sure there was. But, you know, if I wasn't. If it wasn't exhausted, I would have jogged down there.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, my God. Adorable.
Costas Mandylor
But that was. That's the thought that counts.
Cynthia Nixon
It's true. Absolutely. And sometimes on our set, for sure. Because we would also film so late. Right. So everyone was usually tired. And if you're losing the light, they can get stressy. So maybe it would have worked, maybe it wouldn't.
Kristin Davis
I don't know.
Cynthia Nixon
But I feel like you did. Whatever you did worked out, because what is on the show, and I hope someday you just, like, happen to see it somewhere.
Kristin Davis
I don't know.
Costas Mandylor
I'm going to my way. Now that you've said it.
Cynthia Nixon
Good. It's really good. It's really, really good. I mean, it was really nice for me because I'm watching the fourth season, kind of like a fan. I don't remember a lot of it. Like. Like, I remember all the early stuff, but I think at this point in life, we were just so busy, you know, and it was just so all. All the. I. I'm, like, kind of blacked out. So then I'm, like, watching it for the first time, and it's so good. It's so good. What was it like separate from you doing this appearance for the film, which I love. What was it like when the show aired? Like, did people talk to you about it? Did people call you friends?
Costas Mandylor
I mean, it's just. Yeah, that. Look, first of all, it's my favorite, you know, character name ever, but people. People love saying it. And when you went to places like New York, L.A. vegas, people would shout it across the room. I. I really did get the. I knew the impact of the show, but then when I did it, I got a double dose of it.
Kristin Davis
Yeah.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
It's pretty incredible how TV travels when it's. When it becomes iconic, especially, it really is.
Cynthia Nixon
And I mean, obviously it's. It's now it's on Netflix and new people are discovering, which is so great.
Costas Mandylor
New generation. Yeah.
Kristin Davis
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Cynthia Nixon
Did you ever feel, I don't know how to say, like objectified by it?
Costas Mandylor
No. Meaning. Meaning sexually?
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah. Just that they would shout fry at you. Was that weird?
Costas Mandylor
You know, what are you talking about? To me it's like, you know, I kind of relate to anything that. That people love.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah. Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
Without them loving it. What are we doing? Right?
Cynthia Nixon
Absolutely. Absolutely. I just like to ask guys who, who get into that position if it's weird or if it's good.
Costas Mandylor
I loved it and to be honest, I was hoping they'd bring me back and say Listen, you've left the priesthood and you're going to get everybody now.
Cynthia Nixon
Would have been fantastic. Would have been so good.
Costas Mandylor
You know, like with a cigarette at a bar going, yeah, I left. It's all right, you're first.
Cynthia Nixon
It would have been great. It would have been so great to do that. I know. I wish we had as well. I mean, it's funny because in a way you're wasted, but in a way you're not because it makes it almost more strong. Like, you're so kind of confident and strong. It's very interesting. Like, I did want more, though. I did want more for sure. You know, when I watched and I remember at the time, I remember it was something. It was a part that I think they stressed a lot about the casting of. You know, like, there's certain parts because it was so unusual, but I feel like you were just the perfect, perfect choice and it was.
Costas Mandylor
Did you hear good things from the people that ran the show? I hope so.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, God. Yeah. I remember them all being thrilled. I mean, I didn't know about this other whole drama. Right. But also, like, why were the girls trying to cast you in another show? Like, what on earth? Like.
Costas Mandylor
Well, I. I don't know, but I took it as a compliment. I thought, why would I turn them down? This is like, really nice of them, but.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah, yeah.
Costas Mandylor
You never want to put yourself in a losing position.
Cynthia Nixon
No, of course. It's just like, timing wise, that's a lot going on. That's a lot going on. And I'm going to have to ask them the next time they come back. Jenny and Cindy, like, what was actually happening and what did you do to cost us? Like, what, What. What's going on? But I think that I. Talking about you on the set like, cust, Mandalore. And I was like, I know, I know.
Kristin Davis
You know?
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. The makeup department and I mean, everybody was very into you, which, you know, it's always, of course, everyone loves you, as we know.
Costas Mandylor
Well, you know, it's. It's. When I look back, I. I tended to get on, well, pretty much with everybody, especially the people that we needed and that took care of us in the mornings and at the night in between, and the relationship that we have, there are sort of intent. We're with people all those hours. Yeah. And I became very fond of people that I work with. I mean, I miss a lot of people. Yeah. It's a shame. But like you said, we're always in survival mode to look our best and do our Best that we look back on. Did that really happen those five or ten years or seven years went bang?
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
But I'm thrilled that people were, you know, saying something good. That's good.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, absolutely, absolutely. Can I talk to you about Portugal for a second? Because I've never been, but I really want to go.
Kristin Davis
How is it? Are you loving living there?
Costas Mandylor
I. I am. And it happened all that covert era when the world was going cuckoo. A buddy of mine said, I'm leaving. And we. I actually moved to Vegas that year because it was. I didn't know I went to Vegas, but I remember I had a great place and as soon as I get there, the heat started coming and then they locked us in and I'm like, oh, my God. So I was walking around this man made lake every day to get some exercise, but we had to pretty much stay in and shop. And Vegas was like a ghost town. I remember going down the Strip a couple of times and there was one guy on a bicycle and a couple of guards with machine guns in front of a couple of hotels with steel rails because I guess the money's underneath, right? And it was really like a Twilight Zone episode. But after that, a buddy of mine said, listen, I'm going to Portugal. I said, what's in Portugal? And he said, there's an island there called Madeira. And. And I said, what's Madeira? And I'm into islands because I'm Greek. You know, we have a lot of beautiful islands.
Kristin Davis
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And Sicily and all that stuff. And somehow he talked me into it and I ended up on this. I was going to Europe to shoot during this madness. And I was in. I was in Turkey and Croatia with people where we were shooting. Nobody cared. And then I ended up coming to visit this guy and my lovely wife who was with me, fell in love with it and I'm like, what is this place? It's like, I'm Greek. I should be on a Greek island, not a Portuguese island. But. But it was just. I mean, you know, villages and islands are just no stress. And everybody that visits you feels like they're on holiday. So everybody's always happy.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
Anyway, I live in New York and part time and. And this Portugal and it just seems like it's. It's six hours away from New York, so.
Kristin Davis
Amazing.
Costas Mandylor
It's easy. Direct flights from New York to you. You can always visit, my dear.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh my God, I would love to. I love. Have you ever seen the hundred foot wave?
Costas Mandylor
Yeah. The Nazare?
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
Wow. I haven't been there Yet. But that optic is just thrilling, and I can't wait to do it. I'll do it someday. Oh, and I'm not that far away. But that. That's spectacular.
Cynthia Nixon
It's spectacular and very terrifying. Like, I watched that show, and I'm just, like, so scared. But it's so incredibly gorgeous, and it makes me really want to go to Portugal. I mean, it just looks magical. The whole place looks Portugal.
Costas Mandylor
The lifestyle is simple. It's. You know, they did have a little communist era where they've caught up with the modern world now. And it's. It was. It's very affordable. It's a good, good quality of life. People are still old world, old school. Please and thank you. So, you know, in general. So it's just an old. A touch of old world class, you know.
Cynthia Nixon
Beautiful. What a beautiful, beautiful life you've made.
Costas Mandylor
Well, a lot of people have come here way before me, and this particular island is famous for its wine. And it's. It's wine, really, But.
Kristin Davis
Right.
Costas Mandylor
Ronaldo was born here. He became the greatest player in the world.
Cynthia Nixon
Right.
Costas Mandylor
And of course, you know, he is. Everything, the statues, the airport, everything is Ronaldo.
Cynthia Nixon
Got it.
Costas Mandylor
A little diamond in the middle of. It's basically the. The. The jewel. It's like the Hawaii of. Of Europe.
Cynthia Nixon
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
Basically.
Kristin Davis
Amazing.
Costas Mandylor
From Germany, America. I mean, unfortunately, the locals are making money because they're selling their farm and village land for big money, and they're building beautiful hotels and whatnot. But it's becoming a little crowded, and it's kind of ruined its little. You know, Churchill used to come here and paint in the 50s.
Cynthia Nixon
Wow.
Kristin Davis
Wow.
Cynthia Nixon
And then I. When I looked at IMDb they had, like, literally, like, 10 things that you're currently doing. So I got so confused. Like, what, are you traveling, working? Are you going?
Costas Mandylor
Coming.
Kristin Davis
Okay.
Costas Mandylor
I've been working in Europe, and of course, when I get my chances to go back home, I do it. I was just in Virginia, and I always land in New York and catch up with my New York buddies.
Kristin Davis
Nice.
Costas Mandylor
And it's a thrill because it's not that far away because Europe sounds like a big trek.
Cynthia Nixon
Right.
Costas Mandylor
But this is actually the closest. Apart from the Azores, this is the closest European spot to the East Coast.
Kristin Davis
Nice.
Costas Mandylor
So they have direct flights on United and something else. Wow. Azores Airlines. And you're. You're there in six hours. I remember when the COVID thing was happening, we'd have to go back and forth, and it was like 18 hours and stop here, and you'd have to go to London. And then back there.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, Lord.
Costas Mandylor
And Lisbon. And then when they opened up the. The direct flights, it was like six hours. Felt like an hour. It was easy.
Kristin Davis
How great.
Cynthia Nixon
What a great, great life. So you're traveling all over, working?
Costas Mandylor
Luckily, yeah. I've got a couple of gigs now where I'm going to travel to Tenerife, which is only 45 minutes away in Spain, and then I go to Australia. I don't know about you. Where did you grow up as a kid?
Kristin Davis
South Carolina.
Costas Mandylor
Okay. Oh, that's why the Charlotte. Okay. So I don't know if you've ever gone back and done a movie in your home.
Cynthia Nixon
No, I haven't.
Costas Mandylor
It's. It's. I'm about to do that in Melbourne, Australia, where I grew up.
Cynthia Nixon
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
And I always go back and unfortunately parents have passed and grandparents, you know.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And it just happens. Right. But I'm always searching for that teenage thing that I missed because I was gone. I've been gone for 35 years or something.
Kristin Davis
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And now I'm actually going to do a piece that takes place in the late 70s, early 80s. So I'm gonna go back in time in the movies, which will be interesting in my hometown, which is going to be something to.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
Reveling, you know.
Kristin Davis
Yes.
Costas Mandylor
It's hard to go back because things change, but I always walk down these little streets and alleyways that I grew up in and, you know, you can't go back in time, but it's nice to reminisce.
Cynthia Nixon
Absolutely. And the joy of our job is that we get to kind of time travel and revisit things in our mind at least. And.
Kristin Davis
Yeah, that would be great. I love Melbourne. I've been to Melbourne. I didn't realize you were from. From Melbourne. That's cool.
Costas Mandylor
Yeah, that's where I grew up.
Kristin Davis
Love it, love it, love it, love it.
Costas Mandylor
Foreign.
Kristin Davis
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Cynthia Nixon
You could just put on some flip flops, whatever you want and you look
Kristin Davis
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Costas Mandylor
And you are from Charlotte?
Cynthia Nixon
I'm from South Carolina. Is like Columbia, North Carolina is Charlotte. But it has nothing to do with Charlotte. They didn't really. They didn't really ever ask me that. They just named her Charlotte.
Kristin Davis
I don't know why.
Cynthia Nixon
I guess Candace pushed now neighbor Charlotte.
Costas Mandylor
Okay. I've been in South Carolina.
Cynthia Nixon
Did you work there?
Costas Mandylor
Yeah. I went to a couple of those Comic Con shows down.
Kristin Davis
Oh yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And I visited this haunted sort of museum, esque farm. And this guy found me and Benji, great guy. But I. I remember I finally finished everything and it was football Sunday. And I'm like, I'm going to have a few beers and relax and you can't drink on Sundays down.
Cynthia Nixon
I know. Can you believe they still do that? It's so crazy.
Costas Mandylor
Good for the diet.
Cynthia Nixon
That's true. Good for the diet. But also weird. Like just weird. Yeah, there's some weird things about the South. But you know what? I have never seen the Saw movies. I assume that's why you would be taking part in whatever. Apparently you're some kind of a bad person. What?
Costas Mandylor
Yes.
Cynthia Nixon
What? How could this be true?
Costas Mandylor
I don't know. They're doing that to me lately. What? I was invited into that show and it was a huge smash success. Right?
Kristin Davis
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And I remember going, I'm gonna be a surprise baddie.
Cynthia Nixon
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
And I didn't even read the rest of the script. I just Pretended that I was walking through the movie, naive as hell, so I didn't manipulate the audience. And apparently it worked because they had. I. If I didn't say, I'm gonna trick you here, I wasn't tricking anybody. So I was just walking around Mr. Innocent, and by the end of the movie, people go, oh, amazing.
Kristin Davis
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
It worked out good.
Cynthia Nixon
That's a really good choice.
Costas Mandylor
Yeah. I mean, I heard something else that was interesting, too. Did you ever see a movie, it's a very boy movie. Gerard Butler's in it with 50 cent. It was Den of Thieves. Have you ever heard of that film?
Cynthia Nixon
I've heard of it, but I don't think I saw it.
Costas Mandylor
It's a heist movie. And, okay, the director and the dur. And there's a crew of cops that Gerard Butler's the head of, and then there's a bunch of bad bank robbers. And I remember before they started the movie, what I found out was the director said to Gerard's cops, you're the bad guys. And to the bad guys, you said, you're the good guys.
Cynthia Nixon
Interesting.
Costas Mandylor
So without doing anything but that direction, the movie was great to watch. You were like, what's going on here? This is weird. The couple really, like, bad. Wow. You know? You know, so it threw everybody into a loop. So I guess those weird, wonderful choices are something that we take a chance on once in a while.
Cynthia Nixon
Absolutely. And I think they pay off for sure. I mean, that whole genre is so scary to me, But I learned from
Kristin Davis
my producers that you're apparently, like, a
Cynthia Nixon
sneaky bad guy, which is super interesting.
Costas Mandylor
Yeah, I behave. I behaved myself. They let me live. And I've done about six of them, and what little did I know how huge they were.
Cynthia Nixon
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
And I'm not a big horror guy, apart from the Exorcist, but I do these comic cons now, and I'm sure you've done your.
Cynthia Nixon
I have never been to such a thing. Nope.
Costas Mandylor
Well, I tell you, when you. When you go across the seas to places like, you know, England, Ireland and Germany and Belgium and place Paris, you kind of go. You really realize what we do Travels, man. Because people, there's thousands of people in line. I mean, the really big ones are the Walking Dead. It's not just horror, by the way. There's the sci fi ones, right. You know, there's iconics. I mean, I know the Lost Boys have done a couple, and I happen to be at them. I mean, huge.
Cynthia Nixon
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
Huge people. And they've got the band there from the play, the music, the theme. So there's like a whole party.
Kristin Davis
Wow.
Costas Mandylor
But little did I know how many people are standing in line to see little old me.
Cynthia Nixon
That's amazing.
Kristin Davis
I love it.
Costas Mandylor
They tell you stuff that you don't think about, you know, I just love the fans and the exchanging with them. I mean, people come up in wheelchairs, army vets, families, females with kids and it, all sorts. And I think it's just good for the heart to meet them, you know?
Cynthia Nixon
Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah.
Kristin Davis
I do. Just don't think they have.
Cynthia Nixon
I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. I don't think they have that kind of a thing for, like, female rom comy people.
Costas Mandylor
If you guys did it, if you did it.
Kristin Davis
Yeah.
Costas Mandylor
A lot of people would show up.
Kristin Davis
Interesting.
Costas Mandylor
You would have to be protected. Well, because a lot of men had crushes on all the girls.
Cynthia Nixon
I one time went to Vegas because we had slot machines for the show, which was so crazy. Right. I remember when they asked us originally
Kristin Davis
because they know you have to give your approval, and we were like, oh, Sarah Jessica is never going to say yes to this. But thankfully she did because these things did well and we were well paid for them.
Cynthia Nixon
But they would have to redo them every couple years because the people who play slots, like, really play it religiously and need new content. I guess they don't totally understand. So they would redo it. And one time when they redid our contract and redid the machines, they asked me to go to Vegas and I did, on the floor, you know, signing things and whatever. It was very trippy. That's the closest I've come to a Comic Con type of a situation. But it was fun. It was nice. It was nice to see the people. Everybody was lovely. Like, so lovely and really, really sweet. And it's nice because it's kind of a different group of fans that you're seeing than you would see. Just, I don't know, in LA or New York, you know?
Costas Mandylor
Sure, yeah.
Kristin Davis
Which was fun.
Cynthia Nixon
All right, Is there anything else that we didn't cover? Because, man, I got all kind of good stories here.
Costas Mandylor
I. Look, first of all, you've always been a real lady to me, and I'm glad to speak to you.
Kristin Davis
Me too.
Costas Mandylor
I hope one day we can be on the screen together. Because sometimes you wait 20 years and you meet up with people, go.
Cynthia Nixon
It's finally 100%. I love that part of our job. Right. That there's always a possibility and that people you might have met a hundred years ago, you Love them and you want to connect with them, and someday it'll happen. So I'm going to put that out there. I'm going to have to get myself into some kind of an action movie, I think.
Costas Mandylor
Well, action or, you know, we. We could be a couple living by a lake and something weird can happen.
Cynthia Nixon
And I'm down. Costas. Let's do it. Let's do it.
Costas Mandylor
I'm calling my people, my life.
Cynthia Nixon
Great. Let's do it. I love it. I love it. I love it. It's so nice to talk to you. I'm so glad that you're doing so well.
Costas Mandylor
Thank you, darling. I'm really glad you. You thought of me and say hi to all your team. Waited for me.
Cynthia Nixon
Oh, I will. I've got to call those girl writers right now and find out what was going on because I need all the details.
Costas Mandylor
Tell him I love him anyway, and I will.
Cynthia Nixon
I will. Of course. Oh, very nice. Very nice.
Costas Mandylor
That's the one thing that I always did to people when they said firefuck across the room. I just go,
Cynthia Nixon
that is so perfect. Fantastic. I love it. I love it so much. Thank you so much for joining us. It's wonderful to see you even via Zoom.
Kristin Davis
Wish you were here in person.
Cynthia Nixon
I'm glad you're doing well.
Costas Mandylor
I'll find you. Big hug to you, darling.
Cynthia Nixon
Okay. Big hug to you, too.
Kristin Davis
Bye.
Cynthia Nixon
Have a great day.
Costas Mandylor
Thank you.
Kristin Davis
Bye.
Sophia Bush
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Kristin Davis
I am obsessed with Hill House Home, the brand behind the viral nap dress with the signature smocking that's incredibly flattering. Unbelievably comfortable and so versatile. I can wear the same one running errands by day and out to dinner at night. I just got one the other day from them. It's pink, it's flowy. I love it so much.
Cynthia Nixon
You could just put on some flip
Kristin Davis
flops, whatever you want. And you look great and you're totally happy and comfortable. Hill House makes fun fashion that makes you feel good, which is why celebrities like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Anne Hathaway and I bet Charlotte York would love it, too. Get 15% off your first order of a hundred dollars or more@hillhouse home.com with the code Charlotte15. Again. That's Charlotte15 for 15% off@hillhouse home.com.
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Avocados from Mexico. Always good.
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This episode of Are You A Charlotte? reunites Kristin Davis (Charlotte York) and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes) with Costas Mandylor, who guest-starred as the memorable “Friar F*$k” in Sex and the City's Season 4 premiere, "The Agony and the 'Ex'-tacy." The hosts dive into behind-the-scenes stories from his brief but iconic appearance, explore Costas’ life since the show, and discuss his enduring popularity with fans. The episode offers both nostalgia and fresh insights, blending humor and warmth as they reflect on the show’s legacy and their personal journeys.