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 Brandon Firla plays the Reverend William Thorne on Little Mosque on the Prairie. Photo courtesy of CBC. |
The first thing you notice about Brandon Firla is that he is very tall. He’s six foot five, to be exact.
Naturally, he was pressured to play basketball. But, “I always chose acting over everything else,” says Firla, who plays the Reverend William Thorne on Little Mosque on the Prairie (Monday nights on CBC).
Born in Calgary, the middle son of three boys spent a lot of time using his imagination. “To escape the boredom of our neighbourhood, my brothers and I seemed to be constantly creating…writing, drawing cartoons and acting out skits,” Firla says.
Firla’s first big role came when he was cast as the charming sociopath Clark Claxton III in Billable Hours. Some of his other credits include The Robber Bride and the Spielberg/Hanks miniseries Band of Brothers. Firla is also an award-winning writer and theatre producer (SARSical and An Inconvenient Musical). He is one half of the comedy duo the Rumoli Bros, with his younger brother, Kurt.
Firla invited Star Spaces into his home.
View the photo gallery of Brandon Firla's home.
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Q: How would you describe your home in two words?
A: City cottage.
Q: Tell us about your home.
A: It’s a one-bedroom, two-storey coach house. It was built in the 1890s but was completely renovated five years ago. It’s open-concept with a fireplace, exposed beams and a small yard. We moved in during the summer of 2009.
Q: What attracted you to this space?
A: It’s an oasis. It’s quiet, private and self-contained. It has tons of exposed brick, light and a kick-ass kitchen.
Q: Who shares your home?
A: My wife [actor and writer Jennifer Robertson] and our Boston terrier, Norman, who provides us with endless entertainment. He has two modes – sleep or play.
Q: What is your favourite room and why?
A: The kitchen. I love to cook, it is my technique for relaxing. I’m into making soups and classic French bistro stuff. My office is the kitchen table. It’s great because I’m close to the snacks.
Q: What is your fondest memory in this house?
A: Conceiving our child [due in mid-April]. When the baby arrives, it will be a huge life change for both of us, but we are embracing it. Norman is sensing something’s going on.
Q: How would you describe your decorating style?
A: Mid-century modern. I love vintage but with a modern twist. As soon as you enter our place you feel a sense of calm and coziness. We have some Danish teak, and where there isn’t exposed brick the walls are eggshell in colour.
The artwork in the house includes framed covers of the New Yorker magazine and a black-and-white print of jazz legend Miles Davis. In our bedroom there are two vintage posters of the Banff Springs Hotel (where we were married).
If I could, I’d like the house to resemble the set of Mad Men. My wife has an eye for design, but at the moment, she is buying baby furniture and accessories.
Q: What’s the one item in this house you can’t live without?
A: My Emile Henri salt pig [container]. It’s red, and we bought it at the Williams-Sonoma store. I love to season my meat – so to speak.
Q: Weekends at home, what are we most likely to find you doing?
A: Cooking while watching basketball.
Q: If your walls could talk, what would they say?
A: Stop singing show tunes to your dog!