Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?
A) "iCarly" has pretty much been taking up all the spare time that we've got. We're right in the middle of season two and we want to do forty-five episodes. We just did our eighteenth and we're going to be making a two part movie called iHide A Star, which is going to be very exciting.
Q) Please tell us the premise for the TV movie iGo to Japan.
A) The premise is our web show "iCarly" gets nominated for an iWeb award, which is a brand new prestigious award ceremony. Web shows from all over the world come to Tokyo, Japan to perform bits for an audience and a panel of judges. The judges pick their favorites and the winner gets the iWeb award. We've been nominated in the comedy category. So, we're flying all the way across the world to Japan to compete in the competition.
Q) What originally made you want to be a part of the show "iCarly?"
A) I had gotten the audition from my manager and, at that point, it was just known as "The Untitled Dan Schneider Project." So, I didn't really know much about it other than the couple pages they sent to me. I was really excited because this would be the second time I'd get work with Dan Schneider. I had this really small part on "Drake & Josh" that was an absolute blast to work on. So, I was really excited to get back into the Nickelodeon groove again.
Q) What about your role do you find challenging?
A) I think Freddie is kind of going through a little bit of a change as the second season opens up. In the first season, he was really strung up, hyper and easy to agitate. Especially at the very start of the second season, Freddie has really mellowed out. There is kind of a constant change that Freddie is going through.
Q) Was there instant cast chemistry when everyone first came together or did it take time to develop?
A) As soon as I did the screen test with Miranda [Cosgrove] and Jennette [McCurdy], we all just clicked instantly. I think everyone saw we were getting along really, really well and had great chemistry together. As the weeks went on, Jennette and I became really close friends, especially at the start of the second season when no one had really seen each other for six months because of the writers strike. It was sort of a reunion at the start of the second season. So, we were able to just pick up where we left off.
Q) Do you think Carly and Freddie will ever come together for a romantic relationship?
A) It's so totally up in the air. The writers don't tell us anything about what is going to be happening in an episode. So, we're just as in the dark as you are. There is always a possibility, but for all I know Sam and Freddie could get together at the end of the show. I have no idea! It's all totally up in the air.
Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming iGo to Japan?
A) I think the biggest one was the scene where we were walking around this desolate road. We were all tired, miserable and complaining (Jennette and I as our characters). Carly gives us a great motivational speech that Freddie's mom and Spencer will find us, we'll be able to go to the award show, we'll win the award and it will all be ok. Right as she is saying that, this truck drives right past us and splashes us with a giant wave of mud going over us. For that shoot, they had to build this giant mud cannon that launched gallons and gallons of fake mud all over us. I'm pretty sure it was actually Nickelodeon slime, but with brown food coloring instead of green. It was the first experience where I had really been able to get covered in slime. So, it was like an initiation into Nickelodeon history. That was an awesome shoot! It was a total blast!
Q) Why do you think people continue to tune in and watch "iCarly?"
A) Besides the fact that it is something that all the kids out there could be able to do (anyone can put together a web show), I think it has really relatable characters to everyone around the world. I think one of the biggest things is the ability to be able to send your videos in tohttp://www.iCarly.com. So, even though you are not in the business and you're not an actor, you can still be on the TV show if your video is good enough.
Q) Where can people go online to learn more about you?
A) I do have an official Myspace, which ishttp://www.myspace.com/nathankressofficial. I manage it with another guy named Frederick, who built the Myspace for me. I put up blogs there and bulletins about the stuff that I'm doing. I'll accept requests, as long as it meets up with the Administrator's standards. If there is language, I will be moderating that. So, if anybody starts mouthing off on the comment boards I will go ahead and delete the comment. It's a really well moderated Myspace and it is where pretty much you can get all the information about what I am doing.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Of course, the biggest thing would be to say thank you for all of your continuous support. When I am out in public and there are people walking around, as they walk by they'll catch your eye and their eyes will get bigger. They'll turn to their friend and say, "Hey! That's Freddie!" It's really gratifying just to be able to see all the people that watch "iCarly" and are fans. I would like to throw out a huge thank you to everyone that has supported me.
iGo to Japan premieres on Nickelodeon on Saturday, November 8 at 8 p.m. ET
Nathan Kress Photo by Jon McKee
"iCarly" Photos by Lisa Rose
