Full name: Michael James Cuccione
Birthdate: January 5, 1985 (Capricorn)
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Status: Single
Fave TV show: "Friends"
Fave actors: Jim Carrey, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks
Fave actresses: Sharon Stone and Helen Hunt
Fave movies: "The Green Mile" and the "Godfather" series
Fave food: Pasta (he's Italian!)
Fave candy: Sourpatch Kids
Fave band: 112
Hobbies: All sports! (except golf)
On getting the role of QT McKnight in "2Gether": "Well, at first I went to what we call a cattle call, and it was a bunch of people who felt they had no chance who came together and took a shot at getting this part.
It took like six weeks and I didn't hear anything and I thought it was dead in the water, but I ended up getting another call, which was a dream come true, so I went back and got the job! I knew they were auditioning in LA and NY, so I never thought a boy from Vancouver would get the job."
Are you as girl crazy as QT?
"Hey I'm 15! (Michael was the youngest cast member.) Of course there's a bit of girl craziness there. My likeness to that character is that we enjoy the same things but we're different in other ways...Like QT's mom in the film was kind of a stage mom and my mom is nothing like that and I love her for it. I think I'd go nuts if I had a stage-mom, but my mom's the best!"
On working with Nigel Dick (the king of music videos) who directed "2Gether":
"He's a saint. I became so close to Nigel and gained so much respect for him. He's an amazing director and an amazing guy. Even at the end of [a hard] day he would take the time to congratulate you on your work and your performance, and that means a lot to the actors. He's a great guy."
Funniest part of making the movie:
Well I had to make out with my hand with my mother right there watching! It was an awkward moment, kinda weird with her there. Also I knew it was a scene that everyone was waiting for, waiting to see what I would do, so it was kinda nerve racking!"
How "the cute one" got started in "the biz":
"I started off as a model doing runway work when I was like five years old... bridal shows, stuff like that. It was really funny, I used to wear little tuxedos! Then I got with a commercial agency and the rest is history!
I've always loved singing and performing, even at school in talent shows and productions. It's always been a passion of mine and I just got with this agent and did a few little things and worked my way up the ladder, and finally got my big break with "2Gether."
BSB and 'NSYNC vs. "2Gether"
"We're a lot tougher than those guys! [laughing] Actually, 'NSYNC was bagging on us on MTV -- They were saying how they were gonna show us how to act. Listen, we can't compare to them as far as dancing and all that stuff, but we'll teach them how to act. If it's the acting leave it to "2Gether" and when it comes to the music leave it to 'NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys.
Actually "2Gether" is different from those groups. We don't consider ourselves a boy band. I mean we love singing and we feel we can sing and we can dance and we can act but, we're more for the humor and having fun and hopefully people enjoy it."
As for the ladies...
"I am COMPLETELY single (laughs)! I have been really busy and I haven't been at school lately, so it's kinda hard to get into that."
OK, but what does he look for when he does have the time to date?
"Hmmm, hmmm, well, I'm kinda wide open as far as what I like. I think personality is really important, but obviously looks are gonna grab your attention. And I like dark haired girls, I have to say. I'm Italian ya know! I mean, I've liked blonde girls before so I guess I'm kind of open about it all. Also, I like humble people. I don't like people who are full of themselves, that's really irritating."
ART IMITATING LIFE
As we know from watching, "2Gether's" QT has a terminal illness but what many people don't know is that in real life, Michael is a two-time cancer survivor. When asked about becoming a teen idol he said: "I like it because I have a lot of issues as a result of what I have been through. I have a foundation (The Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research) and I really wanna raise money for cancer research through it. This "2Gether" thing has brought some attention to it and anything that helps the cause is just fantastic to me. Hopefully, if I do get respected by other teens I can be a role model to people and give them good messages that might help them out or put them on the right track." For information on The Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research check out his official website: http://www.makingadifference.org.
