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Noah Wyle leaves ER - Radio Times, May 2005 |
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Jenny Eden met actor Noah Wyle as he prepared to wave goodbye to County General after 11 years on US medical drama ER.
"There may not be much in the way of entente cordiale between the French and the Americans, but ER star Noah Wyle, who plays Dr John Carter, made a good job of repairing any fractures during a walk down the Champs-Elysées. He was overwhelmed by enthusiastic fans as the show decamped to Paris to film his penultimate episode as a series regular.
Five days on location was enough to remind Wyle - after 11 years, the only major cast member to have appeared in every series - what an impact America's number one medical drama has made.
"I think when you leave ER you get your heart broken a little bit," he tells RT during a break in filming. "I've put my heartbreak off for a while, but now I'm sure it's coming."
Carter's exit storyline sees him make a dash to Paris to be with his ex-girlfriend Kem (Thandie Newton) when her mother is taken ill. And it would seem that the city of romance is the perfect backdrop for Carter's efforts to recapture his lost love.
But it's not a final parting for Wyle - more of an adieu. His deal means he'll be back as a guest in four episodes of each of the next two seasons, and he's also promised executive producer John Wells that he'll return for ER's last ever episode, whenever that may be.
In Paris, ER's bosses decided to remain true to their low-key, character- driven style. So instead of cheesy shots of the couple against the Eiffel Tower, there are only glimpses of famous landmarks in the background.
One day was spent filming inside a French hospital; another saw them commandeer a carriage of the Métro, carefully trying to time their shots to catch sight of the same section of Parisian skyline for each take. And only eagle-eyed film fans would spot that the café where Carter and Kem have a heart-to-heart is the same spot used by Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in Before Sunset.
"We hardly ever go anywhere except Chicago, so it's exciting to be filming in Europe," says Wyle. "I've been to Paris before and seen the Eiffel Tower, but this is less about tourist things and more about seeing the city. "
On set, it's just Wyle and four of the ER executives, who've flown in from Los Angeles to work with a French crew. Newton's joined them from London with her baby daughter Nico. It's her first job since giving birth in December, and she rushes back to her trailer between scenes to breast-feed. Wyle's wife has missed out on the trip because their two-year-old son Owen has just started sleeping through the night and they don't want to disrupt his routine.
When Wyle is asked how his French is, he laughingly replies, "Merde!" But he admits that being the star of ER is enough to overcome the language barrier. "I'm basically a very shy person, so having ER break the ice is cool," he says."
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