'Nurse Jackie' Star Peter Facinelli a 'Reformed Guido'

Peter Facinelli has just wrapped another season of 'Nurse Jackie' (finale airs tonight on Showtime) and oh yeah, he also filmed a couple sequels to a series called 'Twilight.' Heard of it? The 37-year-old Queens native is married to Jennie Garth and together they have three impossibly cute daughters ... who never get fazed by dad's famous friends (including Rob Pattinson). In our chat, Facinelli talks about his successful career and marriage and why, as a really Italian guy, he's come to accept those infectious 'Jersey Shore' kids.

"I grew up with a lot of guidos. I've learned to love them," he says. "There's probably a few pictures of me wearing" the kinds of pants they wear. "I'm probably a reformed guido myself."

Nurse Jackie is a drug addict. You know that's supposed to be very common in the medical profession.
I guess so. I'm not too familiar. There's a lot of nurses that I run into and they're like, 'You know not every nurse is addicted to drugs,' and I say, 'You know not every nurse is Nurse Jackie.' A lot of TV doctors and nurses seem to be addicts.

And hello! You have 'Twilight.' That must be the coolest thing to be a part of.
I'm having a good time with it. We finished filming four and five. I'm excited to have the filming portion of it over and now I can sit back as one of the fans and see how it all comes together.

Do your daughters think you're so cool because you work with Robert Pattinson?
My daughters don't usually get impressed by people I've worked with because they're just Dad's friends. I think they're just enamored I'm part of the whole franchise. Rob is just one of Dad's friends.

Are you amazed at what he and Kristen Stewart have to put up with?
I'm very proud of how they've handled it. It's been fun for me to watch them rise to fame the way they have and the way they've handled it. When your life is put under a microscope like that it's very difficult to function and I give them great credit for functioning and living a normal life within the realm of their fame.

Your parents were born in Italy. Do you cook at all?
I used to cook more when I had more time. I used to make risotto. I make a mean risotto, just a plain one, I like to add mushrooms sometimes.

My wrist gets sore from making risotto. The constant stirring.
You've got to keep your wrist locked, that's how you get big Italian muscles. You keep your wrist locked and you use your arm muscles.

You know the 'Jersey Shore' cast are in Italy right now. What do you think of them using the terms guido and guidette?
I grew up with a lot of guidos. I've learned to love them.

Did you wear wife beaters and silly pants?
(Laughs) - There was a time. There's probably a few pictures of me wearing those pants. I'm probably a reformed guido myself. I actually have dual citizenship.

You have three girls. Ever feel outnumbered?
I'm always outnumbered. I grew up with three sisters. I'm the guy who comments on the women's shoes and purses. I'll say, 'Wow that's a nice purse,' and I'll be like, 'Did I say that out loud?'

Wow you must have had a million tea parties by now.
Close. I can play a mean game of 'Pretty Pretty Princess.' It's a board game. I'm the prettiest, prettiest princess in the land. I'm very competitive in that game. I don't let my kids win, if they beat me it's fair and square.

What else are you working on?
I just finished post production on a movie called 'Loosies' that I wrote and produced. it's about a pickpocket in New York who ends up getting a girl pregnant on a one night stand.

So it's autobiographical.
(Laughs) No, but I had to learn to pickpocket for this movie. I got quite good at it. If all goes south I have another occupation.

What makes a good pickpocket?
One that doesn't get caught! It's all distraction. I tried it on the actors and some of them didn't feel it. While I was filming I was tempted to try it on a regular Joe but I was scared I'd get arrested.

That would make a great TMZ headline.
I didn't want to get caught and have to explain myself, 'Oh it was for a movie role.' That's been used before.
popeater
xoxo
Carrie