Remember, it's not about you

Kam Williams: On Elementary, you play a very different character, Alfredo Llamosa, a former carjacker. What’s he like?

Ato Essandoh: Alfredo is cool. He’s lived the proverbial “Hard Knock Life.” He’s turned things around following a bout with drug addiction and now wants to help others, particularly Sherlock. Like Freeman, Alfredo has the same sense of duty about improving the lives of others. Oh, and he rocks fresh gear!

KW: Do you ever get confused on the set about which guy you’re supposed to be playing?

AE: You’d be surprised. Sometimes I get the voices confused. Especially after having just flown in, first thing in the morning from Toronto to shoot Elementary in NYC. After some coffee, then I’m like, “Oh yeah, Alfredo is the one who knows what a cell phone is.”

KW: Which one is more like the real-life you?

AE: It’s close, but I think I lean towards Freeman. But not by much. Yeah, if Freeman and Alfredo had a kid, it would be me.