The evolution of Turtle

‘Entourage’ actor Ferrara keeps it real, on and off screen

INTERVIEW. “I need comfort food. I’m going to go get a cheeseburger and fries,” says Jerry Ferrara hours before the New York premiere of “Entourage” Season 5, the Emmy Award-winning HBO series about an up-and-coming movie star and his best friends in Hollywood.
“I’m excited, but I’m very nervous, also, ’cause all my family and all my really good friends are going to be there. I want to make sure everyone has a really good time,” he adds.
The 28-year-old actor is as loveable in real life as his character, Turtle, who might have started off as a sidekick on the show, but has since gone through some major character development and is winning over audiences as the average guy to root for.
We sat down with the actor before the fries got there.

Being from Brooklyn and moving to L.A., does the show parallel your own life?
It does in a lot of respects. I do take care of my family and friends, because these are kids I knew my whole life. But I am in no way in my personal life like [main character] Vince. We just have very different careers. When I moved to L.A. I was 18 years old. I didn’t know anybody and I was broke — the typical starving actor story. I had maybe two friends.

Is it true that when you landed the role, you were working at a Boston Market?
Not exactly. I did work there, but I actually quit that job when I did an independent movie. I was working at another restaurant though — Stanley’s in Sherman Oaks [Calif.]. It’s actually really good. I still go there.

The role of Turtle has really developed, last season especially.
We’re going into our fifth season and there has to be evolution for everybody.  This season, our show’s creator gave me the stuff I’ve been asking for. You’ll see Turtle do things you’ve never seen him do. Vince is not really on top of the world anymore as he once was. Turtle doesn’t jump ship; he stays very loyal to Vince, even though the lifestyle is changing, and not for the better. Turtle hasn’t wavered.  You also see Turtle and a couple of ladies this year.

Are you guys in the cast tight off set?
I will never go an extended amount of time without talking to them. It’s just ridiculous. I play golf with Kevin Dillion regularly. I’ll see [Kevin] Connelly out somewhere, or we’ll go grab dinner. We’re always in contact, even when the cameras are not rolling. They’re my best friends. Those guys are my brothers.

So if one of them got into a fight, you’d throw down for them?
I would without a doubt be right smack there in the middle, back-to-back with them all. [laughs].

‘Entourage’ premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. on HBO