Entourage’s final bow

Now on its final season, Entourage’s countdown to the end shows us a glimpse of an incredibly fit and cute Turtle, a sober Vince, and a final showdown between couple Sloan and E.  Super checks in on Emmanuelle Chriqui and gets the details on Entourage’s farewell season.

1.  How do you feel now that Entourage is finally ending after eight years?

The end was really, really sad.  We’ve had such an amazing journey, and to be part of something that went on for eight seasons is incredible, and something I’m very proud of.  When it ended, it was really just so bittersweet because we’ve all become a family.  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to feel a void.

2.  What lesson on modern relationships would you say Sloan and E have delivered?

I don’t know if there’s a real lesson in there, I gotta tell you.  I think most people were likely “Could you make up your mind already??”  I think though that it was such an honest relationship.  In life you can meet your soulmate but it doesn’t always mean that it’s meant to work out.  A soulmate doesn’t necessarily equal the person you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with, and I don’t know what the end is for Sloan and E, but I certainly know they were trying to figure it out.

3.  Were you happy with how the writers ended Sloan and E’s story or would you have wanted it a different way?

I loved it.  It was juicy and a nice surprise, because as far as we knew that was it, they were done and then the universe, lo and behold said “No, you’re not!” so I think that’s exciting.

4.  Entourage is such a testosterone driven show.  How have you stayed a strong woman in the show?

I think that has a lot to do with the writing.  In my own life, I grew up with an older brother, I was always daddy’s little girl.  I was always a woman comfortable in a male-dominated situation, I don’t feel inferior, and I think there’s a natural essence that comes through even though we play a part as actors, and we’re a little bit of who we play.  I think I have that in common with Sloan.

5.  You’ve mentioned similarities between yourself and Sloan, how are you different from her?

I’m not as calm, or as glamorous as her.  Really not.  I don’t know anybody like her, actually.

6.  If you could date any of the characters as yourself, who’d you most likely end up with?

I would say that in real life, I would want a combination of Vince, Turtle and E.  The three of them, they’re the perfect man.

7.  You mentioned that you have a close relationship with Kevin Connolly in real life.  How did the show’s end affect your relationship?

Kevin is one of my best friends, we hang out all the time and now that the show’s ended, we hang out even more because we’re both sorta in between jobs.  We have so many friends in common, but prior to the show we hadn’t really met.  It’s what’s special about my business, there are people along the way that you’re supposed to meet in life and Kevin was definitely one of them.  He’s an amazing actor and friend, he gives incredible advice.

8.  Sloan started out as a fling for E.  When did you guys know that Sloan could be something more than a guest star?

It’s so interesting.  Kevin Connolly took me aside and said “Listen, I think we can make this work.”  Doug Ellin (creator) just loved our chemistry.  He was all “I love this couple, this is my favorite couple, I wanna see more of them!” so he kind of wrote it that way, and though there were seasons where my character was hardly in it, he kept her around.  I think that as far as characters go, they had so many firsts together—they got engaged, had this tumultuous relationship and became adults together.  It was a serious relationship for both Sloan and E.

9.  Which celeb cameo was the most fun for you?

I loved when Matt Damon and LeBron James came on set.  That was amazing, it was the greatest day ever.  Matt Damon is one of my favorite actors, and it was one of those moments where I kinda looked around the set and I was like “I have the best job EVER.”

10.  How did you celebrate after the final wrap?

After the last scene when we heard “series wrap,” it was the craziest feeling.  They brought out a giant cake, there was champagne and that night the main cast, producers and creator went out for dinner at a steakhouse in Beverly Hills.  It was one of those fun nights where we just reminisced and made many toasts.

11.  Have any of the scenes depicted in Entourage happen to you personally career-wise?

I can’t think of one specific thing at this moment, but I can definitely tell you there were times when I was watching the show and was laughing so hard saying, “Wow, I know somebody in our camp told somebody that story and it got written out.”  It’s definitely based on real things and exaggerated for our entertainment potential.

Entourage’s eighth and final season airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on HBO Signature.