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Rainn Wilson on his favorite charity, 'The Office' and why he loves Austin

By Sarah Lindner
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, October 23, 2008

Dwight Schrute, the geeky, uptight but still somehow lovable paper salesman on NBC's comedy "The Office," isn't exactly known for his sensitivity. But the man who plays him, Emmy-nominated actor Rainn Wilson, is an advocate for the advancement of women worldwide.

As a spokesman for the Mona Foundation (www.monafoundation.org), an international charitable group, Wilson will be in Austin on Saturday for a fundraiser called Lotus Night. He'll be one of the keynote speakers at the event, which also will feature Indian music, food and dance. The Mona Foundation is teaming with local nonprofit group ACTWomen (actwomen.com) to present the fundraiser for women in India.

Last week, Wilson took a few minutes while on break from shooting an episode of "The Office" to talk with us about the show and other projects, the cause that's close to his heart and why he loves Austin.

The cause: Wilson was looking for charities to get involved with when he was contacted by one of the founders of the Mona Foundation, who knew Wilson's father. Wilson did research on the group and liked what he found. "I have come to absolutely love this charity," he says. "The philosophy is so simple, but it's so effective. They scour the globe for grass-roots educational initiatives that are already working that just need financial help, and then they raise money for them."

The proceeds from the event are going toward one of the projects the Mona Foundation supports: The Barli Development Institute for Rural Women helps educate women in a very poor part of India. Women receive free tuition to learn about agriculture, computer science, sewing and other skills that can help them become economically independent.

At 'The Office': Wilson promised fun things ahead on the show but didn't give any specifics, including whether Dwight and stern accountant Angela (Angela Kinsey) will get back together. What did the two of them used to do on dates? "I think they'll rewatch 'Masterpiece Theatre' or 'Pride and Prejudice' and be commenting on it, and then just be all over each other like wild animals," Wilson says.

Out of 'The Office':Among Wilson's upcoming movies are the "Transformers" sequel and the animated film "Monsters vs. Aliens." (Go watch the awesome trailer online. Immediately.) He voices an evil alien in the film, which he says is a send-up of '50s monster and sci-fi movies like "The Day the Earth Stood Still, "Them" and "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman." "It just looks to be really fun and amazing."

On Austin: Wilson is a fan of our city. "Two of my very best friends went to UT, and their enthusiasm for Texas was pretty catching," he says. He also toured through Austin twice with theater troupes when he was just starting out as an actor. "And we just had the best time," he says, citing Austin's great live music and food, especially breakfast tacos. "Everyone should eat breakfast tacos," he declared. "Instead of cornflakes, they should be the American national breakfast. It's like the perfect food. When I die, I want to be buried with breakfast tacos."

Lotus Night

6:30 p.m. Saturday,

Oct. 25

Ragsdale Center, St. Edward's University

Tickets: $75

Information: www.actwomen.com/lotus, 633-4460