LifeNetwork.ca: Where did you grow up?

JADE: I was really lucky... I grew up on a farm just outside the small town of Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. I played hockey, had fun with my friends and pets, and we were a rodeo family, so I was a steer rider and had my horse for team roping. It was great and I miss it a lot.

LN: When did you decide you wanted to become an actor?

JADE: When I was twelve I was completely into sports and did pretty well at most of them. So much so that I had no doubt I was going to be a pro athlete. Then a tractor flipped on my farm and pinned me underneath it, burning my stomach and left flank extremely deeply. The doctors first said I would die, and then later thought I would never walk, and still later said I would never play sports again - so my confidence was shattered.

While I was in the hospital, I couldn't move, and an angelic woman from my hometown who owned a video rental store donated a VCR, a TV, and all the free movie rentals I could watch. Those movies gave me an escape from the pain of the operations and physical therapy. After more than a dozen operations and years of recuperation, with sports out of my life, my mother got me involved in the local theatre group to try and find something I could be good at again. Thanks to the films, it was easy for me to lose myself in a character and to feel a great sense of comfort in the fictional world of the play. I loved it and I've never looked back.

LN: How did you become involved with the show 90 Days in Hollywood?

JADE: A friend of mine in Paramount publicity had been contacted by one of the show's producers, and she thought I would be perfect for the show so she recommended me. It's true what they say: "It's not who you know, but who knows you."

LN: Without giving any surprises away, would you say that being on the show has helped your career?

JADE: It has. I already had a recurring role on a show called JAG, as the series lead's brother, "Sergei". However, as a recurring actor, they have the power to bring me back every episode or never again, so it's fairly uncertain after I wrap an episode if I'll ever be on again. However, one fan set up a website for me due to my role on as JAG, and the word spread quickly, so all of a sudden I'm getting fan mail from hundreds of fans. My fans through the fansite learned of 90 Days in Hollywood and are really excited for the show to air. The JAG producers learned of my increased fan base, and I've been on the show more often. I'm so thankful for the success I've already been blessed with, and for the fans that exposure has given me.

LN: What is Hollywood really like?

JADE: It's so superficial even the goldfish are on diets. Just kidding. Honestly, it can be whatever you make it. If you're talented, work hard and are personable, it can work in your favour very quickly. On the other hand, it can take extremely talented people and never throw them a single break. It's competitive. Unfortunately for a lot of actors it's like a lottery - when they "win" a role, it keeps them coming back for more. You just can't live your life that way in this town. You have to have a full, rich life of your own - otherwise you just burn out. I rock climb, play hockey, take my dog for runs, etc., on top of working hard on my acting craft and getting out there to meet people who I may one day work with.

LN: Would you live there? Where are you living now?

JADE: I've been living in L.A. for three years now, and if you want to make it in film, I think there's no other place to be. Sure, there are other centres around the globe with film activity, but either it's cast in L.A. first, or the number of films in production pales in comparison to Los Angeles. I try to be optimistic, so besides being the centre of the film world, L.A. is cool for other reasons. Eventually, when my career's at a level where I don't need to be in L.A. anymore to continue working, then I'll move back to the country somewhere... I'm a country man at heart.

LN: Which famous actor would you compare yourself to? Who are some of your favourites?

JADE: I've been compared to a few stars such as Matthew McConaughey, or Orlando Bloom (who I was up against for the role in Black Hawk Down. It was just Orlando and myself, and the producers said they went with him because he's in London, so it was less expensive to fly him to the set in Morocco. Huge bummer.) I strive to be myself. I tend to leave the comparisons to my fans, and focus on not letting Hollywood try to mold me into some cookie-cutter actor. I highly respect the work of several actors: Daniel Day-Lewis; Edward Norton; Sam Rockwell; Spencer Tracey. I think Tom Cruise has made extremely wise career choices in terms of which films he's done.

LN: Name some of your favourite movies?

JADE: I'm pretty eclectic. I love Casablanca and A Place in the Sun. I thought Shawshank Redemption was brilliant. As a kid, the first book I ever read was The Hobbit, so growing up on Tolkien, I was thrilled when I saw the spectacular job Peter Jackson has done with The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'm a fan of anything Christopher Guest [Spinal Tap, Best in Show]. A Fish Called Wanda was hilarious.

LN: What advice would you give to other aspiring actors?

JADE: Follow your dreams, but do it with your eyes wide open. People who come to Hollywood on a whim usually leave within a year. They didn't think of the practicalities of life. You'll need money. You need to come with a wide, open mind and a readiness to learn how the politics and the processes work. No one will pick you off the street - period. But if you get in the union, get great headshots, a good agent, and nail it every time you go on auditions, then one day you will go in to read for some major role and, maybe, your life will change "overnight".

LN: What is the most important thing that you learned from this experience (being on the show - moving to L.A.)?

JADE: Happiness is the point to life. If you're not happy, change your situation. Take a risk striving for something you love to do. There are more things to life than career - but if you're going to do something, do it all the way, with everything you've got.