How has Dawson’s Creek changed your life?

Well, it’s given me consistent, gainful employment, which was something I didn’t have before.  It’s opened up a world of possibilities; whether I can make good those opportunities remains to be seen.  It’s also allowed me, as a young actor and not a trained actor, to go to work every day, which is a benefit because, as young actors, there’s so much that we have yet to learn.  It allows me to work a lot of the kinks out.

 

How did you cope with all the attention that surrounds Dawson’s?

You get girls who are giggly sometimes, but it usually comes down to people saying, “Hey, I really like your show, my girlfriend likes the show,” and you sign an autograph, take a picture and then it’s done with. [Laughs] It’s not like, y’know, Beatlemania, all the screaming and shouting and tearing out hair.

 

What about Fan mail?

It never gets to me! I only get a whittled-down box of stuff.  The studio sorts through it because people have been known to send poison and bombs and stuff like that.  Not to me personally, though.  I did get a cardboard box that a refrigerator comes in.  These two girls had cut it open down the middle, and inside was an invitation to their prom. It was really huge.

 

What’s the most extravagant thing you’ve bought since being on Dawson’s?

Um, well, I have a truck now.  I was car-less for years.  I sold me Jet Ski because the boat I use on the show [an abandoned wreck called “True Love”] is totally refurbished now and the owner wants to sell it.  Now, hopefully, I’ll be able to buy it.

 

You once said that because you were brought up surrounded by women, you have a strong affinity with them…

[Laughs] An affinity, but not an understanding.  I wish I had the brass tacks that Pacey has.  At 16, you’re fearless because you haven’t learnt the sting of rejection yet.  I usually find that girls I’m keen on I very rarely end up with.

 

How’s your love life these days? Are you single?

[Blushes, drops head] Yes, I am. (Awwww, that is so sweet!)

 

How else are you like Pacey?

I like to think I have a pretty good sense of humour.  I definitely used humour as a defence mechanism in high school because it was easier to deal with some things with laughter than get in an argument.  But there are a lot of things that are very different; the way we go about situation, and the fact that he’s an East Coast American, and I’m a West Coast Canadian

 

Kevin Williamson reckons you’re the next Tom Hanks.

[Laughs] Well, it’s flattering but I have a lot to learn from where I am now to be performing at the level Tom Hanks is performing.

 

Whose film career would you like to have?

Paul Newman’s.  He’s done such a huge diversity of work.  To be good enough to work that much and take such different directions, that would keep me interested in acting for 40 years.

 

Ok, tell us a secret about Dawson’s.  And not the one about James really being 37…

[Roars with laughter]  Now that would be funny! Er…actually, Grams is a gorgeous knockout beauty and they have to put make-up on her to make her old.  She’s like this redheaded fire goddess running around Dawson’s Creek.

 

Another contender for Pacey?

Oh yeah, next up is Grams.