[dl] Movies
Scott Speedman wows audiences in his latest drama, Adoration. But he almost didn’t get the part.
WHEN SCOTT SPEEDMAN’S beloved TV series
Felicity wrapped in 2002, he could have cashed in on his heartthrob status and become the new go-to guy for big-budget, low-quality romantic-comedy fare. Instead, the 33-yearold Toronto, Canada, native has done just the opposite, intentionally playing it low-key, staying out of the tabloids and popping up only for the occasional movie role. Some of his films, such as
Underworld and
The Strangers, have been wildly successful; some, such as
Weirdsville, have been just, well, weird.
This month, Speedman returns to the big screen in renowned
director Atom Egoyan’s
Adoration as an emotionally stunted, embattled tow-truck operator who takes in his nephew when his sister is killed.
You lobbied hard for this complex, nuanced role. How did you convince Egoyan that you were right for the part? There are a couple of people who I’d just die to work with, and Atom is one of them. When I read the script, it was written for an older guy in his 40s, but I thought,
I can do a version of this, and I might be able to convince him if I can get in a room with him. So I flew myself up and met with him. He was like, “I like you, but you’re too young.” Then he just kind of snuck in an audition [for me]. I could tell he still wasn’t totally convinced. But he went back and started liking the idea that Tom was 21 when he became the father to the kid instead of 31, which I think is so much more dramatic.
The movie, which speaks to latent racial tensions, is relevant on so many levels in today’s society. What attracted you to it? You know what I like about it? It’s subtle; it’s not bashing you over the head with it. It’s not a message-y movie. Atom raises uncomfortable questions, and he deals with them very naturally.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. That’s quite an honor. I was so, so happy with that. I had a blast. I didn’t see any other movies while I was there because I was doing press all day and hanging out all night. [
Laughs] I didn’t sleep a whole lot.
Since Felicity, you’ve chosen pretty eclectic roles. Has that been a conscious decision? You know, I’m not a guy who needs to be on set to feel validated. It’s just what seems fun or interesting to me. And more and more, I recognize that the director is vital. You can have the best script in the world, but you have to have someone who understands this medium, and very few people do.
Any chance we’ll ever see you back on TV? Never say never. I’m interested in the cable stuff. The writing is so strong, and they take riskier choices. Those are really, really, really talented people. If a great part came along like that, for sure.
Do you ever catch reruns of Felicity and realize just how good it was? I was very self-conscious about watching it when I was doing it. When I watch it now, though, I think it’s such a good show. And it’s still super important to me -- one of my favorite things I’ve ever done. I’m still in touch with some of the cast, like Keri [Russell], Mandy [Foreman], and Robbie [Benedict]. We always joke about doing a TV movie.
NEED FOR SPEED
Have you missed getting your weekly dose of Scott Speedman since Felicity went off the air? Here’s what he’s been up to.
WHAT’S NEXT: “
The Last Rites of Ransom Pride. It’s a fun, ambitious little movie.”
WHERE HE’S BEEN: “Hands down, my favorite country is
Brazil. I loved
Rio de Janeiro. It wasn’t at all what I expected it to be. I love to travel. After Cannes, I hung out in
Spain for a while and then headed to
Amsterdam and a bunch of other places.”
WHERE HE’S HEADED: “Buenos Aires. I’m dying to go there.”
WHAT HE’S READING: “
A Fan’s Notes by Frederick Exley.”
WHAT HE’S LISTENING TO: “Radiohead.”
WHAT HE’S WATCHING: “
There Will Be Blood.
Daniel Day-Lewis is one of my favorite actors.”
WHAT HE WATCHES ON HIS COUCH: “I’m a sports nut. I love, love, love all kinds of sports.”
HOW HE RELAXES: “I love hiking and any outdoor activity. I’ll find the off-the-beaten-path places, not the ‘normal’ L.A. places.”