Chris Klein
Interview By: J.P. Mangalindan
JPMangalindan@TheCinemaSource.com
*Click Here For Another Interview with Chris Klein
When you first meet him, there's something about Chris Klein that surprises, almost underwhelms you. He's good-looking, sure, but not in a drop-dead gorgeous way; he's certainly built, but hardly in the Herculean sense of the word and yes, he's appealing, but unlike the Jude Laws of the industry, he doesn't ooze charm with each calculated exhalation.
Still, the 27-year-old actor is just as likely as the next heartthrob to draw the squeaky screams of 'tweens because in their minds, Klein, with his wholesome American looks is the penultimate boy next door: he's good-looking and unassuming, the kind of guy who looks just as comfortable meeting the parents as he is taking you out for a night on the town.
Which is probably what helped him land the role of William Williams, Mandy Moore's boyfriend in Paul Weitz's latest film, American Dreamz. Wholly oblivious to the ways of the world (most especially war, it seems), Williams is merely content playing full-time cheerleader and partner to his girlfriend, whose dream is to win the televised singing competition. His character, as part of the overall scheme, is part of Weitz's satirical commentary on American politics and celebrity. Klein felt the role was an opportunity of a lifetime.
'This came around at a perfect time because I was really, really hungry to work with a director to push me forward,' he says. 'And then this script came and it's Paul Weitz and I hold Paul in the highest esteem. To have the opportunity to work with him, to work with Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid and Mandy Moore' I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me. This cast is incredible and the director is incredible.''
The actor was particularly jazzed about working with Grant.
'I think probably the only honest thing he's ever said to me is 'Good morning,'' Klein says laughing. 'Other than that, he is absolutely sarcastic and acerbic and lovely.'
'Here's a man who has been a movie star for over 20 years, not an actor, not anything other than a movie star in the limelight. ' When I was working with him, I was like, 'I so wish I could be that witty.' I so wish that I could do that. For me, my comedy comes from an extremely honest place. So a lot of times, I'll say something and people will laugh and I'll be like, 'What's funny' What did I miss' Am I being laughed at or are they laughing with me'' What happened there' Where Hugh Grant can just put his mouth up to the microphone and people just start laughing right away.'
In Dreamz, the disparity between the two actors couldn't be more obvious: Grant's dry wit contrasts with Klein's humble, almost wide-eyed delivery, lending even more credence to his boy-next-door rep.
Klein has several projects in the pipeline, all films, including a project with Bill Paxton and Zooey Deschanel entitled the Good Life, due in 2007. It seems, slowly but surely, the quantity and quality of the work is increasing for this actor, who's finding the road to fame is paved with good intentions and potential pitfalls.
'What you strive for is good work. But at the same time, if nobody sees it, who gives a fuck' And that's really the idea. That's the hardest thing to accomplish: to actually do good work that people see. However they respond. If they hate it, they hate it, but at least they see it. You know what I mean' And if they hate it, that means they were affected. And that's really what you strive for and it's so rare that can happen that way.'
As for his unforeseen heartthrob status, the actor from Hinsdale, Illinois is still amazed by the adoration.
'I think that's amazing and I'm very humbled by that idea,' he says thoughtfully. 'I guess there's two sides to that: one part of me is humbled by it and that's the golly gee part of me that's like, 'Wow, thanks a lot.' The other part of me is the professional part of me that says, 'OK. This is what we've been striving for and we've achieved a level where my name and my appearance makes a difference. So now we have that card. I'm still growing. And if all goes well, I'll be growing until I'm on my deathbed and the growing stops. And it's exciting and it also, for me when I do utilize that card, so to speak, it really fires me up to do good work because the last thing I'd ever want to do is to show up and not make a positive impact.'
Klein needn't worry about that.
