And I got to play lead with Gene Barry - a fellow who has never, ever been hard on the eyes!
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The first lead that I ever played was a young Boy George when I was seventeen. I shaved my eyebrows off. That's as far from leading man looks as you can get.
John Barry was my hero when I was about 13. His scores to the James Bond movies were the scores of my life back then.
When I was 12, I played the Artful Dodger in Cameron McKintosh's production of 'Oliver!' when it came to Toronto. Just getting the role shocked my whole family, and I don't think I realized until then just how much I loved getting up in front of people and performing.
My first lead role was probably 'Party Girl' in 1994.
Growing up, I really looked up to the classic Hollywood actors like Spencer Tracy, Robert Mitchum, and Peter Falk. I love character actors - I've never wanted to be the leading guy.
As an actor, I felt I couldn't compete. I wasn't as cute as the leading man; I wasn't as brilliant as Robin Williams.
Gene Kelly was a little tough, and he used to yell at me on the set.
My vision had always been that I was gonna be a stage actor and that was it.
I always wanted to be a leading man!
Gene Kelly was hard on me, but I think he had to be.