Jesse Metcalfe: Dapper Biker Boy, Thrill-seeking Madcap
Catch him as: Christopher Ewing on TNT’s Dallas
Life on set: “Filming on location is a lot of fun, and the cast is incredible. You have this hot young cast and the original cast members—Larry, Patrick and Linda—who we like to call ‘the big three’. They’re the most warm, generous, supportive people I’ve ever met in my life. It’s such a blessing to be working with them. They really created an environment that was prefect for us. The on set environment is great.”
Becoming his character: “With Christopher, there was no information to draw from [the original series] about the man that he has grown up to be. He was introduced as a baby and then seen again as a child—there really isn’t that much there. My approach to any character is first and foremost linking that character with my own personal experiences. I bring a lot of myself to every character I play.”
His extreme adventures: “I’ve done some crazy stuff. I’ve done the three biggest bungee jumps in the world, I’ve skydived, I’ve bungee jumped of the bottom of a helicopter, off the sides of mountains. I did all of that with Jack Osbourne, who has an extreme sports show in the UK. I’ve liked to ride motorcycles since I was pretty young. My stepfather had a Harley Davidson. I have a Harley that I bought in Louisiana while filming Beyond a Reasonable Doubt back in ’08.”
Rebel without a Cause: “In my teenage years I was definitely a rebel. I crashed cars, and once got arrested for reckless driving coming back from a 311 concert in Rhode Island. [One time] my friends and I threw an after party in high school. I don’t know what precipitated this, but we ended up torching an old couch with lighter fluid, and it set the entire surrounding area on fire. We called the fire department, it was handled, nobody was hurt, and it never got pinned on me. Hopefully the statute of limitations is up on that. I’ve calmed down completely! I’m talking about going to bed at 9 o’clock, nowadays.”
Words to live by: “Be fearless. I’m not always fearless, but I think that as time goes on and as you get older, if you’re not careful, you can become fearful. You have to always challenge yourself and face your fears and do the things that scare you. That keeps you young.”
Colton Haynes: Casual Gentleman, Thrift Store Forager
Catch him as: Jackson Whittemore on MTV’s Teen Wolf
Life on set: “When filming the pilot of Teen Wolf, there was an instant connection between all of us. We met, and the next day we were taking group naps as if we were family. We were so attached at the hip and that’s continued throughout the last two years. It takes a while to get a good take because we laugh nonstop. It’s like we go to a party every day at work. I’m definitely having a serious bro-mance with Tyler Posey, Dylan O’Brian and Tyler Hoechlin. We just bro out, go play sports, go surfing all the time. Everything about working on the show has made it the most amazing experience of my life.”
Guilty Pleasure: “I actually really enjoy shopping. If I find an extra-large Burberry shirt [at a thrift store] I will cut it and make it fit. Before I didn’t really like it, but now I find it so therapeutic. [Besides] I like to look good and when you look good you feel good.”
Words to live by: “Live for the ‘look at me now’ moments. We all get told that we aren’t going to succeed and if you’re going to Hollywood people say ‘good luck, it’s a rat race’. Whenever I look back and I think of the managers who’ve dropped me in the past or the people who told me I wasn’t going to be successful I live for the moments when I can say, ‘look at me now’.“
Fiona Gubelmann: Timeless Beauty, DIY Darling
Catch her as: Jenna on FX’s Wilfred
Working with writers: “It’s incredible. The relationship varies depending on the show. On some shows, you have writers that only come in for a couple episodes or for entire seasons, and then there are other shows where the writers are there from the beginning. What’s great about Wilfred is that I have David Zuckerman who asks us questions about our characters, our ideas. He’s very open to suggestions. He sees the genius, and he writes out the most incredible stuff for us. I can’t remember who said this, but it’s definitely true: you have a coloring book: the writer draws the figure, and the actor colors it in. I think that’s it. It’s all collaboration. Everyone on set is so important.”
A change of heart: “I got into UCLA during my junior year of high school. It was my first choice. I was a pre-med major. I grew up acting and loved it, but becoming a doctor just seemed stable. But during my first quarter at UCLA, my friend and I enrolled in a drama class and auditioned for a play. I was so happy when I got the part. It was so much fun, and I felt so alive doing it. I figured, I was young, so why not pursue it while I’m not married, don’t have kids, etc. “
Working with an icon: “We’ve had an amazing guest cast [on Wilfred]. [For example], Robin Williams was everything I hoped and dreamed he would be, and then more. He loves the project. Who knew that when I was watching Mrs. Doubtfire for the five hundredth time as a kid that I would ever get to work with him? I’ve seen every movie of his. I loved getting to talk to him about his performances and his experiences. “
Coping with stress: "I make jewelry for fun and to unwind. I’m a [huge fan] of Martha Stewart and I love making crafts. I am very much a DIY kind of person."
On maintaining a happy marriage: "Patience, respect, and laughing together are really important. Treat them as you want to be treated. Listen to them and be considerate. [The greatest] secret to overall happiness is being grateful for everything you have in your life."
Words to live by: “I’m always asking people I work with for advice. Some great advice I got from Steve Zahn was don’t spend money before you have it. You say ‘oh I’m on a series now, I’m going to go buy a house tomorrow’ and then suddenly your show get s cancelled and you’re working to pay your bills. Live within your means and spend the money you have. That way you can work on projects you truly love instead of having to work on something you hate just to pay your bills.”
Drew Roy: Relentless Charmer, Fearless Dreamer
Catch him as: Hal Mason on TNT’s Spielberg-produced Falling Skies
On working with Spielberg: “It’s pretty wild. When I was going in to read for Falling Skies, I knew that when we got down to the end, we would have to wait for his approval of who was going to be cast. Even if I didn’t get the part, the fact that Steven Spielberg was going to see my audition tape was crazy [enough]. He actually showed up on set during the pilot and just blew me away with his kindness and how open he was with everybody. He would let anybody come up and speak with him.”
All that glitters isn’t gold: “I started college on scholarship, and everything was all lined up. I always wanted to be a doctor. Then I came up with the bright idea that without any training or any knowledge of what I was doing, I would move out to LA with my 5 best friends who were in a band. We were just going to wait and see what happened. The fact that we knew so little, made it seem more possible. My parents thought I was crazy, and my dad was really skeptical about it. I got out here, realized I was in over my head, and that’s when I really had to buckle down. When I got here, I was living in a place I called the Hobbit Hole. It was a little storage unit underneath a lady’s house, and the ceiling was like 3 inches above my head. You could literally see the outside because there were little holes everywhere. It was a spider’s dream!”
Life in L.A.: “My main job while auditioning was as a valet at the Beverly Hills hotel. You’re driving every car a kid has ever wanted to drive. You’re seeing wild things happen because guests would ask you to come up to their rooms and you never knew who was going to open the door, how they were going to be dressed when they came to the door, or what was going to happen when you walked through the door. Everything that you’re thinking right now: yes, that happened. We might not have said yes to it, but it was proposed.”
Words to live by: “It’s easy to forget, but it’s important not to worry about what everyone is going to think. Put time into whatever you’re doing and make sure that you show up prepared, but don’t worry about what people think about you. Do your own thing and do it your way. Anytime that you stick to that, everything turns out [great].”
Noureen Dewulf: Sultry Siren, Enigmatic Stunner
Catch her as: Lacey alongside Charlie Sheen on FX’s Anger Management
Her character: “My character is pretty wild. She is in group therapy because she shot her ex-boyfriend balls for cheating on her. She says the things you shouldn’t say. She’s a bitch— she’s sassy. She’s my inner diva, but more violent.”
On working with Charlie Sheen: “As an actor you want to work with people who are critically respectable, and [Charlie Sheen] is amazing. He is one of the highest paid actors for a reason. For me, it was really exciting to work with him. He’s fun to be around. I was a little nervous, but on the first day, he stood up and gave this big speech and told us that it would be an amazing experience.”
A work in progress: “I’m still learning and growing. I want to learn from the people I work with. On one level, I’ve been around the block, just not the ‘famous’ block. I think it’s scary to lose your anonymity. People go through it, and it’s not easy. Whatever happens, though, I’m open to it.”
Words to live by: “The thoughts in your mind dominate your reality. It’s important to concentrate on the things that you’re good at, and pay attention to yourself. Focus on the positive and create a [positive] mental headspace and that will translate into your real life.”
Location: Mosaic Hotel in Beverly Hills
Photographer: Vince Trupsin Stylist: Kristina Van Dyk Hair/Makeup: Melissa Chaires and Sharon Tabb Production Assistants: Daria Kobayashi Ritch and Ashley Symone Lee Stylist’s Assistant: Nick Tatone
Interviews by Ashley Symone Lee