| Eric Johnson: Talking with the Big Man at Smallville High |
He's Whitney Fordman, a sandy-brown-haired high school football star, who besides a certain super-powered high schooler named Clark Kent, is probably the hottest hunk on the hit series Smallville. In real life, Ellsworth's played by Eric Johnson, a Canadian actor who was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. With a passion for acting from an early age, Johnson enrolled in a theater school at age 9 and was acting in professional theater and
landing small film and television roles even as he enjoyed a childhood filled with sports, hunting and camping. At 14, he appeared in the blockbuster
Western drama Legends of the Fall, playing Brad Pitt's character, Tristan, as a boy. Since then, Johnson's credits include Atomic Train with Rob Lowe, Oklahoma City, as a survivor
of the Oklahoma City bombing; and Children of Fortune. PREVUE: sat down with the handsome actor on the set of Smallville, where during his down time he practices his guitar. Johnson may be quickly becoming a heartthrob for millions, but here on the set he's just a relaxed, warm and friendly actor, as amazed as anyone at the show's hit status.
PREVUE: Tell me about Whitney Ellsworth?
JOHNSON: He's the all-American high school guy. He's very popular, he plays football, and is the kind of guy that Clark Kent wishes he could be. He seems to have everything going for him, including the beautiful Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk).
PREVUE: It seems like he's got the potential to be more than just a dumb jock role?
JOHNSON: He definitely has a more sensitive side that makes him more than just the typical jock. It rarely comes out, but when it does it makes him kind of special.
PREVUE: What does he think of Clark Kent?
JOHNSON: It's changing. He didn't really have a problem with Clark until Clark got a bit too close with his girlfriend and that got him a little upset. Now, he's realizing that he's gone a little too far and trying to be a bigger man and not let that bother him. He's not really friendly with Clark and is just is tolerating him right now.
PREVUE: So you've got the prettiest girl in the school...for now! What's she like off screen?
JOHNSON: Kristin's great! She's a lot of fun. She doesn't like my jokes though!
PREVUE: She doesn't have a sense of humor?
JOHNSON: She's got a great sense of humor. It's more like I tell bad jokes. I guess I get that from my dad. When we're sitting there waiting for a shot to be set up, sometimes I'll tell a really bad joke. I guess I'm not a naturally gifted comedian.
PREVUE: How is working with Tom Welling who plays Clark Kent?
JOHNSON: He's not only a fantastic actor, but he's also a fantastic person. He really carries a tremendous load on his shoulders. I get days off, but Tom works six days a week!
PREVUE: Tell us about your getting the role.
JOHNSON: I first started auditioning for the show last December, so it's almost been a year since I first heard about Smallville. There were countless auditions, which progressed up the line until I finally auditioned for the producers and director David Nutter.
PREVUE: Was that the point that you knew you had the part?
JOHNSON: Then there was a trip to L.A. for the network test.
PREVUE: Network test? That sounds nerve wracking.
JOHNSON: It can be, because you walk into this room and it's somewhat dark and it's full of studio executives. They're watching you do one scene and it all comes to that one scene. I've been in network tests before and this was the first time I wasn't nervous. I guess that was a good sign.
PREVUE: So now that you have the role are you happy?
JOHNSON: Don't tell anybody, but I'd do this for nothing. That may sound funny when all you hear about are actors demanding more money, but I love to act. It can be hard, because you can be there for fifteen hours, but it's always fun. If someone said, "you're rich so now go out and do whatever you want to do." This would be it. It's just that fun.
PREVUE: Smallville's generated a loft of buzz. Has it sunk in that it's a hit?
JOHNSON: Not really. Up here in Vancouver we're very far from all the buzz, the publicity, and even the commercials. I guess it's a good thing, as it allows us to focus on our jobs, instead of our getting sidetracked. The network sent us up a stack of press that's been generated and I was just amazed.
PREVUE: How long are you signed on for?
JOHNSON: Five years.
PREVUE: The show has already been picked-up for the rest of the season. Does it click that you might be doing this for the full five seasons, or more?
JOHNSON: I learned very early on in this business not to count on anything, because it's bound to change. I never think about whether the show could go on for years, although I think it's a great show. When we're doing that fifth season, then I guess it will seem real to me. I guess it’s the starving actor that's still in me. It's the feeling that I've got to fight for my job every day.
PREVUE: So now that your not the struggling actor, have you run out and bought your BMW?
JOHNSON: (laughing) I'm keeping fairly reserved as far as all that goes! I got myself a PlayStation 2 and that's been about it for my splurging.
PREVUE: We've received several emails requesting an interview with you. You've definitely made the teen heartthrob list, so we've got to ask some key questions. Married?
JOHNSON: (laughing) No.
PREVUE: Girlfriend?
JOHNSON: Not right now.
PREVUE: So, are you ready for your first 10,000 love letters?
JOHNSON: (laughing) No, no, I'm not. It still seems really strange to think that someone would to write to me. My brother called me and said "there's a fifteen-year-old girl that has a website dedicated to you. I just couldn't believe it!
PREVUE: You will be appearing on the big screen in the Western Texas Rangers with Dylan McDermott and James Van Der Beek. It looks to be a lot of fun as one of those "ragtag group of youngsters banded together to clean up the old West" stories in the Young Guns vein. Can you tell us about your role?
JOHNSON: It's a very small role. I have something like three lines. The great part was that I ended up being up there for four weeks, riding horses and shooting guns. In the story, I’m part of the posse and it was loads of fun. I got to play cowboy for four weeks. Talk about every boy's fantasy!
PREVUE: You played the young Tristan in Legends of the Fall, and now your on Smallville. Are you surprised to be a success at the age of only 22?
JOHNSON: (laughing) I'm not so much surprised as relieved! My friends are just glad to see me working! Now I know that certain decisions I made earlier have paid off, even though they seemed questionable at the time.
PREVUE: What type of decisions?
JOHNSON: Not taking certain roles and not getting locked into long-term contracts on shows I didn't like. There were people saying, "you're not doing anything right now, so why don't you just take this? Come on, you're a kid from Canada, it's a good opportunity." I guess I was just shooting a little higher and it paid off. It's a relief that it all happened. On top of that, I get to live in a beautiful city, Vancouver, which is only an hour-and-a-half flight from my hometown of Edmonton!
|
|
