+ Interviews +
... Jeremy Garrett
TEEN HOLLYWOOD April 14, 2001, 9.30 a
Interviewing Actor Jeremy Garrett: by Chris Lamb
Jeremy Garrett is one of those people who assumes the world is his oyster and therefore it is. A world traveler, he’d undoubtedly have a flourishing career as a photographer right now if it wasn’t for that other Garrett hobby, acting. Maybe it’s because actors are usually free-spirits, maybe its because Jeremy Garrett is a charming and pleasant guy to be around, but this is someone who takes each life step with pleasure.
Many fans will recognize Jeremy as Todd from Sweet Valley High. It was as Todd that Jeremy first found Hollywood success and it has never left him. More recent roles in Legacy and The WB’s Jack & Jill (Jeremy plays Audrey’s new room-mate, Russell) ensures that either this actor has more luck than the Irish or is really good at what he does. Hollywood being what it is, I would guess that being Jeremy Garrett involves a bit of both.
Jeremy recently spoke with TeenHollywood.com. An eager and fun person, Jeremy had a lot to tell us.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Jeremy, how do you relate to your character Russell on Jack & Jill? Jeremy: Russell is an aspiring actor / stand-up comedian in New York. He’s looking for a place to live in New York City and he comes across Jaime Pressly’s apartment. She thinks it’s ok because he has a girlfriend but he really doesn’t. It’s interesting because he’s a bit of a hardhead and so is she and I think that’s why they’re attracted to each other; it’s a love-hate type of thing. They see each other as a challenge. So yeah, it's a little bit different than being myself because I’m mellower than Russell.
Is it a challenge to play him? Jeremy: No it isn’t because I know a lot of people who are like him. A couple of my friends are just like him so I tend to resort to first- hand experiences with those people.
How are you fitting in with the cast? Jeremy: You know it’s interesting because I only work with Jaime. Isn’t that wild? I only work with her because Russell and her live together and all the other characters have their storylines going and they never intertwine. Of course I’ve met them all at the table readings…
You’re not a full-time character on this show yet, are you? Jeremy: No, I’m a reoccurring guest star. We’ll have to wait and see how this season is going to go.
Now Jack & Jill will be replaced by Felicity shortly on The WB. Is that the end of the season for you? Jeremy: Yes. You have the official word on that. That’s it.
You’ve had other drama experiences as well, Buffy, Sabrina, and Get Real, I’m wondering which experience you liked best? Jeremy: I think Buffy was the most fun because I got to play a real jerk who gets really beat up by Buffy. It was so much fun. That was a while ago now. She slams my head against the steering wheel of a car and breaks my nose. Of course we had to choreograph everything so it becomes something like a dance. It looks real but no one gets hurt.
You played Todd in Sweet Valley High. Jeremy: All the way back…
Yeah, we’re going back to the beginning now. Jeremy: Oh God, I’m feeling old.
What do you remember the most about Sweet Valley High? Jeremy: I just remember that that was the first thing. I’d never been in this town before or seen the working environment on a television set. I was going crazy working every day for two years straight and getting to do something I love, it was a privilege.
I remember my good friend Cynthia Daniel, she played my girlfriend Elizabeth and she was such a sweetheart. She was the most kind, giving, helping person and she made things a lot easier on me. We’ve kept in touch over the years. She played my girlfriend so we were always together and we just had a blast. We became like brother and sister, it was a lot of fun.
Do you find that most actors become better friends if their characters are in a relationship? Jeremy: I think it’s only natural that it happens. Unless there’s some really conflicting personalities. But because you do work with that one person everyday or you have to pretend that you’re in love, I think it’s only natural to really get to know that person. You grow a little bit closer than you do with the other cast members.
Was it hard to break out of the Todd persona once Sweet Valley High finished? Jeremy: Well, for some reason it wasn’t that hard for me. I think a lot of that has to do with casting directors and for me it wasn’t that difficult. For a period of about six months, I’d gotten into that character so much that when I went in to audition for other roles, it was hard. You start to relate every role to how you have been playing your other character for so long. I realized that, hold on, I can’t play every role like a young jock at a high school, I have to become someone else. But it wasn’t hard for me, thank-goodness. One of the reasons I chose my role in Legacy, a period piece, is because it was the furthest thing from a high-school kid.
Would you do another period piece? Jeremy: I don’t know if I’d do another TV show like that but I’d die to do a movie period piece. I’d do them for the rest of my life. They’re so much fun. They really transport you out of reality and out of this time.
Can you tell me about your recent movie, The A-List? Jeremy: Oh, the A-List! Oh, yeah, that’s a great one. It’s a short movie and it’s a spoof about Hollywood where Jesus comes in and tells someone to make a movie, it’s hilarious. I play a real jerk of an actor, someone so full of himself. He talks to his agent about how he wants to do period pieces because period pieces win Oscars. It was really fun. I don’t know when that’s coming out but it is completed.
Let’s talk about you more personally. I understand you were in training to become a photographer? Jeremy: I grew up in San Diego and my dad bought me a camera one day. He said that I should take a photography class. I thought, ‘Ugh, what am I going to do with a camera, I’ll be stuck taking family photos all the time.’ But you know what, I fell in love with it. Then I started assisting a photographer in San Diego and then here in LA.
I wanted to go into fashion photography, travel around the world doing pictorials for magazines, I’m so into that. But sometimes you have two loves and you have to decide which one is loving you more.
I have two more questions for you Jeremy. They’re abstract questions but they might provide an interesting answer.
One: If you could live in any time in history for one year, when would it be? Jeremy: Wow. For some reason that’s one of the toughest questions anyone has ever asked me. There’s so many amazing times and so many huge events that went down in history that it’s hard to choose just one. Well, I don’t think I can pick one specific time but as far as a period that would have been interesting to live in, I’d pick the Renaissance. That would have been a wild time if you weren’t poor. If you were poor then it wouldn’t be such a wild time because there was no middle class. But I think it would have been so decadent, it would have been a blast.
Two: If you could give advice on how to live life, what would you say? Jeremy: As far as working, I always say that if you choose a job you love then you’ll never work a day in your life, meaning that you’re not forced to do anything and if there’s something you really love to do, then you need to try it. That way work will be a pleasure to you and you’ll feel fulfilled from it. If you don’t take a risk I really don’t think you’ll be happy. Not deadly risks but risks in life in the sense of a career because you can always get back up and go do something else.
As a closing question, what are you working on now? Jeremy: I wish I could tell you I was starring next to Al Pacino but I can’t. Right now we’re in pilot season and we’re looking for a good pilot to do. Possibly there are some films in the works but we shall see.
Best of luck to you, Jeremy. Jeremy: Thank-you very much.
(taken from teenhollywood.com)
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