Teen Girl Power
Interview
Sept.1999


Ever had a crush on one of your costars? When I was in To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday, I liked Claire Danes. I was so nervous before our first kiss scene, I got down on my hands and knees and said, "God, I'm not asking you to make me smooth, I'm not asking you to make me like Joe Cool, I just don't want to throw up and embarrass myself and make this girl think I'm a lunatic."

Do you have a girlfriend now? Yes. I've been with Kimberly McCullough for three years. She's an actress.

Had any embarrassing moments in front of her? At a restaurant in France I tried to order steak, but I don't speak French. To make the waiter understand, I mooed like a cow til he figured it out.

When did you realie you wanted to become an actor? I was 18, and I knew I didn't want to work at the Price Club. Acting was the only thing I wanted to do, so I moved to L.A. I was so broke I had to hide in my apartment because I didn't have enough money for my landlord. But I went to acting class and read scripts every moment I had.

Did you ever think about changing your name? My mom was married to this guy for two seconds, whose last name was Quick. And my middle name is James, so for a moment I was almost Jimmy Quick, which is kind of a cool name -- I could have run track. But keeping my father's name was always important to me. He wasn't able to give me a lot; he died when I was only 10 months old. I want to respect that gift.

Were you a horror buff as a kid? No, horror movies scared me to death. Once I walked home alone froma friend's house after watching Alien, and I kept imagining them jumping out on me. I didn't watch another scary flick for three years.

Do you think you will continue doing comedy or sci-fi movies? Both, hopefully! I actually just signed to do a comedy and I should start filming in two or three months -- I can't give you the name yet but I play a crazy college kid named Al Connelly.

What's your most disgusting habit? I do weird things with my toes. I cross, snap, and pick things up with them -- I think they are gifted."

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