By Hend Seif El Din
1. I’ve read that you’re a sports enthusiast.so what drew you to acting?
I was really active in sports growing up in a small town because that’s all there was to do. So, when I was in school I was full of energy and a bit of the class clown, so when I found out I could go to Drama and be a total goofball and that was ok, I fell in love with drama.
2. Did you always think you’d be a performer of some sort?
Some sort of a performer, whether it was on the field or in front of a camera. I just never thought I would be able to while growing up in a small town.
3. So how did it all start? When was the first time you appeared on the screen?
I had just come back to Vancouver after leaving University where I couldn’t find a major, so I was a bit stuck in limbo and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. My Mom was working in the industry and suggested I looked into it. I thought it could be fun and so I went out and landed an agent and within a few weeks booked a commercial for Oxy clean. I was hooked right away.
4. I must say your portrayal of Felix, the powerful Volturi vampire in the Twilight Saga, was impeccable! Tell me more about him.
Thank you! He was a great character to play. He’s a very powerful and aggressive character who wants nothing but admiration from his master. He’s good at what he does, and it was fun to play up the animalistic side of myself.
5. Did you enjoy playing Felix?
Absolutely! I enjoy playing bad guys.
6. What were some of the challenges you faced? I can’t imagine it being an “easy” role?
It wasn’t too bad to play, but it would have been easy to over play the vampire and not ground the character with human qualities.
7. What about your role as Colossus? You’ve played him before and you’ll be playing him again the X-Men: Days of Future Past. Tell me more
It’s a fun character to play; the strong silent type who doesn’t really want to fight but does out of necessity. He’s older and more battle hardened in X-MEN DOFP which was such a great project to be a part of. I can’t wait to expand this character when I get the chance!
8. Do you enjoy working with such a strong cast, including Jennifer Lawrence and Hugh Jackman?
Yeah, it’s very cool to be working alongside such talented actors who are all so down to earth.
9. What about Halo4? Can you tell me more about it?
It was a very cool project to be a part of. I really enjoyed getting into the back story of Halo and all the fiction that has been written about it. I would like to explore the character of Master Chief if that ever happens.
10. I also know that you perform some of your stunts. I’m assuming they’re fun but also dangerous!
Yes!! Being my size and having an athletic background helps with performing some stunts. I’m not a stunt performer as there is a lot of things I can’t do, so I’m more of an action actor. It is a lot of fun for me to perform stunts though.
Up Close & Personal:
Starsign? Aquarius/Capricorn
Hidden talents? I’m great with voices and I can one-hand-clap .
Pet peeves? Bad drivers.
Hobbies? Being outdoors
Favorite quote- fear is a wave, just ride it
Words of wisdom- if your always looking backwards you’ll never move forward
Photo credits: Amanda Peixoto-Elkins
