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Mad About the Boy

Live and Kicking Magazine, October 2000

A few issues back, we asked you to name your favourite Dawson's Creek character and - unsurprisingly - cheeky ol' Pacey Witter stormed ahead with absolutely zillions of votes! To celebrate Pacey's victory, we exclusively bring you Joshua Jackson in all his glory!

L&K: So Josh, how does it feel to suddenly be so darn famous?
Josh: I honestly don't see myself as famous yet. But I have to admit that I do get a lot of perks because of what I do. Like, when I went to pick up the licence plates for my car after I passed my driving test, I took out my wallet and the lady behind the desk said, 'Honey, your money's no good to me!' It turned out she'd seen me in Mighty Ducks and really liked the movie.

L&K: So were you popular at school, Josh?
Josh: No, I was a complete pain in the butt! I had a real problem with being told what to do by teachers and I ended up getting kicked out of two schools for being mouthy. The first time was in Vancouver, when I was 14. They told me I just wasn't part of the school spirit. To this day I think it's 'cause my drama teacher was a frustrated actress and jealous of me taking time out from school to film mighty ducks.

L&K: And the second time you were expelled?
Josh: That was because I played truant a lot and I was still very mouthy. One of my teachers called me 'stupid' and we got into this massive argument. Then I was told I was making her job impossible, which in hindsight was probably true. The principal told me I could either apologise to the class for my behaviour and stay, or I'd have to leave. I just wouldn't back down, which maybe wasn't the best attitude to take!

L&K: So, Pacey's constantly getting into trouble is pretty much like you at school?
Josh: Yeah, except I didn't get to have an affair with my English teacher like he did! But the basic stuff he's going through is pretty much what I think everyone experiences at school.

L&K: How did you get into acting?
Josh: Well, my mother was a casting director and, to be honest, she tried to keep me out of it. She knows acting's a hard profession and that there are lots of pitfalls and temptations that come with the job. So she was very cautious for ages. At first she wouldn't let me audition at all, then she'd let me audition a little, and then, eventually, I might be allowed to accept a role if I was offered one. But she'd never allow me to do TV 'cause it would interfere with my schooling.

L&K: Has it been easy finding plum film and TV roles since then?
Josh: Well, up 'til I was 18, I was virtually unemployed. I was literally begging people for work! I couldn't find any jobs or opportunities. I remember going along to the Dawson's Creek auditions and reading for the part of Pacey. Then the next day I was called back to try out as Dawson and they basically said, 'Never mind'. Then they called me back again to read for Pacey and as I was walking out, they shouted out to me, ' Hey, by the way, we'll see you in North Carolina!', which is where the show is filmed. Then, when Dawson's Creek became a success, I found myself in a very fortunate situation and began to get major movie offers.

L&K: Whoah! Let's back track a bit! So you could have played Dawson?
Josh: Yeah' I guess so. But I wouldn't have brought the same things to the part that James Van Der Beek does. So, the short answer is no, the long answer is yes. Confused? Me too!

L&K: You've got a couple of hot movies coming out this year - The Skulls and Gossip - how do you decide which episodes to go for?
Josh: Well, because I play the same character for 10 months of the year on Dawson's Creek, if I get offered a character who's completely different, then I like to take up the challenge. Like the character I play in Gossip is a kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth who becomes the subject of a rumour. The movie explores how a piece of gossip can mutate into something v. nasty and scary!

L&K: Do you ever check up on gossip about yourself on the net?
Josh: Yeah, I check out the internet. Like it was rumoured on the web that I was gonna play Anakin Skywalker in the next Star Wars movie, which obviously isn't true 'cause they've apparently picked someone else.

L&K: Would you have liked that role?
Josh: Are you kidding me? I would quite literally do it for free!

L&K: How are you handling fame, Josh?
Josh: The fan part of my life really isn't that bad. I usually just get people coming up to me and saying that they really liked me in such-and-such a movie or asking for an autograph and a photo. It's not like I'm Leonardo DiCaprio or anything, and have thousands of people showing up and following my every move!

L&K: Have you ever been mobbed out on a date?
Josh: Certainly there's been some poor timing. You know, I'll be like having a serious conversation with someone and I'll get interrupted for an autograph. Most people are intensely respectful though.

L&K: You're not dating at the moment, but do you only go out with actresses?
Josh: (Laughs) Of course not! My first love wasn't an actress. She was five foot six, curly brown hair and cute as a button. She was an absolute sweetheart. If I only dated actresses, I'd be a very lonely man!