The Safe House - Expositions - Exclusively Michael

Family holidays can be hell, but family holiday movies can make it seem like you're not the only one with problems. The Myth of Fingerprints is a movie that gets under your skin not only because of its admirable cast, including Julianne Moore and Noah Wyle, but because of Oh, God, that's my life up there lines like "Do you think you have to have had a healthy family life to have a successful relationship?" That loaded question was spoken in the film by Michael Vartan, an actor who seems a bit exotic despite his "everyguy" quality. It could be because his road to recognition has taken the scenic route, starting in the Italian film Fiorile, stopping by for a French Caesar nomination for Best Up-and-Coming Actor and wending its way through a few small roles in notable movies like To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and The Pallbearer. Currently living in Los Angeles, the 29-year-old actor is still close enough to earth to describe what he does as "fun" and not bitch about the paparazzi.

I heard your first love was soccer.
True. Now it's hockey and golf. Hockey is like therapy to me. I try to play three times a week, and every time I get off the ice, I fell like I left a bad meeting there.

If hockey is therapy, what does golf do for you?
Golf is the reason I'm in therapy.

So where does acting fit in? Is it love or just a sugar mama?
A little of both. Let's put it this way: It's something I can do reasonably well, and it's a job where I can make decent money and not work in a coal mine in Pittsburgh. I hear all these famous people say, "I can't even go out for coffee without being mobbed." Dude, you're making a hundred grand a week, shut up already!

You said it. What was it like growing up in a town of 300 in Normandy, France?
It was great. The most dangerous thing that could happen is that you might get stampeded by a heard of dairy cows.

When did you move to the United States?
I moved to Los Angeles with my mother when I was 5 and my parents got divorced. I went back to France and lived with my father through high school. Then I told my mom I wanted to move back to L.A. and become an artist. The art of manipulating your parents as a 17-year-old is not to be underestimated. At 17, you're at your peak. Well, I'm 29 and I'm still good at it.

Your character in Myth of Fingerprints was involved in the traditional holiday situation where an unmarried couple wants to sleep in the same room when they stay with the folks. Has that ever happened to you?
No, thank goodness. My parents were incredibly liberal and supportive - they actually encouraged me to bring girls home. They'd much rather know I was doing it under their roof than in some dangerous alley in South Central. Not that I would ever be doing it there...

Think you'll be that cool about it when you're a parent?
This is going to sound really weird, but I think it would make a big difference whether I had a daughter or a son. I've always imagined myself being the greatest dad to my son, like, "Do what you want, just make sure you wear a condom" and "Hey! Didja see the tits on that one?" You know, being his pal. Whereas the thought of my beautiful little angelic daughter going out to her first rave party gives me an ulcer. And I'm not even married yet!

Your character, Jake, makes a great speech about love sometimes being about acceptance rather than finding your soul mate. Agree or disagree?
A little of both. I definitely think there's something to be said about true love, but it's so individual for everyone. I used to think when I was a young lad that love was this blanket thing that covered the whole world.

And then you found hockey.
Exactly! No, it's different for everyone. For me, I believe in commitment and not cheating on the person you love. It's more out of respect than anything else, don't do unto others...You know how it goes.

Yep. Got a girlfriend?
Yep. Her name's Shannon Gleason. She's an actress, and she's currently doing a charity play that she organized to raise money for battered women and children. She's acting for a higher purpose. It makes me feel like such a loser! She's doing this for charity, and I'm all about the cash. Show me the money!

Her karma is running all over your dogma. What can you tell us about your next film, Dead Man's Curve?
It's about how, in some universities, if your roommate commits suicide, they give you a 4.0 average for that semester because of the emotional stress. I'm one of three roommates who are scumbags who want to get into Harvard Business, and we kill one of them and disguise it as a suicide - or try to. It's got a lot of twists, and you're never sure if it's a drama or a dark comedy. I think it's my best work so far; maybe I'm getting good at this.

Or you found your niche as a scumbag.
Exactly! I'm not a character actor, but I'm a great scumbag!

How important is success in Hollywood for you?
It's all about paying the phone bill. I know it sounds sick, but if I could find a way to make millions and be completely unknown, I would do it immediately. I mean, it's nice to be noticed for what you do, but in this business if you're noticed, it tends to go overboard. It's never just "Hey, good job," it's always "AAAAIIIEEE!" But it's a trade-off, and it's important for me to make money because I'm going to be 30 soon, and I don't want to worry about where I'm going to send my kid to college. When I have one.

You sure don't look like you're going to be 30 soon.
It's moisturizer. All that time I spend on the ice, I really need to use that Noxema.

Thanks to vartanetc.!

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