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Venice
May 2005
Michael Vartan: Climbing the Ladder One Step at a Time
By Jose Martinez
What could possibly be scarier,
being a CIA agent, risking
your life everyday for
your country or being at the
center of a feud between
your mother and your bride-to-be? In his
newest film, "Alias" star Michael Vartan plays
this object of embittered affection, torn
between his loving fiancée (Jennifer Lopez)
and his possessive mother (Jane Fonda)
turned Monster-in-Law. Bring on the terrorists
and the next life-threatening mission!
What some people might call a tough
choice, actor Michael Vartan calls his life. The
star of the ABC spy drama hit "Alias," Vartan
is currently starring alongside Lopez and
Fonda in the comedy Monster-in-Law.
Born in Paris to a French musician father
and an American mother, Vartan was raised
in the small Normandy village of Fleury until
the age of 18 when he decided against joining
the French military service (mandatory for
all French men) and moved to Los Angeles.
Soon after enrolling in a few acting classes,
he landed small parts in films, including roles
in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar as well as The Pallbearer and The
Myth of Fingerprints. But it was his role in
Never Been Kissed, in which his co-star Drew
Barrymore fought to get him cast, that really
turned heads.
For the past four TV seasons Vartan has
starred in "Alias" as Agent Vaughn, taking on
dangerous mission after dangerous mission.
An avid hockey fan, somewhat at a loss without
his beloved L.A. Kings to root for, the
handsome actor recently spoke to Venice
about his emerging career while preparing to
shoot the arduous season finale of "Alias."
Venice: What did you think of "Alias"
when you first read the script? Instant hit?
Michael Vartan: I didn't think instant hit but
I definitely thought it would be picked up
because it was one of the best action pilots
I've ever read. Also, it's such a great female
role and at the time there weren't that many
around. And when I heard the cast that they
assembled, Victor Garber and Ron Rifkin, you
never know if it's going to hit, but I had a feeling
that the network would at least give it a
fighting chance. I told all my friends this show
is definitely going 13 (episodes), maybe 22,
and then we'll see, but it's definitely going to
be picked up and I had never said that about
anything before.
Not to offend you but did you ever think:
how did you get this role?
Absolutely. I worked with JJ Abrams on
The Pallbearer many years before and he
remembered me. As a kid you dream of
being a spy or James Bond, and being Agent
Vaughn at the CIA is as close as I can get, so
I was pretty happy about that.
Were you ready for the overnight attention
and success "Alias" brought you?
"Alias" definitely put me on the map and
I've had other opportunities because of this. I
never would have gotten Monster-in-Law had
it not been for "Alias." It builds you up for the
next one, but my life hasn't changed all that
much. Sure, I get recognized a little more
when I go out, and now I get to meet with the
director instead of the casting director, but
ultimately Jennifer (Garner) is the one who
took the brunt of the fame when it comes to
"Alias." The rest of us are the supporting
cast and, to be honest with you, we're all
glad about that. [laughs] I can actually speak
for most of my cast mates and none of us
was ever really interested in the fame aspect
of acting when we started. If you're lucky
enough to work, that's just a byproduct of
what happens. If we could make the money
we make and do the jobs we do and be
completely anonymous I think we'd all sign
off on that.
But I'm sure you get really good L.A.
Kings seats because of your fame.
A couple of years ago "Extra" did this thing
on me and I got to go practice with the Kings.
I joke to my friends that that is the best thing
about fame that has ever happened to me; I
got to practice with the L.A. Kings.
I've been waiting to see hockey players
on "Alias" as extras. They need the work.
Exactly. [laughs] They're all out of work
playing hockey for nothing in Europe. They're
all welcome.
Has it been tough this year without professional
hockey?
Yeah, it's my favorite sport and it's obviously
all about money, it always is in whatever
line of work you're in, but it's a shame
because it's such a great sport. But [the NHL]
doesn't have that $8.8 billion contract that
the NFL just signed with ESPN.
Did you have to audition for Monster-in-
Law or did you just meet with the powers
that be?
I wish I was at that level where they just
ask if you want to do this. No, I met with
Robert Luketic, the director, and he was a
big fan of mine from the beginning and that
always helps when you have the director in
your corner. That's a good way to start. And
then I obviously met with Jennifer Lopez. I
didn't per se audition so much as do a few
sessions of talking about the script to see if
we had chemistry because if you're doing a
romantic comedy the last thing you want is
two actors that hate each other.
Is it intimidating going into a meeting
where this other actor has the say
whether you get cast?
It is but whether it's the actor, producer, or
the director, that's always the case. Any time
you go in for a job there's always someone
there who has the say, and that's always scary.
You have to forget about that and do your
best and if you're lucky enough you'll get the
job. If I thought about that going into the
room I'd probably vomit on everyone.
Then you'd make a lasting impression.
I try not to think about who actually has
the power.
What's it like doing a scene sitting in
between Jennifer Lopez and Jane
Fonda?
It's amazing. As different as they are
they're also very similar in the sense that
they're both incredibly powerful women
and they have so many other interests
other than acting. They're just basically
icons of entertainment and have been for a
long time. Again, it's one of those parts,
would I rather play a bad guy, someone
who has a much darker edge, or a character
that has psychological issues? Of
course, but you cannot turn down an
opportunity to work with such talented
actresses. The minute I heard there was
any interest in me for this I thought, please,
make it happen somehow.
Were you working on Monster-in-Law
and "Alias" at the same time?
Yes I was. When you're on a TV show
you have a very small window of two
months in the summer to make a movie
and with Monster-in-Law I got lucky
because the dates fell in perfectly. I literally
left "Alias" on Friday, started shooting
Monster-in-Law on Monday, wrapped on a
Thursday, and was back at "Alias" on Monday.
It fit perfect.
Do you want to do a lot of that?
The thing is that I'm still at that point in
my career where I'm not able to pick and
choose what I want to do. Obviously I have
a lot more opportunities since I've been on
"Alias" but I'm still looking for those parts
that I feel passionate about and things that
I want to do just for the love of the part as
opposed to 'this will be good for my
career.' When "Alias" is over, hopefully not
soon, I'll go back to having three, four, five
months off between jobs or, God willing, I
won't. While things are happening I'm
happy to work as hard as I can to see if I
can make it to the next level. "Alias" is by
far the toughest work I've ever had to do as
an actor. The hours are impossible and it's
a grind. It's the only acting job I've ever had
where I really feel that I'm earning my pay.
When you made the move from France
to L.A., was it gradual that you fell into
acting or were you afraid of what you'd
fall back on if it didn't work out?
I often talk about that with some of my
friends who have wanted to be actors since
they were kids and it's their life's passion.
And for those of them who are working, it's
great. But for the ones who are out of work,
I see how miserable they are. That's where
I'm lucky because as a kid I never wanted
to be an actor. I was just fortunate enough
to find my way into it and now I've been
working steadily, which is a blessing. I
never had that need, that absolute, it-hasto-
be-this-or-nothing attitude. That helped
me not to be intimidated.
So acting or film or theater or going to
the movies wasn't a release for you
growing up?
No. Also, I grew up in a really small town
in France. We didn't even have a movie
theater. Literally. I'm not joking, I must
have gone to the movies once every five
years when I was a kid. I watched movies
on TV when they were on, but it wasn't
something in the forefront of my mind that
I thought, this would be fun to do. I just
thought those were people in Hollywood
that do this.
How difficult a decision was it to
leave France? Because that meant you
weren't going to serve in the French
service, correct?
Exactly. I had lived here from the age of
5 to 11 and I'd come back to L.A.,
because my parents were separated, to
visit my mom every summer and every
Christmas, so it wasn't a complete culture
shock. Even living in France I felt more
American, and Angeleno if you will, than
French. I wasn't that nervous. I wasn't sure
what I was going to do, but I knew I wasn't
going to spend a year rolling around in the
mud in some army base in France. Let's
see, California, palm trees and mini skirts
or North of France, alcoholics and rain?
Tough choice.
How has the adjustment been from
being a fresh, young actor to a steady
working actor to a celebrity?
Celebrity, ha ha, I honestly don't consider
myself one. I know people know me
because of the show but I think a celebrity
is someone who has international fame.
Angelina Jolie, that's a celebrity. I'm just a
working actor that people who watch
"Alias" know. There was no adjustment
because it's been such a slow and gradual
process. I've been doing this on-and-off for
almost 20 years. I never had that out of
work and then boom! you're an overnight
sensation. I'm still halfway up that ladder
trying to get there.
Are you comfortable opening up your
life to the degree that you have to with
the public and the media?
It depends, even in interviews it
depends. If you feel the person you're
being interviewed by is a nice guy and
won't misquote you and is not fishing for
dirt or just things that are really stupid and
nobody's business, then you tend to give
them a little more. If you feel that this interview
could be a little dangerous, I'll just
give the [standard] answer of 'we're just
going to take it day by day.' It cracks me
up because actors and celebrities get so
much crap for being so secretive. Come
on, professional athletes are the worst.
How many times have you heard an athlete
say, 'we're just going to try our best?' But I
understand being in the public eye you lose
a little bit of your privacy and that's okay as
long as you can draw the line. It's not a big
problem for me.
With "Alias" winding down for the season
do you already have your next project
lined up for during your hiatus?
No, I'm still looking, and it's getting to be
crunch time. I guess within the next month
I'll know if I'm taking the summer off or if
I'm working.
You mentioned you are looking for
roles you can sink your teeth into. Is that
why you're not sure if you'll be working
this summer?
Absolutely. I've been offered a couple of
things that weren't necessarily what I was
looking for at this point. It's the curse and
the blessing of movies like Never Been
Kissed and Monster-in-Law, that you're
seen as this romantic comedy guy that just
stands there and smiles the whole time.
And there's nothing wrong with that
because, again, I would not have gotten
"Alias" without Never Been Kissed and I
wouldn't have gotten Monster-in-Law without
"Alias" so everything sort of helped
everything. The reason I'd like to do something
a lot darker is that I've never really
gotten a chance to do that.
-- I would not have gotten "Alias" without Never Been Kissedand I
wouldn't have gotten Monster-in-Lawwithout "Alias," so everything
sort of helped everything. The reason I'd like to do something a lot
darker is that I've never really gotten a chance to do that. --
Do you want to get away as far from
Agent Vaughn as you can?
Actually, Vaughn is much more interesting
to play than any of the characters that
I've played in movies. I don't mind him. At
least he has some issues. [laughs] I'd like
to see something that would let me explore
other areas of acting and show people that
I can do other things than just being on a
Ferris wheel with Drew Barrymore.
With Never Been Kissed is it true that
Drew Barrymore fought to get you, an
unknown at the time, cast?
I definitely know that she stuck up for
me. And it makes perfect sense to me, if I
was the head of a studio why would I hire
an unknown for a movie when I can get
someone with more of a name that would
bring more people into the seats? I've
never had a problem with that. Drew defi-
nitely fought for me and for that I'll forever
be grateful to her. That was my biggest
movie. That was a huge break for me, and
if she hadn't been so instrumental in making
that happen I probably wouldn't have
gotten the part.
Do you look forward to the day when
you're the one in the room who has the
say about casting your co-stars?
Sure, because that will mean that I have
A) casting approval and B) that I'm involved
in a movie that I'm really excited about
making, and that C) we have the authority
to cast the best actor as opposed to the
biggest name. All three of those would be
terrific but I'll take just one of them.
What's the best advice you've ever
been given?
I had an acting teacher that told me
don't forget that no one can act the way
you can. A lot of actors are better, a lot of
actors are worse, but no one on this planet
can act the way that you can. And if you
keep that in mind, it's very true, because I
might suck or I might be great, it doesn't
matter, but the bottom line is that no one
can act like Michael or Jose can. That's
actually really helped me a lot at times
when I was not getting jobs and losing a lot
of confidence, especially when I was young
in my career. I was horrible. It's been a long
journey to be able to go to a network or a
studio and get a job like "Alias." I never
would have been able to do that five or ten
years ago.
You didn't grow up seeing a lot of
movies, so who would you say are your
favorite actors?
I like the Meryl Streeps and Al Pacinos
and Gene Hackmans of the world. With my
generation you look at guys like Sean Penn
and Brad Pitt. But I don't really have a
favorite actor. I have a lot of favorite parts
that actors have played in movies.
What do you like best about acting?
It's such a hard profession, it really is. It's
a struggle when you're there; it's a struggle
when you're not there. I've been doing it for
20 years and I swear there are times after a
take where I think that was horrible. And
there's no rhyme or reason for it. It's just
really hard to pretend to be someone else
in front of a camera and 30 people; some
people are naturally gifted at it and others,
like myself, have to work at it. That's the
fun part, getting to work at it and never
feeling like you've arrived. I never feel like
I'll get it right. I always feel like I have
something to learn and I think that's what
keeps me going.
You've been acting for 20 years now.
Did you ever doubt?
After I did One Hour Photo I didn't work
for a whole year. Come on, I get one of the
lead roles in a movie with Robin Williams,
any other actor I think, and even I thought
for a while, I'm on my way. And then boom,
the phone doesn't ring for a year. That's
what I love so much about acting, it's here
today, gone tomorrow. If you're lucky
enough to be in projects and you chose
well and you work with good directors and
actors then you'll keep working.
What can you say or what are you
allowed to say about the "Alias" season
finale? What can fans expect?
I can't say anything because JJ would be
very upset. I can tell you, in my opinion, it's
by far the most intense cliffhanger we've
had. I know we've only had three so far but
this one blows them all away. It makes that
red ball earlier look like the end of a Ben &
Jerry's commercial. The season finale this
year is out of control. A lot of characters
are in deep shit.
What do you hope people take away
from your projects?
Well, most of the projects I've been in so
far I haven't been the lead, and talking
selfishly, I hope people don't think I suck,
but I think every actor feels that way. But
Monster-in-Law is hilarious. Jane and Jennifer
are so funny in it, and Wanda Sykes is
out of her mind. And I just stand there
smiling the whole time, which is fine
because that's what the part is, but I think
people will enjoy that movie. And "Alias,"
some of the episodes are so unbelievable
to me that we shoot that in eight days. It's
literally like a mini James Bond movie
every hour. I'm glad I haven't yet had that
problem of carrying the brunt of a big studio
movie or being the lead in a show
where everything depends whether people
like you specifically or not, because that's
a lot of pressure.
If they come up with the brilliant idea
for the Vaughn spin-off show, would you
say it didn't work for the Ropers or
would you be all for it?
No, a Vaughn spin-off I probably wouldn't
do because Vaughn belongs on "Alias,"
and I don't think it would be that interesting.
But I would love for Vaughn to go bad
next year and start killing everyone. But a
Vaughn spin-off? Not unless he does it with
Weiss and it's a half-hour comedy.
"Alias" airs Wednesdays at 9PM on ABC.
Monster-in-Law opens on Friday, May 13, in
theaters everywhere.
© Venice Magazine 2005
 Back To Exclusively Michael 2005
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