Their daughter, who was also at school with me, was in a play. I’d been in a couple of plays where I had smaller roles. I wanted to be a pro tennis player when I was in school, and I twisted my ankle senior year so I was really bummed, and I tried out and I got the lead. I could do the lead because I had no sports that spring. I told Nathan Lane when we started filming, I said, “I basically did a bad impression of you.” I thought he was really funny.
And you played the role of a lecherous slave?
Yes, that’s a really intense, great role, and it’s a great comedy. I was at USC and they called me and said, “Do you want to come try out for this show we’re doing about the ‘70s?” It was my first audition. And we just shot an episode last night, and it’s like six years later.
Did you expect to be doing the show that long?
You know, I was so stupid and naive that I absolutely thought it would be a huge hit. Now that I realize what a big f***ing joke - the odds are staggering. But it’s kind of great, that young, you actually believe everything’s possible when you start at that age.
Which one is more challenging for you, this character or Eric on “That ‘70s Show?”
Oh well, definitely I’ve had enough time to work on Eric on “‘70s,” and that role is really very close to who I am I think. When I first approached this role, I didn’t understand why Pete hadn’t asked her out, but yet he seemed so strong. I knew it wasn’t because he was a wimp. Robert and I talked about it for a long time. In my head, he’s known her forever and he kind of had a shot in fifth grade and missed it. He’s a great guy but he’s actually willing to forego having a romantic relationship just for her to be in his life, because he knows it would get weird. What’s great is this situation kind of makes it bubble up.
Would you have asked her out?
Yeah, yeah. He’s very different from me. I mean, but then again, I’ve never known someone who I’ve been in love with who I’ve known since I was two.
What do you think about the success of your “That ‘70s Show” castmates?
I think it’s terrific. I think that the best is yet to come. The best thing about that show, the
thing about a sitcom that’s great is that’s it’s like a graduate school of acting. The problem is, most people kind of get the roles when they’re 35 and then they’re kind of branded because they’ve finished growing. Whereas we started when we were 18 so. I think Matthew Perry was 25, which is my age, so when I was ending my show, I think he was kind of starting his show.
I’m excited because it’s great to be single and young and not be weighed down by anything and to be able to go into acting in different things. Truly a sitcom is such an amazing training ground. I mean, it’s an evolution. You get to kind of suck at the beginning and get better, and people don’t mind. You can’t suck at the beginning of a film and get better. That’s it; it’s over once you do a film. On a sitcom you have these writers working with you. We’ve really all learned so much. I’m excited to see when the show ends where everyone lands because I can’t imagine six more talented people than those people.
It’s weird timing that your movie comes out the same weekend as your “That ’70s Show” castmate, Ashton Kutcher’s “The Butterfly Effect.”
Ashton and I talked about that yesterday morning and we have a motto, which is ‘go see both.’ It’s a two-day weekend.
Will you have a role in “Ocean’s Twelve?”
I think so.
Do you know what you’d be doing?
I do, but I can’t tell you. I’m doing the Weitz Brothers’ new movie, so I may
not be able to do it, but I’d love to. It’s a pretty cool set to chill out on.
What can you tell me about “Synergy?”
First of all, I’m psyched out of my mind to do this movie. The Weitz Brothers, I’m a huge fan of theirs. Dennis Quaid is having a mid-life crisis and his company is bought by a huge conglomerate, and I’m his new boss. And then [there’s] his daughter, who’s played by Scarlett Johansson, and we start dating. It’s kind of another triangle, but kind of a different triangle.
Additional “Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!” Cast Interviews:
Josh Duhamel / Kate Bosworth / Ginnifer Goodwin
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" Photo Gallery
"Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" Credits, Soundtrack and Trailer
