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Aoung tar sits do n ith att anter to talk about his latest role as the ne alien on the block
I n a time of 0ileys and Justins (of the Bieber variety), it’s not hard to imagine how 0att Lanter’s old Hollywood charm — classically good looking, painfully charming and polite — would fall between the cracks into relative anonymity.
But in many ways Lanter personifies, not just the character, but also the essence of his new show 6W H . Both of them seem to stand out from the pack with their refreshing earnestness, flourishing in a genre that has lately been saturated with recycled stories and misunderstood (read annoying) protagonists.
In 6W H , Lanter plays Roman, a young leader of the Atrian race. Due to an interesting turn of events, he must immerse himself in human society, challenge the prejudices of his people, and protect Emery, the human girl he falls in love with.
Even just a few episodes in, you can already see that Romeo and Juliet ain’t got nothin’ on these two. R hangs out with the small screen’s newest — and perhaps, cutest — alien to talk about taking the lead, dealing with disappoint-
ment, and just why 6W H , isn’t your run-of-the-mill dystopian romance (in fact, boys might just like it, too).
)irst of all, congratulations on tKe ne role :Kat made you decide to take it on?
( Thank you )irst of all, it was so different. I’ve been doing on the same network for five years and it’s a very different field. Obviously, this one has a very large sci-fi element to it, and I’m a very big fan of sci-fi, while
was more of a teenage soap opera. It’s a very welcome change. I found the story very intriguing (because it puts) young characters in a situation where we’re being forced to be a leader and step up and show their true selves.
o different is your cKaracter iam from from your ne role as oman?
He’s really different aside from the obvious that he’s an alien. I guess Liam tends to be a little more violent and makes a lot of harsh decisions based on aggression. And Roman tends to be a little bit more of a thinker, a bit more witty. Although, I guess you’ll see that as the episodes go on some of that has to change. I kind of feel that as the series goes on Roman hardens a little bit because he has to in order to protect himself and
the people around him that he loves.
:Kat sKould fans an ticipate in tKe sKo ?
One thing that’s really cool about our show is it moves very Tuickly so in every episode, there are new revelations, and you’re finding out new things, you’re discovering new things and there are new characters. I think people will be fascinated by the Atrian culture. We have a lot of kind of cool political power elements. We’ve got a lot of action. We have a lot of fights, underwater stuff and explosions happening, that kind of stuff. This is definitely a lot to watch even for a young male because there’s so much stuff in it for them.
.ind of like your cKaracter oman, you moved to ol ly ood a orld tKat s arguably different from normal life, so to speak :Kat s it like to ork tKere?
(At first) you’re very… I wouldn’t say blinded, but you’re very aware that it’s, Tuote, “Hollywood. But I guess after spending some time now it’s becoming my business. A lot of actors that you think are huge stars and celebrities — I’ve met several of them and I might be friends with some of them. I’m no longer looking in. I’m here. I live in Los Angeles, I go home to my house this is where my bed is.
So I guess at a certain time, it stops being the glit] and the glamour. This is what I do, making movies and making television, and I enjoy the magic of it all. It kind of becomes, I don’t know, about the craft and about the story and the storytelling rather than just a Hollywood lifestyle.
, m sure you ve Kad to deal itK disappointment, especial ly Ken you ere starting out o did you deal itK tKat?
It’s hard not to take it personally because you’re there in front of the room, you are performing for someone, and they are essentially rejecting you. Just understand that maybe you did a good job, but you’re just not the character. I think that was kind of an eye-opening experience for me, looking back on all the auditions that I’ve notched up. I was not just the character, and now I’m okay with that.
o Kat ould you tell yourself if you met tKe mucK younger version of you? :Kat advice do you isK you Kad kno n?
Just be persistent and don’t give up and don’t get down on yourself. Stuff like that, you know. Just to persevere, be confident, and move on to the next day. Hold your head high. Don’t get worried about auditions or that you didn’t get a job or something. It’s gonna happen all the time. WFK 0 WW WH L Star rossed HYH L S P 7