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Stuart Townsend: Out and 'About'

"I think the career thing and the actual creativity are sort of at odds with each other, but the creativity is the best thing," says "About Adam" star Stuart Townsend

By Lori Blackman
CNN Showbiz Today Reports

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The new movie "About Adam" may star Kate Hudson, but it's really all about a new actor named Stuart Townsend, who plays Adam.

Townsend, 28, plays Adam as a Don Juan with a twist. He romances three sisters simultaneously, and still manages to come off slightly sympathetic. He's the kind of character who makes everyone around him feel better about themselves.

VIDEO CNN's Lori Blackman interviews 'About Adam' star Stuart Townsend (May 9) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STARS Stuart Townsend: Out and 'About' Jeremy Northam: Man of many faces Foley: 'Mrs. Roger Maris' & more John Cameron Mitchell Chi McBride of 'Boston Public' Rachel Weisz 'Traffic's' Erika Christensen Evan Rachel Wood Taye Diggs: of 'Ally McBeal' 'Believer' Ryan Gosling 'Gilmore Girl' Lauren Graham Actress Monica Bellucci Jazz singer Jane Monheit Actor Mark Ruffalo Actress Sanaa Lathan Dule Hill of 'The West Wing' 'Music Man' Craig Bierko Sam Rockwell of 'Charlie's Angels' Tom Cavanagh of 'Ed' Singer/songwriter Sally Taylor Jamie Bell as 'Billy Elliot'

Townsend hails from Ireland, where the film was shot. Most of his experience is on the live stage; he's only been in a handful of films. But that's about to change, as he has two lead roles lined up to follow this one. His name might not be in the title of all of them, but it's still one you won't soon forget.

CNN: Your character in this film had sex with three sisters without any one of them knowing about the others, yet he still seems sympathetic to many. Do you consider Adam a little wicked?

Stuart Townsend: Yeah, he's a little wicked, but in a nice way. That's what I liked about the film, that people do come out and go, "I hate him, he's bad," and then another person says, "No, he makes everything work out OK in the end." I think it is whatever you feel.

The thing about Adam is that he's ambiguous ... you never know who the guy is. I think it also depends on if you have sisters. ... If you have two sisters or three sisters you might be a little scared of the whole thing, but if you don't you may go, "everything worked out, everyone was happy."

CNN: How did you approach (the character)?

Townsend: For me it was a chance to go home, and it wasn't much of a stretch because it was just me doing an Irish accent, playing me just having a laugh. And it's a comedy ... it's not "Hamlet" or anything like that.

CNN: (Let me) read a quote from the filmmaker: "As soon as we saw this character, we knew Stuart Townsend was Adam." Why?

Townsend: Because there's only about three Irish young guys out there at the moment, so there wasn't much choice -- they had to give it to me.

CNN: U.S. audiences are unfamiliar with you, but you have done extensive theater work in Ireland and England. When you get a project like this, where you carry a film, do you hesitate at all?

Townsend: No. I don't think I carry the film. I think it's more an ensemble really. It's not (Adam's) film, because you never even see his perspective. ... It's called "About Adam," but it's really about a family and the dynamics within that family.

CNN: What was the best part of making this?

In "About Adam" Townsend's character romances three sisters simultaneously. "He's a little wicked, but in a nice way," Townsend says

Townsend: Being back home in Dublin in a very different context, working on a film. I left Ireland and hadn't been back in three years and being on location in a very familiar place was wonderful.

And also the actors. Having Kate (Hudson) and Frances (O'Conner) here, as an American and Australian, respectively ... nailing the whole Irish thing. That was great. And it's a comedy and it's fun. I mean it's great to do drama or a psychological thriller, but it's also nice to do a comedy and relax and enjoy it.

CNN: Do you have a preference between the stage and the screen?

Townsend: Not really, I love them both. I did a Tennessee Williams show last year in London with Helen Mirren, and that was the best experience working-wise that I have ever had. But I love film as well. It's just very different.

CNN: You have another movie coming out this year, correct?

Townsend: Yes, (Anne Rice's) "The Queen of the Damned. " (I play) the Lestat character, which has been a lot of fun. ... And now I am doing another movie called "24 Hours." It's ... sort of a psychological thriller with Kevin Bacon, Courtney Love and Charlize Theron. I've just been up in Vancouver with them for the last week and they are great people.

CNN: You are still young and I imagine have a long road ahead of you. What would you like to do with your career?

Townsend: Just tell good stories and do good work. I think the career thing and the actual creativity are sort of at odds with each other, but the creativity is the best thing. When you get on a project, who you are working with and what you are doing -- that is always the most fulfilling thing.

Sometimes, like with Lestat, there (were) certain things that I had problems with. But at the end of four months I was so glad that I did that project because so many amazing experiences happened. I think that's the best thing about having a career like this ... you get to meet amazing people and do extraordinary things. Going on stage, it's so different. You're earning 300 pounds a week, you work your ass off, and it's really fulfilling to tell a story to a live audience.

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