Nelson Branco's SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED: Issue 52

by Nelson Branco

  *New Feature: The Prime Suds Report

  STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW

  Canadian stud Stephen Amell is reinventing The CW! Plus: Is Justin Hartley pissed Amell stole his role?

  Stephen Amell struck the bull’s eye: The handsome and buff Toronto-born actor will be shooting his crossbow every week on CTV/CW’s highly anticipated re-imagining of new super-hero franchise, THE ARROW, in the coveted role of THE GREEN ARROW.

  The affable 31-year-old actor — who earned a Gemini Award for his guest spot on ReGENESIS and has appeared on HUNG, NEW GIRL, QUEER AS FOLK, PRIVATE PRACTICE — is ready for his star to ascent as show business’s new “it” comic book character, Oliver Queen.

  UNCENSORED sat down with Amell during his recent trip back home to discuss how a break-up inspired him to move to L.A. and pursue his dreams, getting ripped for the part, and why he has no time for romance. And he’s even more gorgeous — and smart and hilarious — in person!

  Was it surreal promoting a new, fall-TV series during the summer, which hadn’t even premiered yet?

  It felt very strange. I mean, I’ve seen the pilot several times but we’re filming episode five and I’m just reading episode six so, yes, it felt like it came out years ago. A fraction of the population saw it at fan conventions.

  What’s been the reaction to the series from those who have seen it?

  Extremely positive — almost disarmingly so. We haven’t read one negative review yet — which can worry you, too! [Laughs]

  Were you a fan of THE GREEN ARROW comic book series?

  Nope. I actually didn’t know much about the franchise. I grew up reading comic books like SUPER MAN but I wasn’t familiar with THE GREEN ARROW until I read this script.

  Is it a character-driven superhero show like SMALLVILLE or more plot, action-driven?

  It’s character driven. It’s actually not a super-hero show. No one has super powers. The best part of the show is the relationship elements between the characters. It’s all about family.

  This role was very coveted. Justin Hartley played the part in SMALLVILLE and wanted it badly.

  I know Justin, too. Actually, we were both shooting pilots in Vancouver at the same time. At that point, I hadn’t heard anything about THE ARROW. Then, my cousin asked if I had read the script. Well, three days later I was auditioning and five days after that, I was cast in the role! I was told I was the first guy who read for it. The producer had seen me in HUNG and liked my work. With HUNG being canceled, I suddenly became available. Life works out sometimes!

  Any method acting on HUNG?

  [Laughs] Um, no!

  Do you think you nabbed the role because you were so detached from THE ARROW?

  When I first read, they asked me to leave the room and audition again. When I walked back into the room, 15 executives were all of a sudden in the room! So, after the audition, I called my agent and said, “This is strange but I feel like I just booked this job!” It’s strange that they hired me before even a screen test. You usually hear these auditioning horror stories out there but it’s never been my experience.

  In 2010, you moved out to LA after a few stints in Toronto like on QUEER AS FOLK. You’ve done pretty well in such a short time. When did the acting bug bite?

  Acting is who I am — not what I do. Yes, in some careers you can compartmentalize. But acting needs to matter to me, it needs to become a part of my personality and has to have some kind of emotional resonance. While I was in Toronto, acting was just a job and I wasn’t all the way in. But after a long-term relationship ended, I asked myself: What makes you truly happy? From that point, I made the decision to move to LA and devote my life to acting. And, right away, while I didn’t book anything in my first pilot season, I went on a lot of auditions and came close. The next time I went out for pilot season, I booked all these guest-starring roles and the rest is history.

  A lot of Canadian actors tell me their maple-leaf heritage help them avoid the pitfalls of being a celebrity in Hollywood. Agree?

  No. There’s no advantage at all. There’s actually a slight disadvantage because, if you don’t book a pilot, you have to leave the country. If you do, you need to apply for an O1-VISA. And that was a long hull for me. Producers just cast the right person in a role, regardless of where they are from, so you have to get your paperwork in order or they’ll go with someone else.

  And in the end, you’re shooting THE ARROW in Vancouver — so that’s ironic!

  Yeah! Guess what? I never booked a job in Vancouver while I lived in Canada as an actor. In fact, I’d never been to Vancouver before! So this is nice I can still work in my own country on an American series. It’s the best of both worlds!

  Have the physical demands of the role kicked your butt?

  Oh, man! [Laughs] You have no idea. I’m so tired. I changed my diet, which changed my body hard core. I went dairy-free. As for working out, I only go to the gym three or four times a week for forty minutes.

  Wow. You have good genes.

  Well, I don’t do weights. I do resistance training. I do everything I normally do but just with a weight vest. You get better results faster with less time.

  Smart. Why do you think the comic book genre is so popular on the big and small screen?

  I think we like seeing larger-than-life characters, who can accomplish real things, struggle with the same issues we do. One of the reasons why people loved THE AVENGERS so much was because of the personality clashes or the bromances that developed. We like our heroes damaged and vulnerable. And that’s THE ARROW. That’s our show.

  Would you consider doing a big-screen version of THE ARROW?

  Dude, I’m only thinking of the next two scripts I need to film! I have to steal minutes to read scripts because I’m so busy. Plus, until the show comes out, and until there is some kind of connective tissue, I can’t think about a movie.

  Are you single?

  Yes. I don’t have any time for romance at this point. I don’t foresee a relationship in my near future. Unless I meet someone in my exact same circumstances. I’m working so much. By the weekend, my brain shuts off.

  Are you scared your relative anonymity is about to expire?

  No, not scared. So far, it’s been cool. For example, I tweeted a photo with the restaurant’s name in the background while I was out for dinner in Vancouver. Well, within minutes, ARROW fans showed up along with the paparazzi. It was all very civil and fine but I’m just learning some lessons. I’m not worried about it. If you don’t grip your own celebrity so tightly, you should be fine. But, yes, I won’t be jumping in pools with Lindsay Lohan, that’s for sure! Canadians handle their own celebrity down south better, I think, because we don’t have a celebrity culture, per se — other than sport stars — we’re much more humble and equipped to deal with it.

  I see you’re wearing an LA Kings T-shirt! You love hockey?

  Yes, I do. I was there when The Kings won, too. I love my hockey.

  And archery!

  Inside Feature

  FEARLESS NOVEMBER SWEEPS PREDICTIONS!

  What will happen? Who will come back from the dead?

  THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL — Ridge Over Troubled Waters!

  “November is a must-see month. A celebration of Stephanie’s life gives the matriarch of the Forrester family the opportunity to say good-bye to her family and friends and look back at 25 years of rich B&B history,” teases Brad Bell.

  • Ronn Moss returns so Ridge can say goodbye to Stephanie. Via Skype. And played by Heather Tom, who can do anything these days!.

  • GH’s Monica Quartermaine and Steven Larzzz abduct Stephanie after she “dies” to save her from terminal cancer. “Hey, we did it for Deacon’s doppelgänger,” quips Monica.

  • Bill and Brooke start falling in love when Katie returns from Genoa City.

  • Thomas finally has sex… with himself.

  • Billy Warlock joins the show as nuDeacon. “Finally,” says Jacob Young. “Someone shorter
than me!”

  • Katie and Bill’s kid, Will, begins sporting Emmy wings.

  • Despite his stellar acting, Winsor Harmon still brings Brad Bell coffee in the morning.

  • Kristen returns as Maura West. But Donna pushes her out of an ambulance.

  • In related news, Donna still looks pregnant.

  • Bill decides to let Karen and Dani adopt Will. “Dani’ rename Will, “Wilhelmina.”

  • Felicia returns with white hair, bulky pantsuits, and five new Emmy nominations.

  • Sally Spectra turns 200 years old — and she’s still alive in Europe during the debt crisis.

  • After Katie returns, Brooke leaves town migrating to Genoa City. Finally, Jabot has a capable CEO.

  • Pam’s lemon bars are responsible for making every child in L.A. obese.

  • Brad Bell appoints Patrick Mulcahey and Michele — “WITH ONE L” — Val Jean co-head writers. And Hell freezes over.

  DAYS OF OUR LIVES — End of DAYS?

  “[We’re] writing a much more concise show. It looks really good,” Ken Corday lies.

  • John, who? Kristen drugs and rapes E.J. In retaliation, Will kidnaps Kristen and forces her to watch old episodes of Maria Arena Bell’s Y&R.

  • Kate hires a stylist. His name is David Bowie.

  • Jennifer forces Nicole to work at Chick-fil-A so the barren vixen can atone. She finds a baby in a Chick-fil-A sandwich — and claims it’s E.J.’s! Naturally, it hates Will.

  • Gary