Exclusive Interview With Alex Ferris

Alex Ferris plays the role of Collin in Diary of a Wimpy Kid! He has also starred in The Time Travelers Wife, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, The Invisible, and X3 – along with guest appearances on Smallville, Stargate SGI, and Supernatural!

Alex chatted about his favorite roles, upcoming projects, and had great tips for actors looking to break into the Hollywood scene!

Tell me about your role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid?

Collin is a really nice kid. He’s quite popular. He’s always dressed really fancy, sort of a preppy style. He’s really good friends with Rowley. Throughout the movie he’s trying to sabotage the main character, Greg. Near the end of the movie he finally succeeds and he’s really happy, but then (spoiler alert) Greg apologizes to Rowley and Collin isn’t so happy about that, so that’s pretty much the end of the friendship between Rowley and Collin.

What was your favorite part of filming the movie?

The producers did a really good job of making the set fun for kids. For instance, one day they bought us a couple of Nerf guns and we got to have a Nerf gun war on set. And we filmed at a school one day, so they let us have little breaks from our tutors to go out and play on the playground and run up and down the halls. It was definitely fun working on a set made for kids for a change.

Are you anything like Collin?

There are ways that I am and there are ways that I’m not. One of the ways that I am, I thought was really funny, the first day when I walked onto set and saw the wardrobe, it was really weird. This looks like what I would wear! That was kind of cool. But one thing he’s not like me, he’s always trying to sabotage the friendship and he’s a little bit sneaky. He’s a little insecure I think.

Did you read the Diary books before getting the role?

My friends always told me I should read the book, but something always came up. So I didn’t quite get around to reading the books until I got the part. But once I did get the part I read the first book. I loved it so much that I went out and bought the other two, there were only two more at the time, and read them both in the same day. I really do love the books.

Do you think they’ll make more films to follow the books?

I think there’s talk of a sequel. I hope I’m in it! The second book is really funny, so I think they should.

What’s the favorite role you’ve ever played?

The funnest time on set was this film, but my favorite role is probably my role in Battlestar Gallactica. I played an orphan alien, which was kind of a diverse role, completely different. And I got to get killed at the end, which was a first for me!

You’ve played roles in both television shows and movies – do you have a preference?

In some ways movies is best, and in some ways television is the better. In movies its really fun because it’s not as long of a commitment. When you book a role on a television series you usually have to sign up for five years. I’m not really allowed to be a regular on a TV show, but just guest star roles I’m allowed to do. It’s also fun because every week is a new episode and you get a new script.

But another thing I like about movies is you get to travel more. I like traveling and that’s one of the best things about acting.

Farthest you’ve had to travel for a role?

Toronto. It’s a lot farther than you’d think. I’m on the west coast in Vancouver and it’s about 3000 miles away! It’s quite cold in Toronto. We were filming in winter and it was really snowy and freezing.

Do you have anything coming up that you can tell us about?

There’s a couple projects that look like they might be a go. I can’t say the names yet because they’re not set in stone!

Do you plan on going to college?

I would love to go to college. Actually, I have to go to college! My mom says, “Acting is your hobby and school is your job.” There’s so many variables in this industry, that it’s good to be able to go to school, so if things didn’t work out you could still have a successful career. I’d like to go to a business school. I really want to go to Stanford or Princeton so I’m going to have to come up with some serious money!

How did you get started acting?

It was in Hawaii. I was seven years old. I was playing on the beach and I met this boy and we became friends. A couple days later it came up that he was an actor. I learned that he had done a commercial for Matchbox toy cars and he’d gotten to keep the products. So I thought that was the coolest thing ever! I went up to my mom and told her that I had to be an actor.

I begged her for a week or more.. But she finally said, “You can’t be an actor because you don’t even have an agent.” So I went to the little boy he told me.

When I got home I wrote a letter to the agency. I was pretty young, so it wasn’t the most articulate letter! They hired me and I booked my first audition. Everything kicked off from there.

Do you have any advice for kids looking to get into acting?

Always believe in yourself. In acting there’s always going to be who think he’s not right for this part – he’s too small, he’s too big. You have to take a lot of criticism, but you just have to go with it. Say that you did your best and you’ll try again next time. Sometimes you do an incredible audition and you love it, but then they decide not to make the movie. You have to be ready for a lot of disappointment, but it’s worth it!

Lightning Round:

• Favorite Food: Sushi
• Favorite Color: Blue
• Favorite Actor: Robert Deniro
• Favorite Movie: The Godfather I

Image Credited to KAROLINA TUREK

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