Lisa Carroll
Famous acting lineage?
Check!
Beyond handsome with a great presence on the screen?
Check!
Big ego?
Negative.
Wait, no big ego for the grandson of the world-famous actor Gregory Peck? That’s about unheard of in the industry with the attributes mentioned above. However, Ethan Peck is as humble as you can get — even when talking about his new film, “The Curse of the Sleeping Beauty.”
The film is on the horror/fantasy side as reimagined from the fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, with some great visuals and nice acting.
Moviehole had a chat with Peck (who last starred on CBS’s “Madam Secretary” and is the face of the Ferragamo fashion film campaign) as he shared about his famous last name, hopes about playing a future “Batman” and how there really is no “hanging-out club” for descendants of famous celebrities.
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Moviehole: How did you get started in acting?
Ethan Peck: My parents offered to take me out auditioning when I was seven, and I was a curious, excited and energetic kid, I wanted to. With regards to the family connection, we (he and Gregory) weren’t too close unfortunately, but even now I’m in awe of the icon he was and still is. I’m as impressed as the next person.
Moviehole: How did you like working on this film?
EP: I really enjoyed working on this film, we all did and had a great time. I was lucky to work with a talented cast and crew and I hope people will see it.
Moviehole: Have you ever had sleep paralysis, like in the film?
EP: I have had it once or twice. It was really scary, I perceived a tall dark figure in the doorway, it threw something at me that brushed my ear. It was very unsettling, and then I woke up.
Moviehole: What was the toughest thing about making this film?
EP: I think the hours were challenging — we worked really long hours on it and it was a hectic schedule. It required a lot of energy and great effort and focus. Being as honest as possible in every scene could be really tiring.
On the smaller budget films, you have less time and they are much more difficult because you are working with so many constricting factors. There’s a lot more leeway working with bigger films (Peck was also in “In Time” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”).
Moviehole: What was Bruce Davison like to act alongside?
EP: Bruce Davison was such a joy to work with, I would throw him in as someone to look up to, he’s really talented, professional and a joy to watch. He has incredible stories, he’s a myth.
Moviehole: Do you have a favorite acting method?
EP: No method, I use whatever works best for what I’m working on. I went to the New York City Experimental Theater (at New York University), and that introduced me to different styles. Have you heard of Jeet Kune Do? It has a lot of styles in martial arts. I use what makes the most sense in a situation, sometimes Meisner or Strasberg or a mix.
Moviehole: What have been your toughest challenges?
EP: I think the toughest thing has been having awareness for myself in my journey and path to maturity, and how that’s so important to match up with timing. Let’s see, if I was cast in “Captain America” five years ago, I wouldn’t have had the maturity. Now I’m having patience and determination, it’s all about timing.
One of my acting teachers said you need these things, in this order – determination, luck and the third is talent. You would think talent would be the first, but it’s about being in the right place and right time, it’s the position of luck.
Moviehole: Who are your acting idols?
EP: I’m a huge fan of Javier Bardem because he’s got such great depth and his talent is huge. I know he works really hard, he’s not in it for fame as it appears to me. He is a joy to watch and he embodies such manliness and ability, I really admire that.
Moviehole: Do you hang around other descendants of famous actors? Is there like, a famous club or something for you guys?
EP: I do somewhat hang out because of a coincidence – I went to Harvard-Westlake School (in Los Angeles) and some famous actors send their kids there. So I ran into a lot of legacy kids and hung out with a few of them. There’s no club or anything like that (laughs).
Moviehole: What are your goals for the future?
EP: I have a lot of aspirations — one of the loftier ones is to play Batman, like in five to ten years. I’d like to work with Chris Nolan, his attention to detail is incredible.
I saw “Sicario” last year and I would love to be a part of films like that that are beautifully shot, that are slow burn thrillers — I love that genre and would love to work with actors like Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro.
Moviehole: What do you have coming up?
EP: I was in a pilot for Fox and I saw it was picked up, it’s called “Star.” We’ll be filming in the summer and that’s what I have so far.
“The Curse of the Sleeping Beauty” just came out in theaters on May 13th and came out on VOD and iTunes on May 17th.
