› Captain Kerr-Ageous - February 2000

Jack McPhee talks frankly about actors' exposure, and coming out of the Creek closet.

Even visits from Britney Spears and rocker Courtney Love could do less than spark the love interest of Capeside cutie Jack McPhee, played by effervescent Kerr Smith — a determined young actor who first turned on the Creek charm last season. Even with all the problems in the McPhee household — Jack dealing with his new and very overwhelming sexuality feelings and his sister Andie going off the deep end (yet again) — Smith managed to keep viewers bathed in the sunshine of teen sprit. So, whats new in the Creek, you ask? Well, Jack has assumed the ultimate high school position in testosterone releasing action as an inductee to the school's football team, making the dating scene, and playing house with Jen and Grams. Sound boring? We think not.

So, TC readers really want to know how a college grad who majored in business administration ended up wading in the Creek?
"Twelve Monkeys was my very first job. I had just started working and I just started to become interested in acting. They were shooting Twelve Monkeys in Philadelphia and I wen in and asked to be an extra. It was in a scene with 500 other people, so I couldn't even find myself in that film. It was cool though because it was also my birthday and my mother was in the shot with me, It was a lot of fun. Acting is still a buisness-as we all know — so at least I can utilize some of my education."

But you did spend some time on television before right...on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives?
"Doing a daily soap like Days of Our Lives was completely different than being on a weekly primetime show. Daytime television is like boot camp for actors. I'm so glad that I went though that. Its brutal because its tape and not film, so you have three or four cameras that you have to be aware of at all times. You have to learn 20 pages a day verus two or three. The writing for daytime is honestly, really bad. I have so much respect for the actors that perform in soaps everyday. It takes a lot to make it all work. They are some of the best actors in the business."

And your onscreen kiss with the one and only Katie Holmes?
"Katie is a real sweetheart, just like she seems to all her fans. We're all friends. It's a very unique situation — sort of like a camp."

Do you feel that the public's impression of Jack McPhee has changed since your character has come out of the closet?
"Playing Jack McPhee is defiantly a challenge. Its exactly what actors look for in a role. When Kevin (Williamson) said," We're going to go down a different road with Jack," I was excited. I told him I was with it 100 percent. It's actually the first time that this has been explored specifically for a teen audience. It wasn't just about having a gay character on Dawson's Creek. We told a tale about what it would like to be 16 years of age and to struggle with his sexuality. I think we did it right and told a good story. I think it was unique.

Does playing a teen character that is openly gay present you with added responsibilty as an actor.
"I get a lot of fan mail, but most of it is from women. But the letters that I do get from teens who are struggling with their sexuality — they're pretty serious. Its kinda scary because along with this job comes a certain amount of responsibility. I've gotten some crazy letters that say they watched the episodes last year when Jack came out to his dad, they turn off the TV, walk into the next room and tell their parents that they're gay. Its a huge responsibility."

How did you feel when you first found out about what was in store for your character?
"Jack McPhee hasn't been an easy role to play which is why I was so excited to do it. Its something new — it's a challenge. I did a lot of research and I had friends that had gone through a similar experience. Most of the time I just use my imagination to help guide me through the emotions. I haven't had any huge losses, fortunately so I have to draw upon my imagination for the most part to get those scenes to work. Coming out was emotionally difficult. It was a long day, but we had fun. Emotionally it was a long day."

So, you stole Joey's heart only to let her down. Whats next for Jack?
"Well, Jack is obviously going to get into a relationship. He's going to find somebody, I think. I wanted to keep working with Katie; she's a lot of fun. Now I'm living with Jen and Grams. Its fun because the three of us didn't work together at all last year — just a couple of scenes."

I heard you pulled a fast one on Katie before you did your famous take-off on the Titanic scene...
"We sometimes play stunts on each other, so that mourning I asked the wardrobe guy to stuff a sock for me which I put under my robe. I was naked for twelve hours. I'm not a modest guy so I could take it. Katie, however could not. She was more embarrassed than I was. But, it was fun indeed! It was sort of hanging out of my shorts. At one point during the scene the robe falls off and out slinks this 3 foot stuffed sock! Everyone started screaming and Katie thought it was the real thing so she was very rosy cheeked all day long..."

How does it make you feel that Howard Stern is an admitted Dawson's junkie?
"It scared me that Howard Stern tunes it every week! But, I listen to his show everyday, so I guess we're even. I'd love to be on his show!"

C'mon TC wants the lowdown on Dawson's spoilers...
"It's one script at a time. For the first thirteen episodes I generally knew who Jack McPhee was going to be but for the recent episodes, I have no idea."

What is it like spending so much time down south when you were born and raised in Philadelphia and New York?
"Just being in Wilmington, NC was quite an adjustment for me. I'm used to living in urban areas like New York and Los Angles. It took several moths, but I love it. It's life at a much slower pace. I fly back between LA and Wilmington constantly so its nice to live two different lives."

So, like the other residents of Capeside you spend your off time making films... There was the part in Hit and Runaway, Kiss and Tell, and the upcoming release from New Line, Final Destination. What is the premise behind that flick?
"My character in Final Destination is named Carter. He's a class bully — 180 degrees different from Jack McPhee, which is one of the main reasons I took the role. Each time I choose a role, generally I'd like to play a character thats completely different, otherwise it's boring. It's a film about cheating death. The actual plane crash happens the first fifteen minutes of the film actually. My character loses control of his life. HE thrives on anger, so its very difficult for him — losing that control. It's going to be a good movie. We're got some good people like Devon Sawa."