Josh Hartnett
Josh recently completed a starring role opposite Mekhi Phifer in Dimension Film’s "O," written by Brad Kaaya and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. This modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, "Othello" has Hartnett portraying Hugo Goulding, a character based on Shakespeare’s chilling nefarious Iago. The story will be set in modern times at an upscale prep school and is scheduled to be released next March.
Josh will also appear in the black comedy "The Virgin Suicides" along with James Woods, Kathleen Turner and Kirsten Dunst. The film, which was well received at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, was produced by Francis Ford Coppola for American Zoetrope and is the directorial debut for his daughter, Sofia. It will be distributed nationally by Paramount Classics early next year.
Josh will also appear in New Line Cinema’s "Town and Country." Due out next February, he will portray Warren Beatty, who is Diane Keaton’s son in the film which also co-stars Goldie Hawn, Andie MacDowell and Garry Shandling. The plot revolves around a man (Beatty), who disillusioned with his marriage, endures a number of affairs before realizing that he truly loves his wife (Keaton).
Born in San Francisco and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Josh took to acting at an early age. Stemming from a love of the arts, he quickly made his way into the world of theatre. He landed several roles in various Minneapolis stage productions including "Into The Woods" at the Steppingstone Theater, "Tom Sawyer" at Children’s Theater Company and "Freedom Riders" at the Youth Performance Center. Josh has also been featured in several national commercials. In 1996, after graduating from South High School, Josh traveled to the East Coast to attend the acting program at SUNY Purchase, New York. {which he was later kicked out of for mouthing off and it's rumored there was something going on between Josh and the professor's daughter! Lucky girl!}
In February of 1997, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue film and television work. He quickly landed his first acting role on the hardhitting ABC drama, "Cracker." In the show, Josh starred opposite Robert Pastorelli portraying Michael Fitzgerald, the troubled and misunderstood son of Gerry Fitzgerald (Pastorelli). {The show was cancelled...unfortunately}
Quotes:
-"I don't like to exercise. I'm getting a little gut right now" (from Seventeen's "Bound for Glory")
- "When you're a teenager, you always want to be the best no matter what. It goes with the territory." (from Seventeen's "Bound for Glory")
- Boxers or Briefs? "That's a tough question because I don't like to wear the stuff. We'll leave it at that. (from Twist's June 2000 issue on page 10)
- "When I turned 18, I skipped my party to take my girlfriend on a road trip. It turned out to be an amazing birthday." (From BB - November 1998)
- "I don't think there's any problem with being a teen idol if you can handle it, if that's what comes. It's such an insane business. There's this standard you have be in order to be a teen idol. I dunno if I could handle that." (Josh on being a teen idol)
- "No. I don't have a very good body. Some of those guys work out every day. I work out maybe once a year, so they've got me beat." (On being asked if he's asked to take off his shirt for a scene)
- "I got kicked out of acting school, so I had to do something," says Hartnett. "Well, they didn't really kick me out; they just said I could leave if I wanted to." (Josh on his Big Break - From a Rolling Stone Mag)
- "I was cutting my own hair at the time," he says. " I guess they were cool with it. They couldn't really do anything about it." (About his hair style in the Faculty)
- "It's about sex, that's it." Hartnett says. (About his movie Town and Country)
- "My character is the cool, Camaro-driving, feathered-hair guy," says Hartnett. "He's kind of the mysterious outsider, but everybody accepts him because he's so freaking cool. He's certainly not troubled. He's like a happy dog." (About his character in Virgin Suicides)
- "I think I'm pretty understanding. Relationships are so complicated though. When I'm with a girl, I'd rather talk about her than me. I'd rather know more about her. I already know about myself. If she wants to know about me, I'll tell her about me. I can be quite open..." (Josh thinks he makes a good boyfriend - From Entertainment Teen, March 2000)
- "He said I was a sexy kid." (Josh, on what Warren Beatty told him)
- "I'm not really the pumping-iron type. I'll shoot some hoops, but you'll never find me in a gym." (Josh's response when asked to take his shirt off for a photo shoot)
