Hugh Dancy Reclaims a Kingdom

Boy, if you believe that some day your prince will come, then get out a big net! You certainly have a choice of hunky princes to catch lately. Not only is there Julia Stiles' cute Brit Luke Mably gracing the big screen but yet another hottie from across the pond Hugh Dancy who plays the prince who must regain his kingdom from his evil uncle in the new comic romantic adventure Ella Enchanted opposite Princess Diary's Anne Hathaway.

Hugh, in casual St. Thomas t-shirt and jeans, told us how he'll deal with the very possible hunkdom status headed his way, his roles in "fluffy white shirt" films like "Ella" and playing Sir Galahad in the upcoming King Arthur with hot Keira Knightley.

TeenHollywood: How do you feel about being a hunk?

Hugh: Oh boy, my life's ambition obviously. I haven't really given it a lot of thought because I don't really think of myself as a hunk to be honest.

TeenHollywood: What was the audition process like for you on "Ella"?

Hugh: I'm looking at this thing (in the press kit) here that says "extensive auditions in England" but the thing is you're never aware of that when you go into an audition. They could be seeing you and one other guy or every other actor in England - so maybe they did maybe not. I was just glad that Anne came over to England when they did this audition so there was a sense that they really cared about the particular chemistry between those two characters.

TeenHollywood: Is chemistry between actors hard to achieve?

Hugh: I don't know. In my experience it's not essential to get on with the person that you're acting opposite. You can still have chemistry on screen without getting on with the person but it just makes your job a lot easier if you don't have to gird your loins, if that's not quite the right phrase, every time you're going to do a scene with that person. On this it was apparent really from the moment that we met that it was going to be very easy. And when you've got that, it kind of adds a level of security so then you can just start working on the story and make sure that you've got everything going in the right order, in the right direction.

TeenHollywood: What's appealing about Anne?

Hugh: Well, I can tell you that when I first met her, as an actress this is, I was really impressed by the way she combined charm and comedy and blended the two seamlessly and made it feel incredibly natural which I think is the hallmark of a very good actress and a very good comedienne. You don't try and play a gag, you just offer up a character that happens to be quite funny or quirky or whatever and make it believable.

TeenHollywood: Are you a fan of this kind of film?

Hugh: I don't think I've ever seen a film quite like it. I'm not particularly sure what this genre is. Fantasy if you like, yes, I am. But what I liked about this was the opportunity to take what I guess is a very specific genre, which is fantasy-fairy-tale, and give it a slightly different spin.

TeenHollywood: Did you do your own singing in the film?

Hugh: Oh yes. The little song and dance number at the end - that's me, my voice, howling out. It was a new experience for me. I've never sung before and I've certainly never sung on screen. I think I sung on stage when I was 13 and for some reason nobody's asked me to try it again since. We didn't have vocal lessons. But we all turned up at the studio together to record it and there was somebody there to kind of coach us through but it was kind of really by the seat of the pants.

TeenHollywood: How about the sword-fighting? Did you have any training?

Hugh: Oh for sure. I think the worse that happened there was that I hurt my thumb but you can't complain really about that.

TeenHollywood: I hear you were living in a haunted hotel while you were filming in Ireland? How was that?

Hugh: We were in a haunted hotel briefly, yeah, but I didn't see any evidence of it. They did serve a good pint of Guinness so I may have slept through the creaking and the banging and the wailing.

TeenHollywood: What do you think of period roles and how comfortable were you, getting into those fluffy shirts and britches etc?

Hugh: Well, fluffy shirts are, by definition, very comfortable. But no, I don't think I'm particularly drawn to the period roles or the medieval roles. I'm certainly not out there looking but, in reality, for me every role is completely different. And I think that this or King Arthur, which I've just finished, on paper they can look similar but the reality is you're giving completely different performances for a different character and for a different audience.

TeenHollywood: Can you talk a bit about King Arthur versus this film?

Hugh: "Arthur" is a very big film. There was no element of charm in my performance at all - no singing and dancing. But I suppose the similarities are that it was a re-working of an old genre, or in this case an old myth or an old legend. It's an attempt to tell the story of how that myth was born in the real world and obviously you're taking people's expectations and playing around with them.

TeenHollywood: How did Keira and Anne compare as leading ladies?

Hugh: Well, I got to know Anne a lot better obviously because we worked a lot more closely. I've not seen Keira do comedy like Anne does but that's just to compare them as actresses because as individuals they're both lovely.

TeenHollywood: How does your Galahad compare to other versions?

Hugh: Give me some other versions. I was working with a blank canvas. I will be the definitive Galahad for years to come!

TeenHollywood: Are you wearing armor in "Arthur"?

Hugh: In "Ella" it was more like leather pants and long boots. In King Arthur, the armor was very heavy but it's so brilliantly made that it's like wearing a suit that's been tailored for you. It's incredible how they do it.

TeenHollywood: Did you get any advice from the King Arthur producer, Jerry Bruckheimer?

Hugh: The way Jerry works is that he hand-picks everybody and he puts the whole thing together and he comes up with the concept, if you like, and then it's hands off because he's comfortable with what he's going to be getting. And then, this is what I've been told, he comes back in during the editing process and helps shape the film. I've worked on Black Hawk Down and King Arthur and they're both by far and away the biggest films I've ever had any experience on. There's no comparison, simple as that.

TeenHollywood: Are you concerned about the possibility of huge fame and how you would deal with that?

Hugh: I don't think it's something you really sit around and think about. It wouldn't make you a very, in my mind, attractive or interesting person if you made game plans for your sudden fame. If it happens as a result of something you're proud of then, fantastic, because at least when people come up and say, 'Oh I like this and that...' you can say with all honestly, 'good, I'm really glad' instead of gritting your teeth.

TeenHollywood: We understand that you're not hooked up at present. What do you look for in a girlfriend?

Hugh: Somebody that's challenging and can stand up for themselves. That's about it. I don't have any other factors.

TeenHollywood: What did you do in Ireland when not working on "Ella"?

Hugh: One of the most fantastic things about Ireland and Dublin is that the pubs are like Paris and the café culture and Dublin in many ways is a pub culture. So it was great. When we were filming "Ella" we'd all meet up and go round the town.

TeenHollywood: What's your daily life when you're not working?

Hugh: Mundane, in the extreme. I've not as yet found one hobby that would absorb me completely when I'm not working but I have just bought a new apartment and didn't quite bargain for the amount of effort and time and money that that absorbs.

TeenHollywood: Where?

Hugh: In London, Notting Hill Gate.

TeenHollywood: A bachelor pad?

Hugh: Well, I'm a bachelor and it's a pad. Two bedrooms.

TeenHollywood: What's the bravest thing you ever did?

Hugh: Good question. I think becoming an actor because it's a ridiculously insecure profession to go into. I feel very comfortable but very lucky. I think any time that you imagine that it's plain sailing for here on in, then you're kidding yourself.

TeenHollywood: Do you feel that Ella and your character Prince Char are good influences on each other?

Hugh: I think that's very true. I mean admittedly it's Ella ultimately who removes her own curse - but part of what helps her is her love for this guy and equally his growing attraction to the girl enables him - or she forces him rather - to go out and see things for himself and that's when he begins to adopt his responsibilities and throw off his malaise.

TeenHollywood: Are any of your family actors?

Hugh: My cousin has just started out but I'm not from a family of actors - a lot of doctors and a lot of teachers and academics. My father is a professor of philosophy.

TeenHollywood: Are they supportive?

Hugh: Very, because I think both of those other professions are things you only go into if you really care about them, so they understood that.

TeenHollywood: You have an unusual last name was that a curse growing up?I mean, you weren't called "Fancy" or anything?

Hugh: Not actually. One thing I do find is that the Americans pronounce my name more successfully that the English. 'Darncy', they say. I don't know why that is.

TeenHollywood: What do you like about the States?

Hugh: (grinning) The fact they pronounce my name correctly.

***

Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.