Chris Evans Takes to the Streets

In his new, cop thriller Street Kings, hot Chris Evans takes on realistic action he never faced as Johnny Storm The Human Torch in Fantastic Four. When confronted by the bad guys, he can't fly away or "flame on". Instead, the actor faced reality head-on in police ride-alongs and training sessions while preparing for his role. Playing a rookie officer teaming with seasoned rogue Keanu Reeves to bust a dirty cop ring, Chris learned that his acting style contrasted with Reeves' more introspective methods but the two got along great. Chris was a fan of Keanu's as far back as the comic Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure so there was a little fan awe involved initially.

We chatted with the cute actor in Beverly Hills and he was casual chic in black pants and white tee topped with a dark blue Western shirt. A pile of leather bracelets finished the look. We asked what it was like working with Keanu and got the scoop on Chris's many upcoming projects that include a sci-fi thriller and a classic Tennessee Williams play brought to film. We noted a little beard action...

TeenHollywood: Is the facial fur for a role or just for you?

Chris: No. [rubbing his face] I just hate shaving.

TeenHollywood: Did you know that, after his tough day on set, your co-star Common went home and watched Fantastic Four?

Chris: [laughs] ...and said, 'what am I doing in a movie with this guy?'

TeenHollywood: He said he wanted to support you after what he does to you in the film.

Chris: That's very kind. Well, I went out and bought a Common album.

TeenHollywood: There is a load of shootin' going on in this film. Were you used to doing that in a movie?

Chris: I went out to do the gun range stuff. Keanu and I went with David [Ayer, director] to this gun range and fired off a few rounds and I had never fired a gun before so it was crazy.

TeenHollywood: What did you like most about your character?

Chris: A lot of things. David is so wonderful in the sense that he loves to make a lot of backstory and trying to figure out who Diskant [his character] was was really fun. I think Diskant's a guy whose older brother was probably a golden boy; probably valedictorian, quarterback, charming with the ladies, object of his parents' affection. I think he's lived in his shadow for a lot of his life and has something to prove so becoming a cop just felt like a clean, pure, earnest way to be the best he can be free of judgment. I think he had this chip on his shoulder with something to prove.

TeenHollywood: You've played a lot of roles where you use humor to deflect some of the drama. Do you have to resist the temptation to do that in a more serious movie like this?

Chris: No. I actually like drama. I think it's great. Let's just say, humor oftentimes deflects it. I think it's nice kind of sitting in it and soaking it in even if it's awkward sometimes. It feels good. That's the fun of acting.

TeenHollywood: Were you a Matrix fan when you were like 11 or something?

Chris: [laughs] I was a 'Bill and Ted's' fan. It goes way back so just even seein' Keanu, I was like [acting shy] 'oh...hi...'

TeenHollywood: We were told that a lot of the guys who came in for the part were so overwhelmed doing the audition scenes with him that they couldn't stand up to him. How did you get past that and audition so well?

Chris: I don't know. That's a good question. When you stand up to Keanu you almost feel that he might knock you out. He's an intense guy, not just as an actor, in life. I don't know. I was on auto-pilot the whole audition. I was so nervous. I actually wasn't sure how the audition went when I left. I was like, 'I hope that was okay'. For that exact reason you have to be able to hold your own. I don't know. I just got lucky.

TeenHollywood: What was the dynamic like between you and Keanu? Did you two sit down beforehand and talk about your characters or what?

Chris: We did a lot of rehearsal which is great. I love rehearsal and it was a blessing that Keanu felt the same. Sometimes you work on films where actors and directors don't really care for rehearsal. I need it. It was wonderful that Keanu and David were both interested [in it]. We literally, the first day, sat down at David's house and went through every single scene, every single line. There's not one bit of it that wasn't thought out, which was great.

TeenHollywood: Was your audition scene with Keanu the one when you guys first meet?

Chris: Yeah. There was the scene where we first meet and there was a scene in the gun shed in the end and another scene in the middle, I think where we're driving. It was good and Keanu's great. Those auditions are always so nerve-wracking especially when you're going to meet a guy that's already in it and you know that Keanu obviously has a say in the process. You wanna not just have good chemistry but you want to get along.

TeenHollywood: Can you talk about working with Keanu after getting the role?

Chris: Sure. He's an intense dude. There's no denying it. It's nice coming to work with someone who, when they're at work, they're working. I guess everyone gets down their own way and has their own approach to acting but I've been on sets with people who are cracking jokes and fooling around with the camera crew and 'action!' and they go [he indicates someone getting serious really fast]. They can still do amazing things but I just like when you're on set, make sure your head's ready. Make sure you're in the right place. When you go home, you go home but you're here now, be here.

TeenHollywood: So, Keanu was very serious about the part?

Chris: Keanu was always present and he's very uncompromising. A lot of times, especially with this group of people, you've got comedians and rappers and it's very easy to like.....[goof off?]. He is who he is. You can't change him. He's uncompromising. I don't think a lot of people can say that about themselves. I know I can't. I get around Cedric [the Entertainer who is in the movie] and I'm like 'oh, maybe I'm a comedian too!' [laughter] And I start making horrible jokes. Keanu doesn't. He's just Keanu and it's infectious. It's an attractive quality to be who you are at all times.

TeenHollywood: Did you research by talking to any of the real L.A.P.D. officers and go on ride-alongs?

Chris: Yeah I went on ride-alongs.

TeenHollywood: What's the most important thing you learned from them?

Chris: That cops hate dirty cops. It was nice. I guess I just assumed that corruption was something that was not talked about but was everywhere. On the contrary. Every cop that I spoke to on set or on my ride-along, they just hate dirty cops. They hate 'um. So, that was refreshing. It was unexpected.

TeenHollywood: Did you base any aspect of your character on any of these officers that you talked to?

Chris: No. I'll usually base characters on people I know really well. I'll just take someone from my life that I really feel like I have a handle on who they are and where they came from and use them as my anchor. It's much easier than trying to create a whole, entirely different person. I have an easier time saying 'all right. This guy's gonna be my father. I'm just gonna play my father' then I just have a whole well of knowledge. I know so much about this guy. Then, at least I have an anchor that will provide me truth. Because, otherwise, it's very easy to slip into auto-pilot and, before you know it, the performance becomes kind of contrived.

TeenHollywood: We hear the days on this shoot were pretty endless. Was it hard?

Chris: Well, I had this schedule where I worked a day, had a week off, worked a day, had a week off and I'd show up and everyone is groaning and moaning and I'm like 'yeah' [crosses arms and looks worried]. [laughter] I really got lucky on this one but then Louisiana and Hong Kong, [for his upcoming films] those were some rough days but this one was a really nice job for me. It was a lot of fun.

TeenHollywood: Lets talk about your other projects. Can you talk a bit about who you play in Push?

Chris: Sure. I play this ex-pat who is hiding out in Hong Kong. It's a group of people who all have special abilities. My guy is telekinetic. His parents have been killed and he's kind of rejected the world, kind of washed his hands of everybody. There's this branch of the government called 'Division' who are out to find these people with these powers and tame them. There is one girl, played by Camilla Bell, who has exceptionally powerful and Division is hunting for her and she's hiding in Hong Kong and Dakota Fanning is clairvoyant. She comes to me and tells me 'if we don't help find this girl, we die'. It's Science Fiction/action.

TeenHollywood: Sounds more gritty and real than Fantastic Four.

Chris: Yeah. It's not a superhero thing but inevitably, if people are moving objects with their minds so there are powers involved. It kind of has the feel of 'Heroes' to it but the way it's shot by director Paul McGuigan, it's got a very grainy, real look to it so it's not so heavily relying on special effects. If I was going to move a glass, as opposed to throwing it to CGI, we'd build a rig so we can really see things happen [on set] and hopefully, that will actually pay off and look much more authentic than the bigger budgeted special effects things would. Fantastic Four is very glossy, very shiny, bright and colorful. Push is very toned down, lots of blues and greens and browns and grays.

TeenHollywood: Think there will be another Fantastic Four?

Chris: I don't think so. I think if there would have been, we would have heard about it by now. I'm not chomping at the bit to jump back into the tights [laughter]. If they don't want to make one I'll probably be okay with walking away.

TeenHollywood: What about Loss of a Teardrop Diamond? That's a Tennessee Williams story I'm not familiar with.

Chris: I know. It's amazing. No one is. I have friends who are Tennessee Williams nuts and they've never heard of it. It's a screenplay he wrote. It wasn't a play. It was one of the only things he's written that hasn't been turned into a film yet so it was really exciting for all of us who are theater fans. I shot that after this and before Hong Kong. It's Bryce Dallas Howard, Ellen Burstyn, Ann Margret, some really, really talented actresses.

TeenHollywood: And what's the story in that one?

Chris: Bryce Dallas Howard plays this Southern debutante in the '20's. She's very spoiled, very arrogant and very ostentatious. She has to be escorted to these debutante balls and none of the guys will take her. She kind of employs my services. I'm this poor farm hand. My father's a drunk and my mother is committed. He probably remembers a time when he was at these parties, when people were shaking his father's hand. He probably remembers wearing nice clothing and eating good meals. Now he's kind of humiliated and he's escorting this girl around.

TeenHollywood: And she has to fall for him, right?

Chris: She ends up falling for him [big grin].

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