Zachary Quinto on being Mr Spock
stereotyping, despite the fact he is getting his major film break in the same genre that gave him his television one.
“I wasn’t surprised that 40 years into all of this those would be his first words (to me). You can really see the way in which this character shaped Leonard’s life and affected his experience.
“We live in different times now. I think people’s attention spans have diminished greatly and the notion of being inextricably associated with someone you play seems to be less of a phenomenon. Also there is less stigma attached to sci-fi.
“But as far as I can see I don’t think Leonard’s a person who lives with many regrets. He has found diversity in other ways, as a writer, as a director, as a photographer. He has got one of the most impressive art collections I have ever seen in his house.
“I don’t think he has ever held onto anything so tightly it generated a sense of resentment.”
Quinto’s sinister turn as the super-power sucking killer Sylar in Heroes has made him famous and the almost inevitable success of Star Trek should raise his profile even higher.
But stardom has come only after years of slog in the bit-part trenches, boosted by repeat roles in series such as 24 and So NoTORIous.
He has acted in theatre since he was 10 and attended Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama where he won the Gene Kelly award.
After that he moved to Los Angeles where he started waiting tables.
“I had a tough couple of years then I started getting work, Work begets work and then I quit waiting tables. I was like an eight-year overnight success story.
“I feel like I am in a position now where I am trying to be open to all the possibilities that are presenting themselves. The career I want is one of longevity and diversity, hopefully this is a platform to let me do that.”
Disappointingly for some of the more scurrilous tabloids, Quinto seems too serious and measured to really lose himself to fame and the attention that comes with it.
Shaving his eyebrows is as close to Britney-like behaviour as he is going to get.
“I’m very much a homebody, very friend-centric. I have a tremendous group of friends that I have known for years and with whom I spend the majority of my time.
“I’d much rather go to a dinner party than a club, so now I just look forward to more dinner parties. If only I could cook...”
