For Scott Speedman, ‘Felicity’ fame was a ‘culture shock.’ Now it works to his benefit

As a fan of both “Felicity” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” I must say it’s fascinating to witness Scott Speedman‘s journey from Ben Covington to his current roles. His ability to carry the weight of comparisons and still deliver captivating performances is truly commendable.

Scott Speedman has some experience navigating survival situations. Recently, he and his partner have welcomed their second baby into the world, which means he’s become an expert at functioning with minimal rest.

He mentions that his child doesn’t sleep at night, so he takes him for drives from around 12:30 AM to 2:30 AM. For the past 21 years, he has resided in Silver Lake. During his twenties and early thirties, he frequented all the bars and clubs in the area. Now, it’s amusing to him that he has a child in the back of the car while the clubs are closing, as he passes by places like the Cha Cha Lounge and numerous bars filled with young people, all while a soothing music mix is playing on Spotify.

Late-night rides with a restless baby certainly don’t compare to the challenge I face in my new TV character, “Teacup.” In this series, I carry the burden of not just saving my family and neighbors but potentially the entire human race from an enigmatic danger.

In this rephrased version: Speedman and Yvonne Strahovski play James and Maggie Chenoweth, a couple residing on a secluded ranch in Georgia, along with their teenage daughter Meryl and young son Arlo, as well as James’ mother Ellen. As the marriage of Maggie and James encounters turmoil, they face an even greater threat to their family when Arlo disappears into a forest nearby, followed by his chilling reappearance. Shortly after, a strange man wearing a gas mask appears, marking a blue boundary around the farm with spray paint, urging everyone within not to cross it or trust anyone.

Titled “Teacup,” this chilling television show, at first glance, seems rooted in horror. However, beneath the surface lies a deep exploration of family dynamics. Originating from Robert McCammon’s 1988 novel “Stinger” and helmed by debut showrunner Ian McCulloch, who has previously worked on shows like “Yellowstone,” it also boasts the expertise of horror maestro James Wan, known for productions such as “Insidious” and “Saw.” The series’ first two episodes are now streaming on Peacock, with new episodes airing every week until its climactic finale on Halloween. This production has already garnered a nod from renowned horror author Stephen King.

This premise invites questions like “What if?” For instance, how might Speedman react if someone in a gas mask appeared now and issued the same warning? We’re on the seventh floor of a recently refurbished building within the NBCUniversal complex in Universal City, which is roughly seven miles from his family and usual residence. Sitting across from a reporter who believes her adrenaline would make her surrender rather than respond, Speedman carefully examines the area to assess his choices, effectively dismissing any possibility of this fictional Los Angeles spinoff.

He jokes, “I’d be long gone,” referring to his actions that would have led him over the blue line first.

In a more serious tone, he mentions that scenes involving the Chenoweth children being in peril within “Teacup” proved to be more emotionally taxing during filming than anticipated. Despite his previous experience playing father roles, the intensity increased significantly following his transition into real-life parenthood.

Speaking now as a parent, he admits that he feels compelled to reconsider his past performances. Having children triggers a new instinct, a change in one’s thinking, and all that matters is ensuring their safety. Parenting can be terrifying; the closest analogy would be if you were shopping in a store, and for just two seconds, you lose sight of your child. What James experiences is a hundred times more intense. We had to plan complex scenarios, debate parental choices, and confront situations that are highly unlikely in real life. In a choice between hope and no hope, one always chooses hope.

Perched comfortably on a couch, I am Speedman, 49 years old, softly yet cheerfully speaking. These days, my only TV indulgence is “Peppa Pig,” all thanks to my nearly 3-year-old daughter, Pfeiffer, who has a charming British accent because of her. However, we try to limit her screen time. A casual remark about the current excitement among teen drama fans as they eagerly watch Josh Jackson, Adam Brody, and me return to their screens simultaneously, makes me raise an eyebrow in curiosity: “Is this ’90s nostalgia that intense?

After gaining fame as Ben Covington, the intense romantic lead from the ’90s teen drama “Felicity,” Speedman has chosen to move away from that character. He’s portrayed Michael Corvin, a hybrid of vampire and werewolf in the “Underworld” movies; Barry “Baz” Blackwall, a member of a troubled Southern California crime family, in “Animal Kingdom”; a U.S. navy officer in “Last Resort”; and Matthew Engler, a wealthy tech CEO investigating his wife’s death in “You.

Beyond my role in “Teacup,” I’m thrilled to share the screen with Jordana Brewster in the forthcoming thriller, “Cellar Door.” In this chilling tale, we portray a couple who move to the Portland suburbs, only to find that their dream home harbors more nightmares than dreams. Additionally, I’ll be returning as Dr. Nick Marsh, the transplant surgeon with a complex relationship with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), in several episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” this season.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve pondered over this matter profoundly, and I can assure you, there was no discernible influence or nudge that steered me towards this path in my formative years.

Speedman hails from London, but his family moved to a Toronto suburb when he was just four years old. His parents, who met at a track meet in Scotland while they were still teenagers (with my mom being more renowned as a runner at the time), had a strong athletic background. From an early age, Speedman developed a passion for swimming and attended Earl Haig High School, which catered to exceptionally talented athletes and artists. As a competitive swimmer, he performed well in the 1992 Olympic trials, but a neck injury at around age sixteen put an end to those aspirations.

He would have likely participated in the Olympics eight years later if he had continued, but that didn’t happen. Instead, going to school turned out to be a stroke of good fortune for him. Being surrounded by performers sparked his interest, and even today, he still craves the routine of regular training at the pool.

As a passionate moviegoer, I’d find myself drawn to watch those youngsters perform their one-act plays. Being quite reserved myself as a child, there was an irresistible allure that somehow drew me into the performance.

Initially, he started collaborating with an acting coach in Toronto. This sparked a deep fascination for films within him, and he swiftly transitioned into trying out for roles. He leveraged “Speaker’s Corner,” a video platform popular among Torontonians broadcast on MuchMusic (Canada’s MTV equivalent), as a stepping stone to catch the eye of the casting director for “Batman Forever.

He remembers that for a dollar, he could record himself talking about any topic at this booth. He mentioned that his friend was in town for casting calls. She noticed this and phoned his family home, inviting him for an audition. He had a few callbacks but, unfortunately, didn’t get the part (which eventually went to Chris O’Donnell).

Following a stint playing minor roles in Toronto, Speedman moved on to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse theater school in New York City, though he eventually left without graduating. During this period, he resided on his mother’s couch. One day, a casting director reached out after finding his name in a phone book. They offered him a TV script, but Speedman showed little enthusiasm for it. A Canadian agent, who learned that Speedman had declined an audition, encouraged him to reconsider. He submitted a video tape and was promptly cast for the role. The show was “Felicity.

Despite debuting prior to the widespread use of social media, Speedman notes that being involved with the WB circle during that time was incredibly dynamic.

He admits, “I found it hard to understand or relate to what that was all about.” The process was difficult. After submitting a video audition, he found himself filming the show only three days later. They provided him with an apartment and he had to attend school temporarily until his legal entry into the country was arranged. Being 22, the culture shock was intense. He thought he would just be acting in Toronto at that time.

Scott Speedman alongside Ellen Pompeo on “Grey’s Anatomy” (photograph by Liliane Lathan for ABC).

Over two decades after the final episode, it’s clear that people continue to associate him with that old image. As he puts it, “The person I am today is worlds apart from who I was back then.

However, it’s undeniable that his past character Ben Covington continues to influence his current performances, notably on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Finding a suitor for Meredith Grey capable of matching her legendary love, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), who passed away nearly a decade ago on ABC’s hit medical series, necessitated an actor with the presence of a leading man.

Meg Marinis, the current showrunner of “Grey’s Anatomy”, shares her enthusiasm: “From the get-go, I was firmly on Team Ben,” she says. “Ever since Derek’s character left us, we’ve been pondering who could rival Meredith and help her grow a bit more. When I learned that Scott had been chosen to play Nick, I thought, ‘This is it. We found him.’

As a newcomer on that show, I was met with plenty of comparisons and some folks just weren’t feeling it. It actually gave me a chuckle. Criticism doesn’t ruffle my feathers. You know what’s been liberating for me? Negative reviews! It might sound strange, but they help loosen up the tension a bit. Honestly, earlier in my career, such audience reactions could have sent me spiraling. But now, it’s like, ‘Yeah, Derek is amazing, but he’s gone forever. We can only bring him back so often in a dream.’

In the story “Teacup,” the “Felicity” card could potentially prove useful, since it’s revealed at the outset that Speedman’s character, who appears to be the main, paternal hero, has been unfaithful to his spouse.

In Speedman’s words, “The core theme of this tale revolves around my character’s distrust of others, stemming from his actions towards his family. However, as the assassin game unfolds, survival necessitates cooperation among us. What intrigued me most was delving into the complexities of familial relationships.

The showrunner of “Teacup”, McCulloch, discusses Speedman’s character, stating, “Speedman is swimming against the current in a fast-flowing river when it comes to audience empathy for his character. However, by the end of the season, he has an impressive redemption arc that resonated with him and me. The notion that characters must be likable can be tricky, but they’ve given him something more than just being a white knight. To make this story feel authentic and grounded in reality, we needed characters with real-world issues and flaws. Since his character has caused harm to others, it was fitting to have Scott Speedman portray him because of his undeniable handsomeness.

Speedman isn’t finished honing his creative abilities yet. Together with McCulloch, he has been working on a film script that they hope will come to life soon. For now, he’s eager to see the public reaction to “Teacup.” Additionally, he ponders how he himself would react if he were in James’ situation.

He expresses his belief in himself as a potential leader by saying, ‘I believe I’d step up when needed.’ He admits there might be uncertainty about whether he could truly lead or if he’s merely pretending. However, he hopes that in a crisis situation, he would rise to the occasion. Ultimately, he acknowledges that one can only prove their leadership abilities under real-life circumstances.

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2024-10-11 13:33