Ethan Peck Talks TV High School Life in ‘10 Things I Hate About You’

Stepping into the shoes of an already established character from a popular film may be a tough challenge for some young actors, but certainly not Ethan Peck who plays former Heath Ledger character, Patrick Verona in the new ABC Family adaptation series of 10 Things I Hate About You. Although the ease of stepping into the new 10 Things version of Patrick may be due to the fact that acting runs through Ethan’s veins since he’s the grandson of legendary actor, Gregory Peck, Ethan has been honing his acting skills since 1995 with appearances in such shows as Marshal Law, The Drew Carey Show, That 70s Show, and more throughout the years.

With the new ABC Family version of 10 Things I Hate About You already on the airwaves in its third week, Tuesdays at 8pm, also starring Lindsay Shaw and Meaghan Martin as new high school sisters, Kat and Bianca Stratford, we caught up with Ethan Peck to find out how 10 Things life feels on ABC Family, whether he had any worries about his new role given the legacy of Heath Ledger, and what it’s like to work with comedic vet Larry Miller who was in the original big screen version of 10 Things I Hate About You.

THE DEADBOLT: At any point did you have a worry or fear that fans of the film would compare you to Heath Ledger?

ETHAN PECK: No, I didn’t have any worries or fears because that fear really comes from people on the outside and the media, fans of film who are going to be ignorant and not open to the idea of a reimagining of the idea, when in fact the film was derived from Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew. So I wasn’t afraid and I wasn’t in any way trying to emulate what was originally done with Patrick. So really, it’s up to the fans in a lot of ways to be open and generous enough to all of us at ABC Family with 10 Things is to watch it as a new show, an original show, because it wouldn’t be fair to compare us to the original film, because, like I said before, the film was wonderful and I just hope that we can create a new piece of work that’s fresh and original and people will be intrigued by and be entertained by and by surprised by.

THE DEADBOLT: What’s it like to have Larry Miller on the series since he was in the film?

PECK: It’s great. Larry is so awesome. Unfortunately, I’ve only had brief moments with him in a scene this season because the relationship Kat and Patrick is building very slowly, which I think will attract viewers to the show even more so because they want to know what’s going on in the main romance in the show. So I actually meet Larry - Well, I actually can’t give it away, but Larry is incredible. As a human being, he’s just a wonderful, kind man, so generous. And whenever I have lunch with him I just sit next to him and pick his brain because we can just talk for a long time and he shares lots on insightful things with me.

Other Conference Call Highlights:

Ethan Peck on his most memorable moment filming so far:

“I think probably a scene we had, again I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say this, but there will be a scene on a roof exterior which was most memorable to me which you will see towards the end of the season between Kat and I. We were filming up in Santa Clarita and they build this structure outside of the stage. It was a beautiful night and it was during twilight in the night time and that was the most memorable for me.”

Peck on why viewers will want to take the time to tune into the show:

“I think people will want to take the time to tune into the show because it’s very well written. As I said before, I’m so privileged to be surrounded by an insanely talented cast. Everybody involved has only the best intentions in terms of treating us as professionals, and everybody else on the set as professionals, and entertaining the public and our viewers with something new and surprising and sysinced and precise. If you just tune in you’ll see.”

On when viewers will hear Patrick talk a little bit more on the show:

“ Patrick will be speaking more and more as the season progresses. I guess episode four is when he really starts to speak more. But throughout the first season he really is going to remain this myth in a lot of ways at Padua High and to Kat and to the audience and to me, Ethan Peck playing him, because we are still working him out and developing him as a character.”

Ethan Peck on where he drew inspiration from for playing Patrick:

“I draw my inspiration for the character from the day I had the audition. Actually I was having kind of an awful day and I went into the room with a lot of attitude, and I guess not so much fear as I sometimes have when I have an audition, because it can be scary. Something just clicked for me and Patrick Verona came forth and we sort of built from there. Really, Carter , who’s the creator and writer of the show and Gil Junger, the primary director of this first season, we really all work together and make this guy who he is. He’s very moody and mysterious and here and not here, if you know what I mean, with Kat especially. That’s sort of where he’s at right now.

Source- thedeadbolt.com