Things We Love about Ethan Peck!

Humm, he's tall (6'1"), dark and handsome. He's friendly, he's bright, he plays the cello and likes romantic dinners. What's not to like? Ethan, the 23-year-old grandson of legendary actor Gregory Peck, stars as Patrick Verona, the resident bad boy in the ABC Family series "10 Things I Hate About You" based upon the movie with Julia Styles and the late Heath Ledger which.... was based upon Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". Whew!

Anyway, Patrick is caught between two vastly different sisters Kat (played by Lindsey Shaw) and Bianca (Meaghan Jette Martin) who would both like to make their mark in high school. We cornered this tall drink of water recently in Pasadena and pulled him aside for a chat. Picture adorable Ethan in checked lumberjack shirt and jeans....

TeenTelevision: Did you watch the Heath Ledger performance of your character from the movie?

Ethan: Yes, I had seen it about ten years prior to the first audition. I was about 13 then. So I guess I wasn't directly inspired by that because I couldn't even remember that he was attached to the original project when I first went out for it. But, when I was cast, I did go back and look at it just to see what he had done.

TeenTelevision: Kat on the show is pretty feisty but attracted to you. Do you personally want to pursue women who don't want to have anything to do with you or go for the sure things?

Ethan: It depends. I don't take too many risks. I'm pretty strategized and thought out in life.

TeenTelevision: Where would you take a girl for an ideal date?

Ethan: I haven't been on a date in a while (we find this hard to believe). But probably a low-key dinner, nothing too fancy, just something we can both enjoy and we can talk and have drinks, maybe if she would like to get drinks. Just a nice night of intimacy and getting to know each other.

TeenTelevision: Sounds great. Did you have a high school experience or were you home-schooled?

Ethan: I went to Harvard Westlake High School in the valley (L.A.).

TeenTelevision: Did you come in contact there with anybody like your character Patrick Verona?

Ethan: No. Not so much. I haven't really come into contact with anybody like Patrick Verona before; motorcycle bad boy. I know he was out there but I was on the private school circuit. Those kids are a little more refined I guess.

TeenTelevision: What were you like in school then?

Ethan: I wasn't the homecoming king or the study nerd. I got along with everybody but I didn't really fit into any particular clique or group. I didn't identify myself with any type of category. I sort of floated around. I was kind of a dork I guess.

TeenTelevision: What kinds of music are you into?

Ethan: I've been listening to Grizzly Bears' album "Veckatimest". It's very original. It's got a very beautiful sad but 'in love' sound. I think it's good for someone my age. I listen every time I'm in my apartment alone or when I have people over, whenever I can.

TeenTelevision: Do you play an instrument?

Ethan: I play the cello. I've played with a symphony.

TeenTelevision: Wow. So, you are that very charming classy guy type?

Ethan: (laughs) Well, I'm charmed if you say so.

TeenTelevision: If you could be a superhero, who would you be?

Ethan: Oooo, I'm a real dork for a superhero. I really like Colossus from the X-Men. He's got like one great skill (he can transmute his body in solid steel). But he's got vulnerability. I think if you only have one thing, you get stronger in the ungifted areas. He can look human and he's vulnerable.

TeenTelevision: What advice would you give to a guy your age?

Ethan: I wouldn't really know but I would say be careful, listen closely, be honest. Don't try to be somebody you're not or do something just because you think you should. If you do that, you can probably be set up with the right significant other.

TeenTelevision: And why would teens really enjoy watching "10 Things I Hate About You"?

Ethan: It's really well-written. It's really funny and the characters are charming and wonderful and the actors I've been working with are incredible. For what it is, it's striking, I think.