Former in-demand child actor, tween heartthrob, and breakout star, Kevin Zegers knows what it’s like to be a big thing in Hollywood. In fact, by the ripe old age of 20, this precocious talent had already headlined his own popular kiddy franchise (the successful Air Bud series), starred in one of the most beloved remakes in recent years (Zach Snyder’s 2004 version of George A Romero’s zombie classic Dawn of The Dead) and amassed an impressive resume of TV and film appearances in both his native Canada and the US that rivals that of actors twice his age.
Yet instead of resting on his laurels, the handsome and talented star surprised even his most ardent of fans by turning in a heart-wrenchingly nuanced performance as a troubled young runaway opposite an Oscar-Nominated Felicity Huffman in 2004’s unforgettable Transamerica. Going head to head with the brilliant Huffman, Zegers earned himself a place at the top of hot young Hollywood, proving that he was an actor of considerable depth; one whose talents, though a long time in the making, had only begun to reach their full potential.
Yet just when it seemed that the rising adult star’s breakthrough performance would lead to roles in big-budget projects helmed by the likes of Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg (similar to that of fellow gifted former child star, Shia LeBeouf) Zegers surprised his fans once again by choosing the road less traveled. Instead of scrambling for the spotlight, he accepted meaty parts in smaller films, returned often to television, and somehow managed to fly just under the radar, even as he continued to turn in bold and fearless performances year after year.
After proving himself as a skilled and dedicated character actor, it appeared as if the versatile young man with the movie star looks might actually be able to remain fairly incognito, but that all changed when Gossip Girl producers became smitten with his undeniable charm and offered him a multi-episode arc on the popular CW teen series in 2009. Soon, a whole new crop of teenage girls were swooning over this intelligent heartthrob, and things haven’t calmed down since.
Cut to July 2013, and Mr. Zegers now has 6 films scheduled for release within the next year, including the much-anticipated cinematic version of the popular YA book series, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, opposite it-girl-of-the-moment, Lily Collins. In addition to his role in one of the buzziest films of the summer, he’s also wrapped All the Wrong Reasons, opposite Cory Monteith of Glee, as well as next year’s The Curse of Downers Grove, written by the always-controversial Bret Easton Ellis, and starring the gorgeous Bella Heathcoat. Clearly, all those years of hard work and dedication seem to have paid off, Mr. Zegers. We here at BNH feel that it’s time you stepped back into the spotlight.
Other, cool Kevin Zegers starers worthy of attention: TITANIC: BLOOD & STEEL (2012, TV mini-series aired on Encore, in the U.S.), GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR (2011, premiered on YouTube), THE COLONY (2013, thriller), FROZEN (2010, drama-thriller).