Series: "How do you spend your spare time between two episodes of the series?"
Tom: "I dont have really a Stars life. I devote time to my wife, Jamie, and I go for a drink from time to time with friends. Many series are shot in Vancouver, and thus I have the opportunity to hang out with pals there quite regularly. I made Jensen Ackles acquaintance when he played the role of Jason Teague in season 4. Now, he plays in Supernatural in Vancouver. Michael (Rosenbaum) and I often go on the set of this series. Michael, Jensen, Jared (Padalecki, his partner in Supernatural) and I play golf together and we often meet to drink a beer after work. Its pretty cool, but we nevertheless find the way to make small jokes to each other to break the monotony."
Series: "Which kind (of jokes/pranks)"?
Tom: "One day when I got off early, I went to pay Jensen and Jared a visit on their set. But, as they were late, I settled in the backseat of the car which they use all the time in the series. We shouldnt be on set before the beginning of the shooting of a scene, but most of the crew of Supernatural had worked on Smallville, and they know me. So they let me go there. When Jared and Jensen arrived on the set, they were really late and they quickly sat down in the front seat of the car. I was hidden in the backseat and they didnt see me. One second later, I abruptly clutched Jensen by the shoulders and I frightened him (laughs). I drew him backwards and, as he didnt understand what occurred, he started hitting me before he realized that it was me!"
Series: "Do you still enjoy being in Vancouver?"
Tom: "Yes, its a very pleasant city. Nature is preserved there. And even better, we are far from all the hubbub of Hollywood. The fans are also very discrete. Sometimes of course, someone asks me for an autograph, but people are polite and dont badger you. The only problem is the weather. It rains very much in Vancouver. Often, the rain is not seen on screen, but believe me we often shoot under the rain."
Series: "Do you think that the sixth season (of Smallville)will be the last one?"
Tom: "I dont know. We have just learned that the series was renewed and will now be aired on the CW, the new station created by the merge between the WB and UPN. This is very good news. For the rest, I dont know. I signed a six year contract, and afterwards, well have to see if the public wants to see a seventh season."
Series: "What will you do, once the series is finally finished?"
Tom: "Take long vacations, and then devote myself to the cinema."
Series: "Your look is very different today (Tom has got pretty long hair and a bushy beard). Will Clark have a new style in season 6?"
Tom: "No, I dont think so. (laughs). My look in the series is completely due to the hairdressers and the stylists of Smallville. But right now, since were not shooting, its me in real life. As you can note, its completely different. I am different than Clark."
Series: "You appeared with Maggie Grace in The Fog. How was your collaboration with her for that film?"
Tom: "Maggie was great on the set. I complained sometimes about the schedule because I was shooting the movie and Smallville at the same time. I didnt have a lot of time to sleep with these two combined shootings. But she really put me to shame, because she was shooting The Fog and also shooting Lost in Hawaii!! When I realised that she often made round-trip in the same day, I ceased complaining. Maggie was always in a good mood. I never heard her complain."
Series: "You directed an episode of the series (Fragile) this season. Do you think you will also be directing next year?"
Tom: "I would really like to direct an episode of the series again, especially if its the last episode of the series. I hope to have proven myself to the producers now. I enjoyed directing the actors and to be able to provide input regarding the camera angles, and the effects which I wanted to see on screen. Its really an experience which I hope to be able to do again. In the future, I hope I get to spend more time directing, behind the camera. But I dont have yet any concrete project for the moment."
Series: "Are you amazed by your success as an actor?"
Tom: "Yes. I sometimes have difficulty believing it. But Im not the one responsible for the success of Smallville. Its a true effort of a group, we have a great cast, and good scripts. I would not be where I am, if I didnt have excellent partners on screen."
