A Conversation with Alex Ferris

July 2, 9:21 PMEntertainment ExaminerMike Parker

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The Time Traveler's Wife's Alex Ferris.
Photo courtesy MLC PR

How many actors do you know that start off their career acting opposite a legend like Jon Voight? Okay, now, how many of those actors were seven years old at the time? Meet Alex Ferris.

Mike Parker – Most of the child actors I’ve interviewed got into the business because they had a family member who was already involved in the industry. That doesn’t seem to be the case with you.

Alex Ferris – No. It is kind of an interesting story about how I got into acting. I met a boy on the beach by complete chance. He did commercials for matchbox cars and he told me he got to keep the cars. I liked matchbox cars so I begged my mom to let me be an actor. That was really what got me interested.

Parker – You’ve been acting professionally now for around five years and you’ve already got credits in fifteen major motion pictures including “Five People You Meet in Heaven” with Jon Voight, “RV” with Robin Williams, “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and you’re in the upcoming film “The Time Traveler’s Wife” with Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. You’ve already got a resume that most actors would give their back teeth for. How do you manage to get so many great roles?

Alex – I think I get cast because I don’t get nervous in auditions and I remember my lines. Being able to remember my lines makes it a lot easier because it gives me more time to actually work on my acting.

Parker – A lot of young actors elect to homeschool or engage a tutor. I understand you attend a regular school. How is that working out for you?

Alex – Quite well. I’ve got nice teachers that work with me. Going to a regular school allows me to have a normal childhood. Acting is more of a hobby for me. Maybe someday I’ll have a career as an actor, but right now I just want to enjoy being a normal child.

Parker – So, you’re a soccer fan?

Alex – I love soccer. Most people around here play soccer, and when I was around six I really started to enjoy it. At first it was a lot of hard work, but once I got better at it I really started to like it.

Parker – How do you find the time to juggle school, acting, and just being a kid?

Alex – It is time consuming. It is hard to juggle them, but my teachers are great. They work with me to make up what I miss when I’m on the set. Sometimes I have to work through lunch and recess, but its worth it.

Parker – So, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Alex – An Investment banker. It’s odd, but my grandfather was into mutual funds and he taught me a lot about investing and it is really interesting. I just bought my first stock.

The Seven Questions

1. What’s your favorite sound?
Alex – The sound a golf ball makes when it is coming off of the wood.

2. What makes you happy?
Alex – I like adrenaline rushing things like roller coasters. Roller coasters make me happy.

3. What makes you angry?
Alex – When I’m in a group project and other people don’t do their work.

4. What is the secret of success?
Alex – Confidence. Definitely confidence.

5. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, living or dead, who would it be?
Alex – King Tutankhamen, because I am fascinated by ancient Egypt. But I would probably need a translator.

6. What is the epitaph that is written on your tombstone?
Alex – It would have to be something about philosophy. I’m not much of a poet.

7. When you get to heaven, what is the first thing you want to hear God say to you?
Alex – “I forgive you.” Nobody is perfect and I think it would be a great thing to hear that you were forgiven for all the things you did wrong.