He’s hot, talented and comes complete with a charming, sexy accent. But Aiden Turner’s charm doesn’t stop there. He also possesses the skills of a successful chef (ah…every woman’s dream). This English bloke has only been living in the US’s New York City for a short while, but already he is turning heads and claiming the much deserved attention from TV, Advertiser and Celebrity mags.

Aiden’s background is in modeling and like many, it has lead him into the field of commercials and Television.

Melt: Bring us back to the beginning. What influenced you and how did you get into modeling?

Aiden: I finished college, and then I went to culinary school. I started DJ’ing around that time and from eighteen to twenty I worked as a chef, full-time, Monday to Friday.

After, I traveled all around the world, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Australia, Fiji. While I was in Australia, I was asked if I was interested in modeling. When I went back to England, I thought I would try my luck in the industry.

From there, I just got more and more work. The more I took care of myself, and the more that I went to the gym (of course), the more jobs I got. Then, I started getting called up for commercial auditions. That’s when I took acting classes to better my chances.

Melt: What kind of acting classes did you take?

Aiden: I studied at "The Method Studio" in London.

Every time I went in there, I became more confident in my thinking. I had to act in front of the camera, and give them what they wanted, really.

I also had a private coach once a week.

Melt: What was your first acting job?

Aiden: I did “Heartbreak High” when I was in Sydney. I got an ‘under five.’ Not an extra but you’ve got under five lines as opposed to the main actors. That was my first real acting job. It was a show I watched before I went out there, so I wanted to do it, and that was real fun.

Melt: Did you do anything else before you came to New York and got on “All My Children?”

Aiden: I was on “Eastenders.” (“Eastender’s is a British Soap Opera.)

To be honest, “Eastenders” is real. That’s how East End London lives. It’s bad. When I watch it, I get a bit depressed; watching other people’s problems and them arguing, and someone’s sleeping with their neighbor’s wife, and then fighting in the bar, it’s not glossy and it’s not really an escape.

Melt: What persuaded you to move to New York?

Aiden: (My girlfriend) was from America. I would visit her in Atlanta and she would visit me in Hertfordshire. I suggested the both of us move to New York. She could do her job, I could do mine. That worked out, and so we did.

Melt: What was it like when you first came to New York?

Aiden: I was trying to do the same thing when I came here, but September 11th happened. The jobs that were available, they used models they had used before.

I had a tough four months, from September to December. But in the middle of December I got lucky and got an Acuvue Contact Lenses commercial. Then I went to Australia to visit family and friends and I stumbled on a Diet Pepsi commercial.

I went for a casting of “All My Children” in February. ABC called me up and they wanted to do a screen test, and then I signed a contract.

Melt: Any funny “culture shock” stories for when you first came to America, or between you and your American girlfriend?

Aiden: Loads. And we’re still learning about them. When I say, I’ve changed “nappys” before. She says, “What? Oh, you mean a ‘diaper.’ There’s all those different expressions.

“Pants” is another one... I’m not just going to wear my pants (underwear), I need to wear some trousers.

Melt: Are you anything like your character on “All My Children?”

Aiden: I bring the best of me to the character. I’m a good person at heart, and I would look after people, and help people (the way he does).

He tries to take the law into his own hands, which is something I don’t really do. I don’t tie people up and threaten to kill them with a hammer. He’s a good guy who does bad things to bad people.

But he’s generous, kind, thoughtful, romantic, and charming. Those are the things that I believe I am, and that I bring to the character.

Melt: Was the first week at “All My Children” overwhelming?

Aiden: Overwhelming in a good way. I was taking everything in -- you would see me having so much fun, as well as trying to do the best job I can, as well as learning from all these other actors; meeting everybody, learning everybody’s names, what the process is, what the camera was doing, what my job was there, what I can say, what I can’t say.

I used to just say exactly what was written. It was a different culture. We speak the same language, but we say some things differently.

Now I change things around and I, now, know I’m allowed to do that. Whereas then, I would say everything as written. It stopped me from being myself and being more natural, because I was saying things in a different way (the American way versus the British way), and I’m not used to saying them. I would have to think about saying my words. Which is one of the things an actor shouldn’t do -- is think about what he’s saying, because in real life you react, you say what comes to your mind.

Melt: Do you want to be in feature films?

Aiden: I do. One of the big things I’m aspiring to do is be the next James Bond. I’d love to do that.

Melt: What advice would you give someone who wanted to follow their dream of becoming an actor/actress?

Aiden: Study, read, keep reading, and practice. Watch films, rewind, and practice your favorite scenes. Pick up books on different methods of acting. Become involved. The more involved you are, the more of a chance you have of becoming an actor.

Work in the industry. Get involved in the acting industry. And just keep trying towards it. It’s a hard thing to become an actor. 99% of actors are out of work. That’s a horrible statistic, so you’ve got to be better than the next bloke.

Live it, eat it, sleep it, keep at it. Sometimes it can take two years and sometimes it can take ten years. And you have to really be able to take rejection. It’s a mind-set, really.

Visit Aiden Turner at: www.aidenturner.com

© Melt Magazine 2003