Hot new hunk plays it cool

HOLLYWOOD'S newest hottest hunk says he became an actor because "he likes hanging around with cool people".

The 22-year-old Canadian may have been joking when he said it, but it certainly seems to be working out that way.

Kevin Zegers can currently be seen on screen with Tim Allen and Courteney Cox in Zoom and his latest movie role, the gender switch comedy It's a Boy/Girl Thing, saw him rub shoulders with Elton John, whose company produced the film.

According to Kevin, Elton took his responsibilities very seriously. He even let the cast stay at his house while they were filming.

"It's not a house, let's be honest. It's a palace," says Kevin in admiration. "But we stayed there because it's five minutes from the set. He's quite involved. He looks at dailies. He's on the set every day. He was very kind to me. It was very comfortable there."

In the movie Kevin plays Woody, a high school jock who switches bodies with the school swot, played by Samaire Armstrong.

Naturally they discover new insights into each other's lives and fall in love.

Part of Kevin could relate to the role he plays in the film, since he is a keen athlete.

He's one of the stalwarts of the celebrity hockey team run by action producer and hockey fanatic Jerry Bruckheimer, plus he plays golf and American football.

BUT he says he could relate to the feminine side of his nature that he had to show in this film. "I have 15 pairs of jeans and 30 pairs of shoes.

"I am totally metrosexual," he says.

It's a Boy/Girl Thing is his first release since his breakout role in last year's Transamerica. Prior to that Kevin had been best known for his role in the Air Bud series.

Remarkably there have been seven films about the golden retriever who becomes a Frisbee champion. Kevin appeared in four but decided enough was enough.

"I just didn't want to do another animal movie," he says. "Transamerica was the first film where I was really able to put 100% of myself into my work.

"The role enabled me to finally be seen as an adult actor and break away from the stereotype that had been created for young actors."

That stereotype had seen him get caught up in the whirl of photo opportunities, showbiz parties, and celebrity premieres.

However working with Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman, who was Oscar-nominated for her work on Transamerica, convinced him there was more to his industry than just being temporarily famous.

"She works really hard," he says. "Getting to watch her up close was great for me - I take acting more seriously now."

Also helping him take things seriously is his girlfriend, Boston Legal star Marisa Coughlan.

That's been the case since they met when neither was in a position to take themselves too seriously.

"A friend of ours set us up at a Hallowe'en party," he says. "I came dressed as a painting and Marisa showed up in a cowgirl costume."

The next 18 months or so should be busy for Kevin. He has a bunch of roles lined up that will see him act opposite talent as diverse as Martin Landau, Maria Bello, Lynn Redgrave and Pierce Brosnan.

But he is convinced that he is now in the business for the long haul.

"I worked a lot when I was a kid. I did 25 movies before I was 16," he says. "So, I got to a point where I said, I don't really like doing mediocre movies anymore.' I don't enjoy mediocre film. I don't like watching it, hearing about it or being associated with it.

"I decided if I was going to keep doing this, I was going to attempt doing good stuff. I want the films I do to require people to form an opinion."

n It's a Boy/Girl Thing (12A) and Zoom (PG) are currently on release.