In just one season, Austin Nichols’ Julian had quite the evolution on One Tree Hill. When he first showed up, fans worried he’d play homewrecker to Leyton’s finally-back-on relationship. Instead we ended up with perhaps the most dedicated boyfriend Sophia Bush’s Brooke has ever seen and a new leading man for the show’s seventh season.
TeenDramaWhore: What was your reaction when you found out you were being promoted to a series regular?
Austin Nichols: Fear. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t want to do it. The thing about a television series is that you have to have faith that the material is going to be good. Because all you know is episode 1. You have no idea what episode 2-22 will contain. But after many conversations with my captain Mark Schwahn, I felt better about signing up.
TDW: Why do you think the audience has taken such a liking to Brooke and Julian?
Nichols: Because when we look at each other, volcanoes erupt, the earth quakes, and glitter falls from the sky.
TDW: I know I was particularly touched by Julian’s closeness with Sam (Ashley Rickards). Do you want to see him and Brooke have a family?
Nichols: Children!!! Absolutely. I want a litter. A whole team of little Brookes and Julians. Twins. Black ones. White ones. Brown and yellow too. Remember the show, JUST THE TEN OF US? We are going to remake that show with Brooke and Julian and their 8 kids.
TDW: Is there any storyline you’d like to see Julian face?
Nichols: I would like to tackle marriage. The aforementioned children. And I want to see Julian make a movie. I think it would be outstanding to make a short film and release it on the internet. A film by Julian Baker. Or by Austin Nichols.
TDW: With the return of Julian’s dad [Episode 7.02, What Are You Willing To Lose], will we learn more about Julian’s past?
Nichols: Well, absolutely. The most brilliant thing they could do when writing the third INDIANA JONES: The Last Crusade, was introduce Indy’s father. That glimpse into Indy’s past and to see how his behavior changes around his dad is revelatory. A guy who could have any woman, any artifact, and defeat any foe, becomes a little boy in the presence of Sean Connery. Families with checkered pasts tend to spend the present repairing that damage.
TDW: What’s one thing that’s easy about working on a show like OTH and one thing that’s difficult?
Nichols: Easy: no traffic here. Hard: living without In-N-Out Burger.
TDW: You’re signed on to star in Pedestrian, which is being made by Hilarie Burton’s company, Southern Gothic Productions. What’s it like working with her in a non-OTH capacity?
Nichols: PEDESTRIAN is a great script. And Lincoln Booth is one of those characters that doesn’t come around all that often. Working with Hilarie is a piece of cake. She is sharp and quick and a great leader.
TDW: Tell me more about your character, Lincoln Booth. What attracted you to the role?
Nichols: I can’t really say anything about my character except that something deep inside me started to rumble when I read him. This is either a really good sign or a disaster. We shall see!!!! 🙂
TDW: You have a creative writing degree and were an avid water-skier growing up. Are these two things still a part of your life?
Nichols: I am constantly writing. Some ideas soar. And others crash. Right now, it’s a story of a young woman who finds herself pregnant with no money and no one to depend on. She moves out to the desert to start over. I occasionally jump on some skis and do a few flips. Don’t want to forget how. But my mom [Kay Nichols] just won her 15th national title, after beating cancer a few years back.
TDW: You also have a big interest in film. What’s one mainstream movie and one lesser-known movie you’ve seen recently?
Nichols: 500 Days of Summer is very creative. Right up my alley. Also, in the video store scene, they placed one of my DVDs right in the middle of the two actors. I was delighted. Haha!! Humpday was very interesting. Anvil! The Story Of Anvil is a brilliant rock doc. I enjoyed many parts of Inglourius Basterds. Christopher Waltz should have statues built in tribute to his performance.
TDW: Have you thought about getting an official Twitter account?
Nichols: Twitter? What’s twitter? Sounds like a term for a titty twister. 🙂
Be sure to come back next Sunday for another exclusive interview, this time in honor of Beverly Hills 90210’s 19th anniversary.
TeenDramaWhore 