Showbiz Today Star of Tomorrow

George Eads of 'C.S.I.'


"I think in this business, the more you let it go the more it kind of seems to come back to you," George Eads says

By Lori Blackman
CNN Showbiz Today Reports

NEW YORK (CNN) -- George Eads plays the handsome young crime scene investigator Nick Stokes in the hit series "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation." As the series' star has risen -- it concluded the season in the Top 10 -- so has Eads'.

But don't think success has come easy for the 34-year-old actor. When he first came to Hollywood, life was a struggle. He was even passed over for a one-line television role.

CNN met up with this Showbiz Today Star of Tomorrow in New York's Central Park to talk about the highs and lows of his work.

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CNN's Lori Blackman talks to a star of 'CSI,' George Eads (May 23)

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CNN: Why do you think the show has struck such a chord with audiences?

George Eads: I think people like to solve puzzles. I think when they tune to the show ... they feel like they're really learning something. It seems like in this day and age, with computers, the TV's become more than just this "boob tube": people can tune in, learn something and have a good time.

CNN: When you got the call that the show was picked up one year ago, what was your initial reaction?

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Eads: Over the years I've gotten a little bit thick-skinned when it comes to the acting thing. ... You're almost like a carpenter (who) picks up his tools and goes to the next site after you do a job.

After we did the pilot, I went and did a movie with Gil Bellows and Jon Voight, (so) I had other things to worry about. I think in this business, the more you let it go the more it kind of seems to come back to you. I really didn't think about it much, but when it got picked up ... it's always exciting to know that you're going to be working on a steady gig for awhile.

CNN: Let's go back to before you had a steady gig. You moved to L.A. right after your first audition, for a small role on "Walker, Texas Ranger." A one-line gig that you didn't get.


"I love playing a character that's very brave," Eads says. "Someone that kind of dives in the fire to figure out what's happened"

Eads: That was a big deal. I'll break that one down for you. It was one line, and the casting director said, "OK, George, you can use the whole room." For what, I don't know.

But here it was -- ready?

(In character) "Walker, you've got to take a look at this." And cut, thank you. That was fabulous. I didn't get the part. I was so disappointed. I went home and napped all day.

CNN: Once you moved to L.A. you took some odd jobs.

Eads: Yeah, I worked at Gold's Gym. I figured if I had a job during the day, I wanted a job where I could at least exercise. But it wasn't as glamorous as being a recruiter for the club or anything where you sign people up and meet all the ladies. I was the guy that went around putting all the weights up and saying, "Excuse me, are you done with this?" Then you had to put it up.

I remember a time I was wiping down a bicycle machine, and I look at these legs and I went, "Man, this woman has really good looking legs." And I looked up and it was Minnie Driver. And I went, "What's up, Minnie Driver?" I'm cleaning off her sweat. My brush with fame, no big deal.

It seemed to me, when I was really struggling, that Hollywood was this big playground with a 12-foot-high brick wall around it. You could hear them having a great time in there -- you just weren't allowed to come in.

CNN: How much do you know actually about the forensics profession? Do you actually know the meaning of any of the scientific terms that you use?

Eads: See, this is the point in the interview where I actually start lying, tell you how smart I am, that I yoga, surf, and know karate ... but I won't go there.

... If there's a chemical or solution that we don't know how to pronounce, technical advisers will tell us the word, break it down, define it, show us how it's applied. Then we just get in the driver's seat and take it over from there. But, without them, we would be a little lost.

CNN: What has been the best part of doing this show for you?

Eads: I think getting the opportunity to play an adult. I seemed to be a pigeon-holed as kind of this hunk or "OK, I have this great movie for you with this great part, but you're going to play the boyfriend that's the jerk." So for me to get to play an adult, to get to play a young man that's very smart, very driven, mature, growing as a man, and takes responsibility for his actions ...

I think we take for granted police officers and detectives that walk into some pretty heinous situations and they really have to be very brave. So I love playing a character that's very brave -- someone that kind of dives in the fire to figure out what's happened.

CNN: What's been the most challenging part of this past year for you?

Eads: I think when the show started to become successful and we were shooting it and we knew people were watching. You wanted to continue and you were like, "Why does everyone like this show, and what have we done that has made them like it?" It was almost a challenge to continue to make it real and to continue to just be really grounded and to realize that it's just a job and we go in and we do it. There's no big hazards and no big egos to get involved.

Another challenge? Getting up at 6:30 in the morning to go act. It's not fun acting that early in the morning -- or acting at 4 a.m. in the middle of the night or in the morning and you're really tired. That's a challenge. (But) what a luxurious problem to have.

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