The Freshman: Michael Pitt went from Hollywood Benchwarmer to Starting Player in just four hours.

Matt Springer

Hollywood is a place where dreams are crushed and fulfilled on a daily basis, a land of legend and myth. It's also a town full of paradoxes. For example, Steven Speilberg's films were worldwide blockbusters, and yet before Schindler''s List, he'd never won an Oscar. Game shows have been nearly dead for several years on the major networks, and yet Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has become a massive prime-time hit. For every action, there's an equal opposite - and often inexplicable - reaction. Here's another showbiz paradox to add to the pile: Michael Pitt has a supporting role on one of television's hottest shows, and yet he doesn't even own a TV. "I go upstairs to the people above me; I did go up there and watch it," says Pitt of his premiere episode, which he had to impose upon his neighbors to see. "They were busting on me; they said I ran like a girl. Actually, now they moved out so I don't know what I am gonna do."

You could probably blame Pitt's lack of boob tubeage on his general disdain for the west coast. A New York resident since age sixteen who was born in New Jersey (but is not a fan of either Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi), the Dawson's Creek star has only spent four hours in Los Angeles in his life - the four hours he spent auditioning for the show's producers. "I put myself on tape and sent it out there, and from the breakdown I thought it was two episodes or something like that," Pitt says. "Then they called me back with an offer, and they flew me out to L.A. and I read for them. They told me in the office that I got it."

Yet the time he's spent so far in Capeside as the awkward but sweet Henry Parker is transporting him into the sphere of young actors, just as appearing on Dawson's has done for his co-stars. Chalk that up as yet another showbusiness paradox; you don't have to love La-La Land to be considered successful there. "I hope I can stay [in New York]," he says. "L.A.'s really pretty; it's too pretty. It reminds me of a postcard. I went to In & Out Burger when I was there. It's a fast food restaurant they have on the coast and it's supposedly the best fast food restaurant. It was pretty good. They don't have it over here. It was a California treat. The burgers are big."

The character of Henry is a bit of a paradox himself.. Most of the teenagers on Dawson's Creek think they know everything about life. The characters boldly barge into every situation as though they have all the answers ready, and usually realize too late that their expectations are hopelessly inaccurate. Henry's a different sort of teenager. He's painfully aware that he's not experienced enough to snag Jen's affections, and tortures himself because of his ineptitude of romance. If he releaxed and acted naturally, he might have a shot at the girl of his dreams, but he can't shake his tied tongue and sweaty palms whenever she appears. Ironically, it's his own nerves that make him even more nervous and force him into fumbling through romantic situations.

For his part, Pitt's favorite Henry moment so far has focused on the character's bumbling nature, another stereotypical part of adolescent growth that other Capeside teens seem to have avoided. "It was funny when he falls off the roof, and he's entangled in Christmas lights," says Pitt. But, with a typical teenage bravado, he was itching to try the fall himself and storm into a potentially dangerous situation, kept away from the stunt by only crewmembers. "They wouldn't let me jump it, because it was really high, so they let the stuntman do it. I begged to do it, but they wouldn't let me."

Considering that Pitt's only previous acting experience before Dawson's Creek had been in New York stage productions, his appearance on the show has blessed his career with an amazing opportunity and educational experience. He took acting classes at age 14 and was appearing in a play when he was asked by Dawson's producers to audition for the Henry role. Such a baptism by fire - moving from live theater to series television at the ripe young age of eighteen - has taught him plenty about what it takes to be a professional actor. "Hit my mark," he says, relating the lessons learned so far in working on Dawson's Creek. "Don't trip over sandbags. Keep your chin up. I think I'm learning more about how the business works, more than anything."

Pitt will also be learning about the intense adoration process of his teenage fans, who no doubt have already erected shrines in their bedrooms and on the internet for the young thespian. Like his fellow Dawson's Creek cast members, he's sure to become a staple of teen magazine pin-up pages, but he's not sure if he's ready yet for such close scrutiny. "I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know," he says before breaking out into laughter. "It's not really something that I focus on. I want people to take me seriously." Aside from the learning opportunities in working on Dawson's Creek, the gig has also given Pitt a chance to enjoy a more relaxing atmosphere in Wilmington, NC, than that of fast-paced New York City. "It's a little surreal, but it's cool," he says. "It's in the middle of nowehere. It's really fun; it's this cute little towm. It's a bit of culture shock from New York, but I am excited to go back. When you're not working down there, you're isolated from the hype of the show, which is cool. It's just about working."

Pitt hopes to parlay his Dawson's Creek appearance into film work as opposed to continuing in the world of television. At the top of his dream list of top collaborators is director Gus Van Sant, one of his all-time favorites, and he would probably wouldn't turn down the role of Anakin Skywalker in the next Star Wars prequel if it were offered. (Are you listening, George?) A career path charted toward film might take better advantage of his method acting approach to the profession than ongoing television roles. "You walk in, one day you're a schizophrenic," he says of his personal acting philosophy. "It's kinda like therapy. It's something that I've always wanted to do. I've always enjoyed figuring out characters and experimenting. Then when I realized I could do it as a professional, it was like, 'Wow.' I feel so lucky and grateful for that."

For a method-style actor, it's surprising to hear that Pitt isn't the brilliant football field general that his character in Capeside has become over the course of the season. "It's not easy. I've never been all that athletic - well, football athletic," he confesses. "They keep the camera frame pretty tight on me. I was the kid under the bleachers in school." He's not a football player, but he plays one on TV. Just another paradox from the land of make-believe.