McKidd plays a doctor on TV
Could there be another McDreamy or McSteamy in the making?
Scottish actor Kevin McKidd, 35, plays Owen Hunt, the love interest of Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” “His character is an old-fashioned tortured hero,” says series creator Shonda Rhimes. “I call him Heathcliff when we’re talking about him in the writers’ room.
“This season, all the way around, is our no-holds-barred season. We’re not holding anything back. Owen Hunt is definitely a part of that.”
We caught up with the actor on a break from taping an upcoming episode.
Q. How did the “Grey’s” offer come together?
A. I was doing a movie off and on for three months (overseas), and it was my son’s birthday, and I’m hardly ever in the same country on my son’s birthday, so I managed to land back (in L.A.) around 2 p.m. on his birthday. I promised him, “I’m going to be there on your eighth birthday.” Then I got a call from my agent, saying, “You have to turn back around because Shonda wants to meet you for this role on ‘Grey’s.’ ”
I was like, “I’d love to meet her, but I can’t. Can we do tomorrow?” And they’re family-friendly, so they were really understanding.
Q. One thing that stands out about your character is that he’s not just a pretty boy.
A. As soon as I heard the pitch for the character, I was sold on it. It’s a different energy and a different viewpoint. I thought it was an important story to tell, especially on a prime-time TV show. To get in there and get your hands dirty and explore what trauma surgery is like in war zones and what it’s like to rehabilitate yourself to civilian life it’s not just a new doctor showing up. It’s exploring how hard it is to reintegrate yourself back into the real world after being in the war zone for three tours.
Q. He’s hard-core and the antithesis of the other males on the show.
A. I think the thing about Owen that is different is that he kind of doesn’t care what anybody thinks of him. He has seen really terrible trauma over and over again.
Q. How’s it been on set so far?
A. I was slightly nervous, thinking, “Are they going to like me?” But everyone has been super, super cool.
Q. Sandra Oh’s character is tough as nails, yet your character seems as if he’s going to be the guy to come in and settle her down.
A. That seems to be the dynamic, yes. … He helps to teach her that it’s not all about getting one up on everyone else.
The birthday bunch
Actor Russell Johnson (“Gilligan’s Island”) is 84. Country singer Donna Fargo is 67. Actress-dancer Ann Reinking is 59. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 52. Actress Mackenzie Phillips (“One Day At A Time”) is 49.