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ARTICLES - "The Spy Who Loves Her"

The Spy Who Loves Herby unknown
TV and Satellite Week, March, 2002

Playing Sydney Bristow's CIA boss, Michael Vartan is thrilled to have an extra-special agent on his hands

Something has come over Michael Vartan since he entered the spy game for Sky One's high octane series, Alias. "I go to work at four in the morning whistling," admits the normally nonchalant actor. "All my friends are in shock because I've never in my life been so enthusiastic about anything I've done before."

Vartan has good reason to be so chipper. After only six months, Alias has made a big impact on TV critics in the States and, crucially, scored impressive ratings among the advertiser-friendly 18-49 age group. What's more, as CIA handler Michael Vaughn, he gets to carry a gun and work with Golden Globe winner Jennifer Garner, a co-star he clearly adores. "She's truly one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth, goofy, ridiculous, practical joke playing, hilarious people I've ever met in my life," says Vartan, who has shared the screen with Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed, Madonna in The Next Best Thing and Calista Flockhart in two episodes of Ally Mcbeal. "It's impossible not to have chemistry with her."

That's just as well, considering his character Vaughn carries a torch for Garner's double agent Sydney Bristow. "He's obviously had a thing for her from the get-go." Vartan confirms. And in this week's festive episode, he offeres a glimpse of his true feelings when he surprises Sydney with a Christmas gift, crossing a fine line in their already risky relationship. Built on a mutual desire to bring down SD-6, the rogue agency responsible for the murder of Syd's husband-to-be--their dangerous liaison could soon self-destruct. "There was this scene where she holds my hand because she was in a time of need. I was like , Ooh, it's too soon, her fiance's just died, My god! I have to remind myself that this isn't real life!" In real life, the self-confessed sports fanatic was set to become a professional footballer, until a back injury put him out of action. Dividing his childhood between his father's natice France and his mother's American homeland, he was selected to play for Paris St-Germain's youth squad and had a promising career ahead of him. "I know I was good enough," He muses. "There are days when I'll wake up in a cold sweat thinking, "What have I done with my life? Have I missed my calling?" Forced to follow his dream from the sidelines- where he supports Newcastle United, the team of his stepfather. The Likely Lads co-creator Ian La Frenais-- he took up acting.

But the rising star still seems reluctant to embrace the trappings of his new-success and celebrity, "I'm not really interested in being famous," says the self-effacing 33-year-old. "I love my show and I'm very content going to work every day with my CIA opps. And if I'm asked to be in a movie with Julia Roberts over the summer, playing a baseball or soccer player, that would be kind of cool.

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