From Valley magazine June 2003
Showbiz 
Quick Takes


Happy At Work.

Robert Gant loves his job. In fact, as one of the stars of Showtime's "Queer as Folk," the handsome actor can't help but gush when talking about his role as Ben Bruckner on the successful show.

   
     "I love the choices that they are making," says Gant, referring to the show's writers and producers. "This is their baby. They care about it in a way that I haven't experienced before."
    
     Gant describes his character as a professor who's just as comfortable on the dance floor as he is in front of the classroom. As an actor who's been in mostly sitcoms (he played vice principal Calvin Krupps on the WB's "Popular" and had guest roles on such shows as "Friends," "Caroline in the City" and Veronica's Closet"), he's the first to admit that "Queer as Folk" is a whole new world for him.

     My character is going through a lot," he says. "He's very spiritual. There are a lot of issues we are confronting, like about what constitutes a family. And, they are just going for it. The scenes that we get to do are the sort of things you pick to do in acting classes. I'm proud to be a part of it."

     Since "Queer as Folk" films in Toronto, one thing Gant does miss is Los Angeles. After graduating from Georgetown Law School, the former Floridian headed to the City of Angels to take a job at a big law firm. When the firm closed its offices after four months, Gant took it as a sign that he should pursue his passion: acting. Today, he thinks of Los Angeles as his home, and says he misses hitting the gym, driving his convertible and hanging out with his friends when he's on location in Canada. "Los Angeles is a place a lot of people don't like," he admits. "But I have a real quality core group of friends, I have a regular gig, and I feel like I have security for the first time as an actor."
    
     In addition to acting, Gant is also working with a writing partner on three scripts, which he also hopes to produce. However, he doesn't plan to step behind the camera full-time any time soon. "I enjoy being an actor first," he says.