Jay Baruchel

July 3, 2010 by Kimmie Mendonca
Filed under Actors 2Watch4

Jay Baruchel The awkward, adorable, silly-funny guy is epitomized by Jay Barachel. At least on screen he is. Jay has played that cute, sweet, uncomfortable fella in numerous films, including the Judd Apatow directed Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder and I’m Reed Fish. Jay also lent his memorable voice to the lead character, Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon. Most recently Jay took on a starring role as Kirk in She’s Out of My League in which he was able to demonstrate his ability to take on a lead romantic role by using his charm and wit to unintentionally swoon the beautiful Molly played by Alice Eve. And… might I say, his bare booty was a surprising treat.

The Canadian born actor, who sported a Canadian maple leaf tattoo on his chest during Knocked Up, has been in the film and television industry since the 1990’s. Jay got his first big break on the Nickelodeon series, “Are you Afraid of the Dark?” He also played a large part of the well received, however, short-lived television series, “Undeclared” in later 2001.

Jay attributes his acting successes partly to his ability to improvise while filming. During an interview with avclub.com, he called himself a “chronic ad-libber.” It seems that his time under Apatow’s direction (in both “Undeclared” and Knocked Up), has entrusted him with the confidence to embrace his natural humor which makes him relate-able on screen. Jay also said that “one attribute you need as an actor is to be malleable” because “rigidity is the enemy of acting.” Granted, I’m sure this is not what he meant, but I would like to see how “malleable” he is… or perhaps how “rigid“…yes, yes, dirty, I know.

Although Jay has expressed graciousness for his successful acting career and continued roles in popular films, he has stated that acting is just a means to an end for him. And that end may surprise you. Jay told avclub.com that he his ultimate goal is to direct horror movies in his native Canada. Thankfully for us Americans and the rest of the world where his films are available, he is still acting. But he has already experimented with his dream by writing, directing and producing the 2002 film, Edgar and Jane, which is described as a “frantic journey” and “a hyper-real, religious epic [film] about love, revenge and the end of the world.”

Starting July 14th, Jay can be seen in the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as the newly recruited Dave Stutler, chosen by Nicholas Cage, a modern-day sorcerer to help him defend their city from evil-doers.

One things for sure, whether Jay Baruchel continues to provide us with that tilted-down head, bashful smirk combined with off-beat humorous one-lined snippets or he embarks on his directorial dream full-time, he’s sure to do it with an air of adorable, that is bound to make many of us keep following him for more… or stalking him… or just “googling” him… whichever you prefer.

Fansites:
Jay Baruchel Fan

Official Sites:
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
How To Train Your Dragon
She’s Out of My League