 Have you always been this selfish? … You know, just because you’re really beautiful; that doesn’t mean you can treat people like they don’t matter. I mean, I really liked you, okay? I defended you when people called you conceited, I helped you when you asked me to, I learnt French for you, and then you just blow me off so you can.
Do you remember these passionate words, or the romantic, dramatic kiss that followed them? It was one of the most stunning, heart-wrenching, tear-jerking scenes in the 1999 film ‘10 Things I Hate About You’. These words were uttered by none other than renowned Jewish American actor, and teenage heartthrob of his time – Joseph Leonard (Joe) Gordon-Levitt, born on the 17th of February, 1981.
Devoted to acting from a young age, Gordon-Levitt starred in his very first television series ‘Family Ties’ when he was only six-years-old. 1996 saw his role in the television series that booted him up the ladder to instant stardom, ‘3rd Rock From The Sun’, in which he played a character named Tommy Solomon. From there onwards, his career skyrocketed, and he began to act in films, the most famous, of course, being ‘10 Things I Hate About You’, a movie in which he starred alongside Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.
Gordon-Levitt studied French, poetry, history and literature at the Columbia University in New York, but dropped out in 2004 to pursue acting further.
“The whole concept of celebrity pisses me off. While I’m not a celebrity, it’s such a weird concept that society has cooked up for us. Astronauts and teachers are much more amazing than actors,” said the youngest grandson of Michael Gordon (director of 1970’s flick ‘How Do I Love Thee?’). “Actors didn’t use to be celebrities. A hundred years ago, they put the theatres next to the brothels. Actors were poor. Celebrities used to be kings and queens. Then the United States abolished monarchy, and now there’s this coming together of show business and celebrity. I don’t think it’s healthy … All these celebrity shows and magazines – it comes from us, from Hollywood, from our country. It promotes greed, it promotes being selfish and it promotes this ladder, where you’re a better person if you have more money. It’s not at all about the work itself. Don’t get me wrong. I love movies. But this myth of celebrity has nothing to do with movies.”
In 1999, Gordon-Levitt dated his co-star Julia Stiles, and has since been seen snuggling up rather cozily with Meagan Monique Good in 2004. His current relationship is with American actress and model, Sarah Roemer.
When not acting, Gordon-Levitt lives at his home in New York City (Manhattan’s Lower East Side), where he relaxes by doing gymnastics, roller-blading, playing guitar and reading science-fiction fantasy books.
As well as starring in 1999’s ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ and dating his famous co-star, Gordon-Levitt was chosen as one of Teen People Magazine’s “21 Hottest Stars Under 21”, in that very same year.
From the teenager we remember and love, Gordon-Levitt may now have grown up into an adult, but that hasn’t precluded him from being as active as ever in the movie business. Look out for him in his upcoming films, ‘Elektra Luxx’, ‘Hesher’ and ‘Inception’, all of which are due for release in 2010.
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