May 2003

Smallville's Big Talent

As sexy Lex Luthor, Michael Rosenbaum,30, makes being bad look very, very good!

The two-part season finale is near. Is Lex going to turn completely evil at last?
Keep watching--there are treats to come. I'd like to see [the change] happen slowly, with moments that make you think, Oh, that's one of the reasons he goes bad.

What are your fans like?
This girl came up to me and said, "I want to go out with Lex." I couldn't call her. It would have been weird making out and hearing, "Come on! How would Lex kiss?"

But now you're on summer vacation! Are you going to grow out your hair?
That's my treat. I've got a little bit of growth going. Right now I've got the Black Hawk Down look, and will ease into an early Jim Morrison.

Do you mind having to stay bald for the part?
I just don't like it when they ask me to shave my chest hair. I suppose I could sell the hairs on EBay. One person would probably want them.

Does the shaved head help get the ladies
There are those women who like bald men. Of course, they're also the women who follow bands like the Cure and White Zombie around.

Being a TV star is a fun gig. But what was your first job?
When I was a kid, I rubbed my Grandma Ruth's feet for a quarter. She always watched All in the Family and said she'd pay me to do it while she sat there. I made $14 one Christmas vacation!