A special message from Nick, about this poll:
Hey everyone! I'm really sorry it took me sooo long to get back to you. I've been very busy. I wanted to thank (from the bottom of my heart) all those who contributed to the USA Poll. You're awesome! I am so lucky to have support from ALL of you like that. Even though I don't see myself as the next Stallone, your support of my work only makes me want to try harder to be a better actor - to live up to your sustained kindness and faith. Thank you all. - Nick |
By Susan Wloszczyna
We asked. And you took action. About 200 readers wrote in to tell us who should be the
next big action hero in the movies.
No. 3 Jet Li almost kicked the competition. Exclaims Wilson Lee, 34, of Springfield, Mo.,
about the Romeo Must Die star: "No amount of effects can hide the legitimate
skills of this champion martial artist."
No. 2 Brendan Fraser nearly had 'em crying for their Mummy. Enthuses Susan
Barton, 43, of Huntingtown, Md. : "I'd give Brendan Fraser a standing ovation for
brushing his teeth. "
But the actor with the most nominations: Nicholas Lea.
"Who?" may be the response of everyone but fanatics of TV's The X-Files.
Lea pops up fairly often on the series as the enigmatic Krycek.
And what's Lea's reaction? "I am surprised. It's a wonderful thing. That support is
priceless."
Yes, there was some ballot stuffing: Web sites devoted to the Canadian actor, who prefers
to keep his age as mysterious as his character, promoted the write-in with gusto. But
there is no question that this cult figure has a loyal following that would love to see
him on the big screen. What the Krycek klique had to say about the idol:
" Lea's work
on The X-Files has been quite action-oriented - escaping burning cars, hanging
off balconies, racing from whip-wielding Russians on horses. . . . The screen comes alive
when he appears. " - Alexander Potter, 29, of Brattleboro, Vt.
"With the
face of an angel, the body and muscles to tempt a saint, a gravelly smoky voice and eyes
more beautiful than the brightest emeralds, Nicholas Lea warms more than my heart. "
- DeAnna Hughes, 28, of Midwest City, Okla.
Lea, who once considered becoming a professional soccer player, wouldn't mind being an
action hero "if it means having a career that resembles Harrison Ford's. I hope to be
in smart projects. "
That presumably includes Vertical Limit, opening Dec. 8. "Bill Paxton, Robin
Tunney and I climb K2, the second-highest mountain in the world, and need to be rescued by
Chris O'Donnell . It's an action film with a lot of heart."
Lea remains tied to The X-Files, appearing in the show's May 21 season-ender
"quite a bit." And in a couple of weeks, he starts a film in Vancouver, British
Columbia, involving more talk than action, a romantic comedy called Lunch With Charles.
"No fighting required."
And here's a scan of the actual article.