Leto learns fast
By LISA WILTON -- Calgary Sun

BEVERLY HILLS -- Unlike his character in Switchback, Jared Leto's career isn't hanging by a thread.

In fact, the ruggedly handsome 25-year-old is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young actors in Hollywood.

He has already starred as Olympic long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine in Prefontaine, as well as the lead in the upcoming gothic drama, Basil.

However, it's his role as Lane Dixon, the young drifter in the action thriller Switchback -- opening Oct. 31 in Calgary -- that may make Leto a household name.

"It was intimidating," admits Leto of his first few days sharing the set with veteran stars Dennis Quaid and Danny Glover.

"I had never made a really big movie before, but the actors were so nice,
charismatic and generous.

"Danny Glover, who I did most of my scenes with, is not only a great actor but a nice, gracious human being."

Dixon is a disillusioned doctor hitchhiking across the U.S., unaware he is being tracked by FBI agent Frank LaCrosse (Quaid), who thinks Dixon is a serial-killer.

In one of the film's most harrowing scenes, Leto had to hang from a cliff 28 meters above the ground strapped into a body harness and cable.

"That was pretty fun," he recalls with a smile. "It was pretty intense, but the stunt guys were so amazing. They were doing back flips all over the place, so I trusted them and decided to just enjoy it.

"It's all about safety with those guys. I thought if they were doing it, I'd be fine. I love that sort of thing, so it was a real blast for me. I would pay to do that, but I was getting paid. I don't know where the daredevil thing in me comes from. Maybe it's a sense of boredom."

Growing up in Bossier City, La., Leto had no grandiose ideas of an acting
career.

Instead, he was more interested in being a painter.

"I experimented a lot. Sometimes I was into abstract expressionism, other times I was into drawing and shading."

A move to L.A. in 1992 put his artistic dreams on hold, because within six months Leto landed his first TV job. He was cast as Jordan Catalano, the object of Claire Danes' desire in My So-Called Life.

"I got lucky really soon, so I'm still trying to learn what I'm doing. I'm learning in front of the camera."

Leto, who claims to be single and just "dating his dog," says he is particularly excited about director Terence Malick's new war drama The Thin Red Line, in which he co-stars with George Clooney, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson and John Travolta.

"I have the privilege of being the first character killed in that picture," says the 6 ft., blue-eyed actor with a laugh.