James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery
Much like the character he portrays, James Van Der Beek's dedication and talent surfaced at an early age. A mild concussion sidelined his school football career, and instead Van Der Beek found himself playing the lead role in a local children's theater production of "Grease." He fell in love with the theater and continued to perform locally. Football resurfaced later, however, when he starred last year in the film "Varsity Blues" as a Texas college football player. The film was a hit and Van Der Beek's performance cemented his reputation in the world of film as well as television.
Katie Holmes as Joey Potter
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Holmes began acting in high school theater productions in spite of a personal belief that acting careers couldn't be sustained living in the Midwest. "Toledo is a bit bigger than Capeside [the fictional location of DAWSON'S CREEK], but there are similarities," she says. "I'm a small town girl just like Joey. I wasn't the one that had the boys in high school. I was a little bit of a tomboy and also the youngest in my family, so I thought I knew everything. Like Joey, I made a lot of mistakes, but fortunately, I haven't had the tragedy that she's experienced in her life."
Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter:
Born in Vancouver, 21-year-old Joshua Jackson spent his formative years in California, moving with his family back to Vancouver at the age of eight. It was there that he launched his professional career, appearing in a series of television commercials promoting tourism in British Columbia. While his family shuttled between Vancouver and California, Jackson also sang with the San Francisco Boys' Chorus.In describing his character, Pacey, Jackson admits, "A few years ago, I had similar issues to what Pacey is dealing with. We both grew up in a community based atmosphere. He grew up in a much smaller town, which has its own limitations and benefits, but I grew up in a community where I knew everybody in the neighborhood, went to school with all the same kids and spent a decade of my life with the same people. Like Pacey, I also have an offbeat sense of humor and I enjoy laughing, having a good time and often get myself in trouble for it. But neither of us is mischievous for mischief's sake. Pacey's in his own world, doing his own thing, which unfortunately seems to offend a lot of people."
Michelle Williams as Jennifer Lindley
Michelle Williams, like her character Jennifer Lindley on DAWSON'S CREEK, made the transition from big city to small town life. The 19-year-old actress moved from Los Angeles to Wilmington, North Carolina, the production location for the series. Williams says that "having the experience of moving from a big city to a small town does make it easier to relate to Jen."
Williams explains that her character "is an outsider who came to Capeside from a fast-paced New York lifestyle. Ostensibly she's come to help her strict grandmother, but she's hiding a troubled past that everyone soon found out about. More sophisticated and worldly than the other three teen characters, she's an old soul, having done a lot and grown up fast. I think a part of Jen is really looking to regain her innocence, and she wants to fit in with these more carefree kids. She made some mistakes, and got sent to Capeside by her parents in hopes that she'd begin to realize she should slow down and change her ways, but it's an ongoing battle for her to do so." |