Devon Gets Very Personal

Teen Celebrity

You’re currently seeing an actress, aren’t you?

Yes. Danielle Fishel from the show Boy Meets World.

Do you discuss what she did on the set today or what you did?

Not really, no. Every once in awhile she’ll say, “Yeah, I had a great day at work.” And I’ll go, “Yeah me, too.” And then we’ll sit down and watch a movie.

What do look for in a girl?

I like girls that have goals in life, that are successful. That’s one of the key things. There’s nothing worse than going out with a girl that has no job and doesn’t know where she wants to go and where she wants to be.

What are you personal goals? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’d like to have a family by that time and be settled down, but right now I’m just easing into a relationship.

That’s usually a phrase used by someone who’s been married three times.

I’ve been in relationships before. I came out of a year-and-a-half relationship with a girl. That’s not very long at all, but it’s long for me. If you’re going to invest that much time in somebody, you have to make sure that that somebody is the right person, and you can’t jump into everything too soon. You should ease into the thing, find out what the other person’s about and not rush things.

Is this mostly based on home-brewed advice?

Well, not really. My parents are the perfect example — they’ve been married 20 odd years and they never fight, and they look like the happiest people, and I’d like to have the same sort of relationship. I’m not going to just jump into any relationships, especially down in Hollywood. There are so many people you have to stay away from. I’m not ready to jump into the first thing I see.

You said you had a year-and-a-half relationship. Was it love?

You know, the word “love” probably came out ever once in a while although I don’t think that was the case. I tend to get attached to somebody very quickly. In a way it was good, it was a good relationship, it just wasn’t the relationship for me. She was a student. She was 21 and I was 20.

How did it end?

I think overall we were just from two different worlds. She had her thing going on, and I had my thing, and we just weren’t compatible. I believe it too a long to find that out. We kind of grew apart. We said, “Listen, this is the way it is, and she should just break up.” Is it a big plus having a Hollywood girlfriend in this business? You know what? I don’t really have any actor friends apart from her. I don’t like to finish the day and hang out with people that are actors. I have a few, but I’d rather not spend my off time discussing my work.

Who do you go to if you have a problem, or maybe you’re breaking up with a girl?

My Mom. We’re pretty open. I mean, I wouldn’t tell her everything. Not the deep details. I don’t there really is anybody that I could tell the deep details to. My Mom is big in giving advice — personal and business.

Why mother and not father?

I don’t know. I’ve always been closer with my Mom. You talk to Dad about different things. Dad you call about a great hockey game — stuff like that. You know, it’s that manly thing. It’s that you’re too manly to sit down and discuss it.

Did you miss out on any important part of life because you worked from a young age?

You know what I missed the most? I missed my high school graduation and prom. I really missed that. Something that only comes along once in a lifetime and for me. I spent graduation on the set of a movie, and someone just said over the walkie-talkie, “Devon has graduated,” and everyone applauded, and it was like sort of a minute deal, and it was kind of sad. But there are so many other perks that come alone with acting. I’ve been to cities all over this country, as well as other countries, and met a lot of new people, and I think I learn just as much as I would be in university.

Did you ever feel the pressure?

Well, when I was 17 years old, having a $20 million feature lie on your back is a lot for a young guy. But still it’s really worth it. Just to be in front of the camera every day and to become a different character is amazing.

What do you think of your teen following?

Nowadays teen magazines just find the next young face to plaster all over the magazine, and really just overplay them for a year and after the year, they’re usually done. That’s it for them.

Do you go to Hollywood parties at all?

Every once in awhile. It does interest me. I just don’t want to be overseen at Hollywood parties, you know? You don’t want to be known as the guy at every Hollywood party. I like it, it’s fun. I don’t go to the thick ones in the hills that some guy is like throwing. Definitely not. But if some of the magazines are having parties, or a premiere, yeah, lots of fun just not too much.

Do you network at parties?

You know what! I’ve never met any business connections at parties. Maybe I’m going to the wrong parties.

So, how many movies do you have that are coming out?

The Guilty is coming out. That’s about a guy in search of his father, and the problems he has to face to find his biological father. I also have Around the Fire, which is a coming of age movie about a boy that goes on tour with the Grateful Dead and gets into the whole hippie thing.

What was your reaction the first time that someone asked you for an autograph or picture?

I was very flattered. It’s very flattering. I’ve been trying my whole life to get anywhere close to where I am right now, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s very satisfying. It’s relieving as well. It’s just like, ah, finally after all this shit that I’ve gone through. I’m at a very happy point. I’d like to get to an even better point. But I feel very fortunate.

Is there a point beyond which the attention becomes bothersome rather than flattering?

Yes, there is. Hopefully I won’t get to that point. You know what! I’m very comfortable at the point that I’m at right now. I’m not recognized that much. I’m still doing great films with great people. I’m not living in a mansion in the hills, but I’m comfortable. I’ve got my little apartment here and I’m working steadily.

Back 12.31.2007.