Peter Facinelli is not a man to be pigeonholed. Take his acting career: he played vampire leader Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight Saga; a mobster in Gangsterland; and an Ancient Egyptian prince in The Scorpion King.
He’s been in SWAT, Glee, Damages, Six Feet Under and even Super Girl.
Indeed, Facinelli doesn’t stop at acting.
In 2010, he started the production company A7sle Films, creating everything from dramatic comedies to true-story horror features.
He’s also an accomplished screenwriter – and he made his directorial debut last year in the indie feature Breaking and Exiting.
So what’s next for Mr Facinelli? We caught up with him to find out…
Life
What projects are you most excited about at the moment?
I’m very excited that a film I wrote and directed called The Vanished is now on Netflix.
It’s been in the top ten films on Netflix for the past few weeks. It’s a project I’m extremely proud of, and I’m so glad people are enjoying it.
I also have The Ravine coming out on 2 April (Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play), which is a film I acted in alongside Eric Dane.
And I also just wrapped a film called The Unbreakable Boy, that I produced with Kingdom Films and Lionsgate, which I also act in alongside Zachary Levi.
What are your proudest professional accomplishments?
That's tough to answer… Taking my grandmother to the premiere of my first film; being a part of the Twilight Saga; being able to produce The Unbreakable Boy in the midst of a pandemic; writing and directing The Vanished.
I’ve also starred alongside some pretty legendary actors over my 25-year career.
I feel blessed and so grateful for all of it, but I do believe my proudest moments are ahead of me. And that is the passion that drives me.
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
I’ve been so blessed in my career, and I am always striving for more – to achieve more, to tell more stories, to work with more people who inspire me. I want to continue doing projects that stretch me as an artist – whether that's as a director, writer, actor, or producer.
Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?
I’ve always been inspired by Paul Newman, not only as an actor, but also as someone who stood up for causes – someone who raised money for charities, and someone who was able to balance his family life and career.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
At this point, after 25 years of being interviewed, I’m not sure there’s anything about me people don't know!
Style
What’s your favourite item of clothing – and what does it mean to you?
I honestly just went through my closet and donated three quarters of it.
I wanted to start fresh, and not hold onto things from the past.
The pandemic has given me time to reflect, and I felt the need to shed things from my past, starting with my wardrobe.
I had things in my closet that were 20 years old. It felt good to let them go.
I’m trying to create new meanings and make room for new things to enter my life, as opposed to holding onto things from the past.
Favourite accessory?
I bought myself a Rolex for my 40th birthday. I rarely buy myself gifts like that, so it was special to me to be able to learn to celebrate myself.
What’s your go-to outfit if you want to impress?
I don't dress to impress; I dress to feel good about myself.
If I'm comfortable in my clothes and the clothes I’m wearing make me feel good, then that is what should leave an impression on people.
I do advise taking the occasion into consideration though. You may feel good in sweatpants and a T-shirt going to the gym, but maybe don’t wear that to a wedding!
Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss?
There's one blue denim jacket I loved. It always fit like a glove.
I have no idea where that jacket went.
As much as I miss it, I like to believe someone is enjoying it, wherever it may be. Someone who needs it more than me, and that makes me happy.
What’s next on your shopping list?
Since I got rid of most of my clothes, it sounds like I may need a lot. But I still have a closet full of everything I actually need. Nothing particular comes to mind, but when I see it, I'll know.
What would you buy if money was no object?
A plane. Owning a plane is on my list. I want the freedom of being able to jump on my plane and go, where I want, whenever I want.
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The Vanished is out now on Netflix. Follow Peter on Instagram.
