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Wes Bentley interview

By James Mottram on Friday 23 November 2007

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Wes Bentley

American Beauty star Wes Bentley, 29, talks about the pressures of fame, why he decided to quit Hollywood for three years and what made him return to our screens in this month's sassy screwball comedy Weirdsville.

Weirdsville is the first comedy you've done. Was that the attraction?

Yeah! I've never done a comedy on film. But as a kid, I loved Monty Python. My Dad was a devout watcher. We used to watch it when we ate dinner!

You've been away from the business for a while. Was it Weirdsville that got you back into it?

You're absolutely right. Without making a statement about it, essentially I quit – twice! After Four Feathers, I quit then because I just lost faith. I didn't like how the business was. I had been hurt by a couple of people I'd tried to stay faithful to. I was really loyal and they ended up being scoundrels and hurting not only me but people I loved.

So you didn't want family members dragged into this?

Yes. There's been an ugly rumour o-line about my wife [Jennifer Quanz], and how she is running my career and controlling it. She does her own thing and she respects my opinions. I think it's because I never chose a role that was really a love story, just because one never crossed my path that I really dug. It just hurt and I got scared it was going to hurt the people around me.

Was it difficult to cope with the success of American Beauty?

Now looking back, I admit that it was. While it was happening, I didn't want to think I would react like that but I don't think anyone can take that in a normal way. It was so overwhelming and I hid totally from it.

Is it easier now you're married?

Well, we married in 2001, but yes it is. Part of the problem was that… girls, in front of her, would talk about their fantasies or just totally disrespect her in front of other people. That hurts, man.

Weirdsville opens on November 16th.

Words by James Mottram, Friday 23 November 2007

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I've heard that Wes and Jennifer are on the outs. Stress, alcohol and drugs. Also heard that he punched out Julia Robers brother recently. Any news on that?
Comment by HQ on December 27 00:30

I can tell you for a fact that everything you heard is true.
Comment by DenMurGrl on July 13 21:31

Someone should get word out to help this poor guy instead of trying to hide it. Wes Bentley been the source of sad information for a long time inside the entertainment world, who never protect their own. They never do the right thing and help him. All they want is his money. But this dude has been struggling so long with drugs its so sad.

When he ends up dead like another Heath Ledger then they all act like they cared so much. His marriage been long destroyed cause of it. You read online you never see him out anywhere, he's all reclusive type actor and all, but the real reason is he so far gone.
Comment by KC on April 04 22:53

To me he doesn't sound like a nice person he seems to be more trouble than anything. I do think he should quit acting for good as from what I have read about him he doesn't seem to enjoy it very much which is probably why he is a drug addict so he can get through the day. He for sure isn't as good as he was he ain't an Amercian Beauty any more.
Comment by Karen on September 03 19:15