Wilmette native Nico Tortorella is more than just a pretty face—though he is certainly that. The actor, an alum of New Trier Township High School, began acting professionally in Chicago in the seventh grade. He landed his big break on television, with roles in The Beautiful Life: TBL and Make It or Break It, and now he has his eye on the silver screen. In April he stars in the highly anticipated fourth installment of freaky franchise Scream, opposite Emma Roberts and many of the original cast members. We got the scoop on Tortorella’s career goals, what it’s like to film a scary movie and his surprising—and permanent—hobby.
Who was your favorite Scream costar to work with?
NICO TORTORELLA: David Arquette, hands down. Never a dull moment when he's around. The new cast walked into a family already established and they welcomed us with open arms.
Are there moments when it’s actually scary working on a horror movie set?
NT: The voice of Scream, Ghostface, was the scariest part. The actor who plays him—the voice—was on set the whole time but no one knew who he was...It was pretty scary.
What was the hardest part about transitioning from modeling to acting?
NT: People always ask me this question, and its funny because I've always been an actor first and foremost. Modeling is fun, but the screen is where my heart is.
Who is your dream actor or director to work with?
NT: I have such a hard time answering this question. I feel like anyone I say would just sound cliché. Clearly all the classics, and all the up-and-comers. Can I say everyone?
How many tattoos do you have? What do they symbolize?
NT: Eight or nine. It's always a work in progress. My body is a personal journal throughout the years. [It's] a lot of family tats and my connection to nature.
If you weren’t an actor, what would you be?
NT: A sustainable developer; green architect. One of my dreams is to buy pre-war standing buildings and renovate them to be one-hundred percent sustainable. I'll get to it one of these days.
