How Devon Sawa graduated from teen idol to serious adult actor
"A couple of years ago, it was hard to break out of that teen market," said the actor.
Devon Sawa made his mark on film as a young boy, appearing in popular films like Casper (1995) and Now and Then (1995). The actor’s appearance in young adult films elevated him to teen-idol status.
But while many might assume that Sawa’s level of fame was enviable, he admitted that being a teen idol meant that many were constantly underestimating him.
“These magazines don’t take you seriously as an actor,” said Sawa in an interview with Southam Newspapers. “They take you seriously as a face. So that’s something I want to stay away from because I do want to be taken seriously as an actor.”
In fact, Sawa took a break from acting in order to rid himself of his icon status. After a few years, Sawa returned, starring in more mature films like Idle Hands (1999) and Final Destination (2000).
“A couple of years ago, it was hard to break out of that teen market, but by taking some time off and by not being seen as much, some of the problems - like the magazines - went away,” Sawa said in a later interview. “It was great. I studied. I spent a lot of time at home in Vancouver. I hung out and relaxed. I went to France.”
The break reinvigorated Sawa and his career. “Things are much better now,” said the actor. “Now I’m getting young adult roles, and they’re good ones.”
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