Here are a few relevant points about Taye Diggs: You’re most likely to know who he is if you have an appreciation for the male physique and have seen “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” (Diggs as steamy young Jamaican lover), or if you caught this spring’s teen-flick-on-ecstasy “Go” (Diggs as tantric-sex aficionado) or the summer-fall African-American wedding double-feature of “The Wood” (Diggs as groom) and “The Best Man” (Diggs as title character in the movie that opened Friday).
He’s in his late 20s, about 5-foot-8, soft-spoken and currently sports a patch of chin stubble. But aside from his gleaming smile, as long as he keeps his shirt on, you wouldn’t know you were in the presence of a sex symbol.
He grew up in Rochester, N.Y., as the oldest of five kids and now lives in New York City.
His first name actually is Scott, but after a friend’s uncle started calling him Scott-taye when he was in college, Diggs let the name stick.
His first New York job was as a host at Pizzeria Uno on the Upper East Side.
He worked as a performer at Toyko Disney.
He was a regular on the soap opera “The Guiding Light.”
He played the evil landlord Benny in the original Broadway production of “Rent” and is still dating Idina Menzel, who played the lesbian performance-artist in the show.
When he got his role in “Stella,” he stripped and streaked through the mostly empty Nederlander Theatre, where “Rent” was playing.
He has completed three movies since “The Best Man,” including “House on Haunted Hill,” which opens next Friday.
In town earlier this month to promote “The Best Man,” Diggs was laid-back cool as he recalled his progression from introverted teen to actor stud who still takes his craft more seriously than his image.
Tribune — What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at a wedding?
Diggs — Harry Belafonte singing “Hava Nagila.” That was at a friend’s wedding. It was an agent who represented Harry Belafonte.
Tribune — Was he the wedding band or did he just come on to do that one song?
Diggs — He just came on and did a special “numba.”
Tribune — Did you tell him that you sang “The Banana Boat Song” when you worked at Tokyo Disney?
Diggs — I didn’t get a chance. I was too starstruck. Harry Belafonte, he’s a historical figure to me. Was a little embarrassed.
Tribune — How was working at Tokyo Disney?
Diggs — I had a ball there. I visited the country, learned the language, went to all the clubs. An amazing learning experience.
Tribune — Did you have to sing “The Banana Boat Song” in Japanese?
Diggs — Some parts were in Japanese, some parts were in English.
Tribune — What’s “Day-O” in Japanese?
Diggs — That would be the same, but some of the other lyrics I had to speak in Japanese.
Tribune — When did you decide you wanted to be an actor?
Diggs — I guess you could say I stumbled upon it when I was in high school. I went to a high school of performing arts (in Rochester), and I did it just because it was fun and because I was accepted. I gained my confidence through the performing arts. . . .
Tribune — But when you went to the school of performing arts, you already had some interest in that, right?
Diggs — Not really. Not past watching “Fame.” My mother actually had to convince me to go to this performing arts school, because I was very much drawn to athletics. So after my mom twisted my arm and we moved locations, I gave it a shot and just fell in love with it.
Because it was literally like “Fame.” I went to audition and kids were dancing in the hallways. Aw, to this day it gives me goosebumps. I remember walking down the halls and hearing the pianos and people rehearsing their music and at the same time hearing the chorus rehearsing and walking past the dance studios. It made such a serious impact on my life.
Tribune — Was your whole family into the theater?
Diggs — They were into the arts, and all my brothers and sisters played musical instruments. We all sang at church and whatnot. We’d have family songs that we’d always sing before bed or at prayer time or what have you. We’d have song time. My mom would play the piano, and we’d all gather around and sing all these songs from this song book. We were more of a musical family
Tribune — Were you always a performer-type personality?
Diggs — No, I started out actually very shy, very much a recluse. I needed to feel very, very comfortable around people before opening up.
Tribune — When you were growing up, what actor or performer did you want to be the most?
Diggs — My mother made me read a biography about Sidney Poitier, and from that point on he was like a permanent fixture that I would look up to. I remember distinctly my mother saying, “This is a man that you could be like. You need to aspire to do what this man did. Being young and black, he was before your time and he took strides for African-Americans in the entertainment industry, so you could follow suit.” So from that point on, he was definitely someone I looked up to, and I still to this day would love to work with him.
Tribune — How do you feel about being considered a teen idol and sex symbol?
Diggs — Of course, I’m flattered. I think it’s great whenever you hear people diggin’ what you do. It’s understandable in that the way I was introduced to the business was `Stella’ and whatnot, being the quote-unquote male sex symbol. It comes with the territory. But when it all comes down to it, I find it humorous, very entertaining.
Tribune — Did you ever think that your physique would become so much part of your image?
Diggs — No, not really. No, not at all. But that seems to be the turn that it’s taken, and that’s cool. (laughs)
Tribune — What would you rather have, an Oscar or the cover of the People “Most Sexiest Man Alive” issue?
Diggs — Hmmm, lemme think about that. (long pause) I think . . . I think the Oscar. You were kidding when you asked me that question right? (laughs)
Tribune — Would you do a Robert De Niro-in-“Raging Bull” where you had to gain 60 pounds for a role?
Diggs — Now that’s a good question. I would have to say if it was a part that well written working with a director of that caliber, I would definitely consider it. Seriously.
Tribune — It would be hard, though. . .
Diggs — To do? I don’t think it would be hard to do. Making that decision might be a little bit difficult — just because literally things like that just are not healthy for your body, and acting I feel is fun and satisfies me on an artistic level, but I would never take acting to a point where I was compromising my own health. When you’re fluctuating in weight like that, your body’s not meant to do that. So if it was a really, really good role, maybe once I would go the distance.
Tribune — Were you always someone who worked out a lot?
Diggs — No, that came when I was in Japan, actually. They gave us this free membership to the gym. Before that point I had been staunchly against it. It just seemed really artificial and extra vain. But it was something to do, and I said, “Well, let me try it,” and then it slowly becomes addicting when you realize the control that you have over your own body.
Tribune — How did you wind up in two straight wedding movies?
Diggs — I guess you could say it was accidental. Both scripts are actually very diverse: “The Wood” focuses on the young people’s story, coming of age, whereas “The Best Man” is a grown folks’ movie. Adult situations, problems. I was drawn to both scripts at different times so it just turned out to work out that way.
Tribune — Who do you play in “House on Haunted Hill”?
Diggs — I’m an ex-athlete that’s looking for a million bucks from staying in a haunted house over night. It’s very special effects heavy. It was strange because you’re acting against a blue screen. You’re acting against nothing when you’re supposed to be running away from this terrible, horrible monster or specter or apparition. It’s nothing. You have to contrive it in your head, so that made for an interesting choice.
Tribune — What do you have to think about to be really terrified by some imaginary thing?
Diggs — That’s when you really have to act.
Tribune — Did you think of something specific when you were doing that?
Diggs — Sometimes. Sometimes I have to focus on a very specific image and pretend. So much more is imagination. Other times you just scream.
