– What other acting projects was Tom Welling involved in before being cast as Clark Kent in “Smallville”? He looks as if he could have been a model. -Becky Buller, Goltry, Okla.
A native New Yorker, Welling was discovered at age 21 by a catalog shoot scout who encouraged him to try modeling, a career that took Welling around the world for a few years until he decided he’d rather try acting.
He got his first big break in a romantic role opposite Amy Brenneman on “Judging Amy,” a 2001 gig that expanded from three to six episodes after the character clicked with viewers. He also had smaller guest shots on “Special Unit 2” and “Undeclared” before signing for “Smallville.”
The hit WB Network series, which films in Vancouver, British Columbia, keeps Welling pretty busy, but he recently squeezed in a feature film appearance in the Steve Martin-Bonnie Hunt holiday comedy “Cheaper by the Dozen.” All in all, not bad for an actor who turns 27 on April 26.
– During the early episodes of “The O.C.,” Marissa (Mischa Barton) had a younger sister, but since the Julie-Jimmy divorce, no one ever mentions her. What happened? -S. Zerger via e-mail.
Nothing. A Fox publicist for the hit series assures me that Kaitlin Cooper, played by young actress Shailene Woodley in early episodes, is still very much an unseen presence there at home with her mom, Julie (Melinda Clarke), and there have been, in fact, passing references to the character, usually in the context of how she complicates her mother’s schedule.
Woodley, who recently co-starred with Ann-Margret in the Hallmark Channel movie “A Place Called Home,” probably will continue to make occasional guest appearances on “The O.C.,” but she never has been designated a series regular nor has her character ever been a key figure in the story lines – so far, at least.
– What has gorgeous Stephanie Romanov been up to since leaving “Angel”? -D.P. Lipari, Bellflower, Calif.
Romanov, a Las Vegas native who made her TV debut in the 1994-95 “Melrose Place” spinoff “Models Inc.,” can be seen next with Robin Williams, James Caviezel and Mira Sorvino in “The Final Cut,” a sci-fi thriller set for release later this year.
Romanov, 35, also has guest starred on a variety of series including “Melrose Place,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Nash Bridges,” “Early Edition,” “The Closer” and “Due South.” As you probably have heard, “Angel,” on which she played wily Lilah Morgan from 2000 to 2003, will not return next season. It has been canceled.
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