Surging Miles ahead

Miles Teller isn't a household name - yet. Fresh from supporting his Oscar-winning drama Whiplash during awards season, the 28-year-old US actor reprises his role as cocky bully Peter in Insurgent, the second instalment of the popular Divergent franchise.

In the movie, which opens here on March 19, Teller's character continues to give protagonist Tris (Shailene Woodley) a hard time in various ways, from criticising her new hairdo to selling her out to the diabolical Erudite leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet).

In August, we'll see him take the lead as Reed Richards or Mr Fantastic in superhero flick Fantastic Four.

After that, he will be appearing in the Martin Scorsese-produced biopic Bleed For This, about the inspirational true story of former world champion boxer Vinny Pazienza.

Teller has definitely come a long way from his early days of playing the "cool bro sidekick" or the wild teenager in films like Footloose (2011), Project X (2012) and That Awkward Moment (2014).

"That's why I've been showering and taking care of my hair," he casually joked to M when asked about the shift from supporting actor to male lead during a recent interview at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills.

Movies

Wonderland, A Year Of No Significance win at Golden Rooster Awards

Nov 17, 2024

Related Stories

Wonderland, A Year Of No Significance picked for Golden Rooster

IMDA bars Singapore film about censorship

Disney and Pixar topiaries to debut at Gardens By The Bay

"I always want the most interesting character in a movie. For Footloose, I was way more into (my character) Willard than the main guy (played by Kenny Wormald). If I read a script that I like and am more into the other character, I'll take it, but I'm ready to be given the opportunity to carry a film and be a lead because I can deliver."

Teller, who wants to follow in the footsteps of his idols Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, added: "I'm excited to take on more good leading stuff, and for an actor you don't really get those parts until you're older. The juicy roles for actors come in your 30s and 40s..."

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, Teller made his feature debut opposite Nicole Kidman in the 2010 family drama Rabbit Hole.

It was his role in the 2013 romantic dramedy The Spectacular Now that gained him more recognition in the industry since he and co-star Woodley won the Special Jury Award for Acting at that year's Sundance Film Festival.

DRUM LESSONS

But he really turned heads in Hollywood in the critically-acclaimed Whiplash, which was released here in January.

To play Andrew, an ambitious student musician tyrannised by an abusive jazz school instructor, Teller subjected himself to intensive drum lessons to brush up his skills, even though he already knew how to play the instrument.

"Right now, I'm sinking my teeth into roles. I really enjoyed the drumming training I got on Whiplash and the boxing training I did for Bleed For This. When they offered me the chance to play a five-time world champion boxer, I said yes.

"I was surprised they offered it to me. Over the span of eight months, I just really put in the effort and think that was the most rewarding thing."

But he admitted to having a tough time while filming both Insurgent and Fantastic Four at the same time.

"I remember doing a couple of weeks of Fantastic Four and then a couple on Insurgent and going back and forth, (thinking) I could easily pick up the part of Peter after playing Reed Richards. But it wasn't as natural to me to have that kind of bravado and confidence that Peter has after doing Fantastic Four. It took a little bit to get back into (character)," said the Pennsylvania native, who is gearing up to start work on the third instalment of the Divergent series, Allegiant.

His effort is paying off in Hollywood. He is now on the guest list of all sorts of A-list parties.

"After the Oscars, there are a bunch of after-parties and Madonna has one every year. I wasn't invited last year, but I went this year and I was like, 'so this is what famous people do after the Oscars,'" he said with a laugh, noting that celebrities like Mick Jagger, Jay Z and Beyonce were also there.

But he's still shocked to receive praise for his work at events, especially from notable names on the acting scene. "One of the coolest actors who has taken me aside... is Robert Duvall. His agent was telling me that he hates pretty much all young actors, but said he hasn't stopped talking about Whiplash. Reese Witherspoon, who I actually had my first crush on, reached out to me and wanted me to play her brother in Wild. So all this stuff is pretty cool."