Priestley's done with being good

The human psyche is an interesting playground. So I liked Eye Of The Beholder (starring Ashley Judd) when I read it because it delves into a world of voyeurism and obsession.

I've always enjoyed playing f***ed-up people, and Gary, the character I play in the film is certainly that - he's a heroin-trafficker, that's what he does, and he's unstable. He doesn't give a shit about anything, which is pretty cool.

For a person who tries to be a forthright, responsible, productive citizen, someone who doesn't give a shit is really interesting. I enjoy exploring characters. And bad guys, or guys who have no boundaries, are more fun because you can do anything. You can get as crazy as you want.

Before I went to Montreal to make the film, the director Stephan Elliott phoned me and said, "Come with all the facial hair that you can, and dye your hair like a bad blond." I said, "Chicken-fat yellow blond?" And he said, "Yeah." When I arrived, I had hideous whitish-yellow hair and a beard. We had a good time creating that character, and we did most of it there on the spot.

Gary's not a bit like Brandon Walsh, the guy I played on Beverly Hills 90210. I was so done with that character by the time I left the show. So to go back and play another one like that would be completely boring to me. Now I choose very different parts because you need to find inspiration for what you're doing. You need to find something that's interesting and challenging, otherwise I'd be the new regular on Dawson's Creek.

Eye Of The Beholder
Cert: cert18