Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion is proud to be a geek. When he’s not filming ABC’s mystery-comedy Castle, he can often be found viewing a loop of sci-fi and action movies (Avatar, the Star Trek franchise) in his trailer. “I’ve watched them a million times,” says the 39-year-old native of Edmonton, Canada, who has played the evil Caleb on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a space captain in the series Firefly and its movie spin-off, Serenity. Kate Meyers caught up with him back on planet Earth.

Let’s hear a few more of your geek credentials.

I have a trophy case that contains all the action figures ever made of me. It also has items I’ve stolen from my movies, like three guns and holsters from Serenity. And a steampunk lightsaber [the Star Wars weapon, built as it might have been in the 19th century] that somebody made me.

I hear you have a man cave as well.

Yes, it has a big ol’ TV and one of those gadgets that let you press a button and watch in 3-D with the glasses on. It’s also got an Xbox; I’m a Halo: Reach guy. And artists I’ve met at sci-fi conventions have sent me some beautiful posters from stuff I’ve done. I’m better-looking in them than I really am, so those are good to have.

What do you watch on TV?

My dinner spot is usually in front of the TV. I’ll grill a steak and whip up a salad and watch Hoarders. I love it because a) I’m kind of voyeuristic, and b) every time I see an episode, I go to the one room where all my unpacked boxes wound up, and I throw out a box of stuff.

What’s fun about playing Rick on Castle?

How much he gets away with. He’s kind of goofy, but he thinks he’s cool. I like playing that kind of ignorance-is-bliss, devil-may-care guy.

How do you spend your Sundays?

I love hiking in the hills not far from my house. I’m invested in my hikes. Sometimes kids go up there and spray-paint over the signs; I’ve found a biodegradable paint cleaner, and I’ll scrub the signs so they’re nice and clean. And if my girlfriend and I get up early enough, we’ll go out to breakfast. I like toast and eggs, and I like them together.

What was it like growing up with parents who taught English?

You know how people like to laugh at Canadians saying “eh” all the time? Well, we were not allowed to say “eh” in my house. Next on the list were double negatives, then split infinitives. Something that drives me nuts to this day is people ending sentences with prepositions.

Your grandmother gave you an Indiana Jones hat when you were a kid—what did that mean to you?

We were in Fall River, south of Boston, where my father’s family is from, and my parents sent some of us to see this movie. The name, Raiders of the Lost Ark, didn’t make much sense to me, but the movie was so cool, and I thought, “All I need is a hat and a whip and my life will be an adventure.” I realize now that I loved the character because we were in an era of heroes who could do anything; there was just no challenge, and they’d always have a smug line. Whereas Indiana Jones was a guy who was barely holding it together, who was getting beat up all the time, but he never quit. And Harrison Ford—if I steal from any actor, it’s him. Somebody told me long ago that in acting, it’s okay to steal, just steal from the best.

What are you reading now?

A novel I’ve already read three times, World War Z, by Max Brooks. It’s an oral history of a 10-year zombie infection 10 years after it happened. It’s terrifying.

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?

Tropical. I can sit with a book, go for a swim. I recently got back from one where I stayed in a bungalow over the water. My theory is if there’s going to be a zombie attack, an over-water bungalow is a great place to be.