Nathan Fillion

The handsome, chiselled features of an Edmonton-born Hollywood actor will soon be the symbol of a new kind of hero — one that will be seen worldwide on the Internet and in a five-storey-high digital projection on the side of a historic building in London, England.

Nathan Fillion, who starred in the romantic comedy Waitress with Keri Russell and the sci-fi movie Serenity, will be the face of Hero, a work of public art that challenges traditional notions of heroism.

The project is the brainchild of Martin Firrell, a British cultural activist who decided it was time to re-evaluate what we mean when we say "hero."

"I woke up one morning, and I don’t know why it was in my head, but I thought: ’Interesting, who we call a hero,’ " Firrell said in a recent telephone interview from London.

Popular culture, Firrell said, characterizes heroes as white, male and violent. But are these descriptions accurate? Appropriate? No, Firrell decided.

Firrell is known for placing text in public spaces to promote positive social change. His work deals with issues like the politics of aging, faith and climate change, and has been projected on London structures like the National Gallery, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Opera House.

As the artist ruminated on the concept of a modern hero, a video project took shape in his mind. But he needed someone to play the hero, the "the face of the question." Someone male and white, with just the kind of facial features that would translate onto a large-scale projection.

While watching an episode of sci-fi TV series Firefly, Firrell found the monumental visage he was looking for — Captain Mal Reynolds, the character Nathan Fillion played.

"His face is an extraordinary thing," Firrell said. "His nose is very big, and his lips and chin are terribly pronounced, almost like a silhouette cutout, a cartoon profile."

Firrell knew the Canadian actor was perfect for the project. But would Fillion, also the star of Waitress (2007) and the popular prime-time drama Desperate Housewives, agree?

The actor’s agents weren’t quite sure what to make of the request, Firrell said.

"They didn’t really understand it because it didn’t fit into their world. It was quite an awkward conversation."

Firrell created artistic projections of what he had in mind, and sent them off to Hollywood. Within an hour, Fillion said yes.

"Martin has really touched on something that’s dear to people’s hearts," Fillion said in a recent interview. "This breed of hero that we’ve been sold in the past, that had its place, now needs to be re-evaluated."

Playing the ’hero’ was extremely flattering, Fillion said.

"When you think of the different things you could be the face for, this would be one of my top three."

And it was a cinch. All Fillion had to do was fly to London, do an interview about heroism and sit still while Firrell’s team got footage of his head, which revolves like a marble statue in part of the video.

He wasn’t paid for the assignment.

"Compared to what I do on a daily basis, it was a piece of cake," Fillion said.

Firrell said the actor’s physical characteristics exceeded his expectations in person.

"His head is huge," Firrell said. "Everyone else has a head, and he has, like, two heads."

"I’ve never been accused of being extremely good-looking," Fillion said, "but I’ve often been told that my profile belongs on a coin."

Fillion, 36, grew up in Edmonton and studied at the University of Alberta. He did two seasons of Die-Nasty before landing a role in soap opera One Life to Live, then moved on to Hollywood roles. His parents, Bob and Cookie Fillion, still live in the city.

The 15-minute projection of his face will blend text with images and dialogue on the topic of everyday heroism. Human rights advocate (and Mick’s ex-wife) Bianca Jagger has also agreed to be part of the project as the face of a female hero.

On the Hero videoclip at the project’s website, www.completehero.com, Fillion said he did it for "the chance to be part of it, and the vanity of having my face really big."

Big is an understatement. Fillion’s mug will be five storeys high when projected onto Senate House, home of the University of London’s library, in April. The building was London’s first skyscraper.

Until the opening, Firrell wants discussion at the Hero website and blog to continue building. The project has received input from more than 80 countries and led to spinoff projects focused on Iraq and Burma.

"The ongoing aim is to stimulate some form of positive social change, of what we do think is heroic, and to sidestep violence," Firrell said.

WHAT IS A HERO?

A few comments from the Hero blog

at http://supersecretthingy.blogspot.com/

 "Where do we go to learn to be men? There are only two places I know for sure: our fathers and television." — Toby Thelin

 "I can think of no greater hero than the child who befriends an outcast." — Beth’ll

 "We KNOW what a hero is, but we’ve let popular culture hijack and corrupt the concept." — crazylady

 "You can see it. Things are starting to crumble around the edges. There is a new brutality."

— Anonymous

 "A hero is not someone who seeks out attention and recognition but rather someone in the background of everyday life who offers love, compassion and support without a second thought." — Josie Goggin

 "I get so frustrated with the modern idea of what a man is and how it differs from what I feel it could be ... a man can stand up for himself without needing a gun in his hand to do it. A man can show his emotions openly, even cry, and not be ashamed of it. A man can take ’no’ for an answer." — Rich Stoehr