Clifton’s Notes Page 2
How could a self-described geek get the opportunity to become so wise in affairs of the heart at such a young age? Clifton credits the Extreme Makeover that a few faithful friends gave him. “I was never popular in high school. I hated every minute of it. People didn’t like me. I ended up taking the [High School Equivalence Exam] to get out of high school early. But for the last six months of high school I had transferred from Valencia to Beverly Hills High — my very wealthy godparents took me in. Because everyone there had such high self-esteem, no one felt the need to belittle other kids. At Beverly Hills they took me in and said, ‘We are giving you a makeover!’ They cut my hair, helped me get a new wardrobe — I actually learned how to dress instead of wearing my father’s smoke-stained flannel shirts with holes torn in them. That’s where I learned to be more social, to trust people, and where I finally became popular. I recently went back to my hometown with a buddy of mine who was my only friend in my first high school. Everybody recognized him, but nobody recognized me — not even people who watch GH. They said, ‘That is not you — you’re not Dillon!'” Living the life of Reilly — er, Quartermaine? — didn’t hurt his self-esteem either. “My godparents put me up in a room in their huge mansion. They had butlers and maids, my laundry would be done for me. It was all very surreal. I think of that time a lot when I play Dillon. It was the same deal, really — with a patriarch and a matriarch and their kids. It was a bit chaotic and nutty at times, just like the Quartermaines, except they are Israeli and Moroccan, and when they would argue it would be in Hebrew. I’d be like, ‘Guys, if you are going to argue in front of me, argue in English!'” While his high school friends helped give him a physical overhaul, it was a family friend who recognized his acting talent. After being prodded by his mother to recite a Shakespearean soliloquy at a party (“I was just saying the words — I didn’t know what the hell they meant!”), their family friend pulled Clifton aside. “He’s a good-looking guy, but an old cynical bastard. He says, ‘Kid, you are really bad.’ I said, ‘Um, thank you.’ He said, ‘I can teach you how to do that well, if you want me to.'” Months of working with their friend inspired Clifton to pursue acting as a career, and Clifton’s parents not only gave their blessing, they helped shuttle their only child all about town for auditions, until GH came along. Three or four auditions later (including for the role of Lucas) Clifton snagged Dillon.Clifton would soon learn of the added bonus that comes with playing Tracy’s son — Jane Elliot. “After everything that happened on my first day, Jane took me aside and said, ‘You are a good actor. The reason I have stayed on the show so long and have been this popular and have a loyal fan base, even when I’m not on the show, is because I take every opportunity to show the crowd every level. If there is an opportunity to show a new side of Tracy I do it, and they are never done learning me.’ She concluded with, ‘Scott: Learn to win the crowd.’ It was all very cinematic — I love cinematic moments in life.” For someone who can’t remember what movie he saw until the end of this interview (“Perfect Score!”) Clifton is starting to sound more and more like Dillon after all. “The dream is to be the next Indiana Jones, the next Luke Skywalker, if not the next Luke Spencer. Steve Burton (Jason) is always trying to give me great financial advice: ‘Invest this, save this. If you do this, by the time you are 30 you won’t ever have to work again.’ I am like, ‘Man you just don’t get it! I don’t want to be rich. Anybody can be rich. I want to be famous.’ He has made fun of me for that ever since. Yeah, I think it would be great to move on someday, but at this point I am so damn grateful for what I have right now. I would be scared to ever try my luck so far. I have a four-year contract and I feel like this place is really becoming a home.”This article originally ran in the March 2, 2004 issue of Soap Opera Weekly.
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