Shore Leave 30 Guest: David Hewlett

David Hewlett is an award winning actor, writer and director. A huge science fiction fan, David's love of the genre began while cowering behind the living room couch watching BBC's "Doctor Who". An embarrassingly long time later, he began to realize that his electronic tinkering and computer prowess was not going to provide him with the giant robot he was seeking. Frantically looking for other venues for his middling evil genius talents, he discovered acting. Not only did it pay better than being a "Time Lord", it got him into theatre productions with real live girls and out of extra-curricular sports. In his early teens, David hooked up with a couple of fellow film nerds and starred in their early film efforts. Hewlett still runs with the same sorry crowd of filmmakers (Natali & Phillips), starring in feature films like "Cube", "Get Down", "Cypher", "Foolproof", "Nothing" and most recently "Splice", executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley.

Other film roles include "Clutch." and John Boorman's "Where the Heart Is." as well as cult favorites like "Scanners II." "Desire and Hell at the Sunset Motel," and "Pin." He recently worked opposite Ashley Judd and Goran Visnjic on the independant feature film "Helen".

Hewlett's television credits include guest roles on "ER", "Without a Trace", "The District" and recurring roles on "Kung Fu - The Legend Continues","Beyond Reality" and the Canadian hit series "Traders" , which garnered him two Gemini nominations. Hewlett has also had leading roles in "The Triangle", "And Never Let Her Go", "The Penthouse" and the critically acclaimed "The Boys of St. Vincent". As well as two films for the Sci Fi channel; "Darklight" and "Boa vs. Python".

David Hewlett is currently shooting season five of the People's Choice Award winner, "Stargate Atlantis", in the role of fan favorite "Dr. Rodney McKay". David is in development with the SciFi network on a show called "Starcrossed" - a comedy about the making of a fictional science fiction television series. Also in the works is a sequel to his directorial debut comedy "A Dog's Breakfast", which after a successful Internet marketing campaign was picked up by MGM/FOX Video for worldwide distribution. He is also writing a horror comedy called "Design of the Dead" about a home make-over TV show that brings new life to an old house and unfortunately for them, the corpses buried beneath it.

David has just handed the schematics for his giant robot on to his new son Sebastian "Baz" Hewlett - who thankfully looks like his lovely mother Jane.