Just Don't call him Tom Hanks Jr., Colin's on 'Roswell'

Los Angeles (AP)-
Being the acting son of a well-known actor is tough. Being the acting son of two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks is tougher.
But 22-year-old Colin Hanks has set out on his own, attempting to make it by himself in his series 'Roswell' (12:06 a.m.) Thursday on WPTY-TV Channel 24.
The show is about a group of teens who share a secret about the crash of an alien spacecraft near Roswell, N.M., in 1947. "I know it sounds crazy. When I first read it, I had a hard time explaining it. So now basically I end up saying;Just watch the show, please,'"Hanks said. Hanks plays an oft-maigned but cute side-kick, the odd man out to a pair of space aliens and their girlfriends. He;s a ladies; man of sorts, the advice guy for the pretty girls.
One of two children born to Tom and first wife, Samantha Lewes, Hanks grew up in the very um-Hollywood atmosphere of Sacramento, Calif. He then went to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he appeared in stage productions. He has a part in the not-yet-released feature film I'll Be You (billed as a high school version of Cyrano de Vergerac) and he had a small part in his father's 1996 movie That Thing You Do!
Q- At what point did you decide to take the acting career path?
A- It wasn't like I was thinking, 'I Can't wait to be an actor. I can't wait to do this.; I just sort of always knew. For me, it's like playing with toys. Its playtime. It's make-believe time. I always liked that growing up. It wasn't until really a year and half ago I decided to give it a shot and see if I really could hack it.
Q- Have you noticed people treating you differently now that you're in the spotlight?
A- Obviously, I've been around that for ages. But I was always the one not being recognized, and now I am. It's is sort of strange. I must admit, I have had some uncomfortable moments. but I've had some really cool moments too.
Q- Is there something yo do to prepare for it?
A-It's no something you can prepare foe. I think it's sort of a joke if you think about it too much and you try to avoid it. It's going to happen whether yo like it or not. There are very many aspects to working as an actor. I've understood that for a while now. I'm not saying I'm 100 percent comfortable with it. I'm not saying I ever will be comfortable with it.
Q- Do you worry about people drawing comparisons between you and your father?
A- Very, very much so. Obviously, people are going to draw whatever comparisons they want. That's completely fine. People are going to want to know about it. That's completely fine. I can see their point of view. Bur overall, I'm just like any other kid on the show. I auditioned for the part. I went through 18 million callbacks. I had to do the final testing just like everyone else.
Q- Are there more expectations of you because of your father?
A- Sure. People's first instinct is 'Is he any good? Can he cut it by himself or is he just riding the coattails?' It's find. But I can't wait until I don't have to deal with it anymore, and it hasn't even really hit too much.
Q- Do you enjoy the spotlight?
A- Working, being on the show, that is what I like. I like to act. But going out to various functions, no. I personally don't like to put myself on the pedestal. When you see me on the show, that is me as somebody else. I'm acting like someone else, I'm being someone else. I'm part of a show, a narrative, a plot. But going to movie premieres and clubs that's not me. I'd rather be at home. My personal life is very, very important to me, and I keep it very close to me.