How Chris Pine Became Hollywood's Best Chris
By Kirsten Howard
From rom-com heartthrob to Star Trek captain to Wonder Woman’s boy Friday, everyone loves Chris Pine.
Chris Pine is an essential addition to The Hollywood Chris Pack, but he’s often the most undersung.
Pine isn’t the most famous of the Hollywood Chrises, in part due to his decision to stay out of the limelight.
Unlike his fellow Chrises—Hemsworth, Pratt and Evans—the 40-year-old L.A. native refuses to use social media, calling it “a waste of time.”
Pine was born into an acting family, and learned the pitfalls of the industry early on in life. Both of his parents were actors, as was his grandmother.
His first role was in the long-running medical drama series, ER, in 2003.
Just a year later, he landed the part of Nicholas Devereaux in rom-com The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement as a love interest for Anne Hathaway’s character.
On the set of Just My Luck a couple of years later, he witnessed the tabloid pandemonium surrounding co-star Lindsay Lohan.
Pine said he learned a valuable lesson from the experience, vowing to never believe his own hype.
The young actor then caught the eye of director J.J. Abrams, who was rebooting the Star Trek franchise at Paramount.
Abrams said Pine was the clear choice to be the new James T. Kirk, because he fully committed to comedic moments during his audition.
2009’s Star Trek was a success, and Pine returned to lead the cast for two sequels.
When it seemed like the franchise had run out of steam, he hopped aboard DC’s solo Wonder Woman movie as the superhero’s sidekick, WWI fighter pilot Steve Trevor.
The movie was an unexpected triumph, and Pine signed up for the sequel after director Patty Jenkins found a way to revive his character.
Next, Pine will be the face of a brand-new blockbuster franchise starter, as the lead in Paramount’s long-in-gestation Dungeons & Dragons movie.
Throughout the highs and lows of his career to date, he’s managed to secure the label of Hollywood’s Best Chris, thanks to his savvy approach to stardom.