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By Malissa Thompson
As Ross on Friends, David Schwimmer seemed destined to become president of the NGB (Nice Guy, But. . .) club. While Ross's hunky pals got hot dates, this tall, dark but not quite handsome actor had to settle for Marcel, a capuchin monkey. But that was before "it" happened: the Central Perk smooch that has since turned David and costar Jennifer Aniston into the Lucy and Ricky of the '90s. And now? Girls are mobbing him, and Brad Pitt's girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow (Daid's co-star in The Pallbearer), is spreading rumors that the 29-year-old is one of the sexiest guys alive. Could things get any better?
So how weird has it
been to suddenly become so famous?
I don't think I could be any happier on a professional level. It's like winning the
lottery. But I miss the days when Hard Copy didn't follow me home. Can I tell you
how strange it is to look in your rearview mirror and see guys in cars tailing you? In
fact, we're probably on camera right now.
Wow, that must make dating a bit of a nightmare!
Well, I'm not involved with anyone now. It's unfortunate, but I'm working so hard, I don't
have the time and energy a relationship deserves.
Do you suffer from crushes like Ross does?
[Groans] Yes-I've always been the kind of guy who admires somebody from afar. My
crushes used to be devastating, but they're not so much anymore. I guess I have more
confidence. but i'm still shy - I usually never approach the person. I do something a
little more calculated, like let a friend of hers know about it.
In The Pallbearer, you're a guy asked to speak at the funeral of a
classmate he doesn't remember. What do you remember about Beverly Hills High?
At my high school, it was the norm for kids to get brand-new BMW's for their 16th
birthday. I remember going to my dad around my birthday, and I was like, "Yes, this
is it!" Then my dad had this talk with me, and I wound up driving a big brown 1976
Chevy Impala. I couldn't park the thing - it had to be docked.
Your next project is directing a movie about a high school reunion. Did you go
to yours?
I did. The greatest part about it was seeing my first love again. I had gone out with her
when I was 16 and she was 17. We were best friends and then it turned into more.
So just like Ross, you had a friend turn into a girlfriend. Now, in real life,
would you go for a girl like Rachel?
No, I mean, girls like rachel are funny and adorable and sexy, but I need someone who has
direction - who's working toward something she's really passionate about.
If you and Ross did go after the the same girl, who do you think would win?
[Laughs] Well, I think I am more aggressive than he is, and I know what I want.
And I'm not a whiner!
I've heard that strangers have even chased you down.
Well, I was at a Lakers game, and this girl walked up to me and said "I just have to
kiss you!" she leaned towards me and I was like, "no you don't!" but what
was even stranger was that her boyfriend was going, "yeah, man. Do it." Whoa.
So will we ever see you posing butt-naked on Rolling Stone like
Jennifer Aniston?
No, I don't think so. My parents definately wouldn't approve!