BOYISHLY HUNKY JOSH CHARLES scored fans as one of the quick-witted TV anchors on Aaron Sorkin's late, lamented sitcom "Sports Night." The Baltimore-born actor also has drama chops, as shown by his breakout turn in "Dead Poet's Society" and his current role as one of the patients on HBO's "In Treatment" (weeknights at 9:30 p.m.).

» EXPRESS: The show depicts sessions with its characters and therapist Paul (Gabriel Byrne). Why do people like watching that?
» CHARLES: They're interested in other people's problems, and the way "In Treatment" is produced, it's like fly-on-the-wall eavesdropping.

» EXPRESS: Your character, Jake, is in couples' therapy with his wife. What kind of stuff are they dealing with?
» CHARLES: Jake and his wife, Amy [Embeth Davidtz], have had fertility problems, and then she gets pregnant and doesn't know whether she wants the baby. We meet them in the middle of them figuring that out.

» EXPRESS: Did doing the show make you feel like you were in therapy?
» CHARLES: It's uncomfortable stuff, things you almost feel like you shouldn't watch. But I'm fascinated with psychotherapy. I've read a lot of the Jungian books. You learn so much about the human condition.

» EXPRESS: You're a Baltimore boy. How often do you go home?
» CHARLES: I get back a lot to see my family. I get out on the Bay. My father has a boat, and we just cruise around.

» EXPRESS: Any favorite hangouts?
» CHARLES: We'll go to Little Italy or Fells Point. And I was just in D.C. and went shopping in Georgetown. I'd not been there since I was a teenager, and it was cool to walk around.

» EXPRESS: And you're a big fan of the Orioles and the Ravens?
» CHARLES: I like both teams. It's a little harder at the moment to be an Orioles fan, but you've got to still believe.

» EXPRESS: What's your pad like in New York?
» CHARLES: I have a loft, and it's about to be renovated. I want a really clean, modern look, as little clutter as possible. The older I get, the more I just want to throw everything away. I want jeans, a shirt, a pair of brown shoes and that’s it. So, I'm trying to keep the space fairly open but add an extra bathroom and put in a really nice Boffi kitchen.

» EXPRESS: What'll you cook in there?
» CHARLES: I should learn how to cook! But I can cook breakfast. I do good eggs.

» EXPRESS: Any prized possession in that loft?
» CHARLES: I'm a fan of Fellini and Italian movies in general. I've collected some really cool movie posters, and I'm looking forward to putting those up.

» EXPRESS: What do you do when you aren't working?
» CHARLES: I play guitar. When I'm in L.A., I take lessons. I'm not a brilliant musician, but I like old acoustic blues. It's been fun diving into stuff by William Brown and Robert Johnson.

» EXPRESS: What kind of guitar do you play?
» CHARLES: I try to find as many vintage guitars that are left-handed as I can. I have a really beautiful 1930s Gibson L-OO in black. And then I have a 1930s steel guitar that I had converted. They're, like, my prized possessions.

Posted by Jennifer Barger at 12:00 AM on March 14, 2008
Tagged in Film , Lifestyles , People , Television , Top Stories