Entourage's Vincent Chase makes first trip to Singapore

Adrian Grenier may be best known for playing the lead role of Vincent Chase in the hit HBO TV series Entourage.

But even though the US actor spent seven years as a famous fictional movie star and Hollywood insider on the show, which ended its run in 2011, it is a different story when the cameras are not rolling.

During an interview with The New Paper yesterday at Marina Bay Sands ArtScience Museum, when asked what he thought of the biggest news rocking Hollywood at the moment - that of US actors Angelina Jolie's and Brad Pitt's shocking divorce - he said: "There are more important things to worry about (than that).

"I tend to just ignore the gossip that goes on in the scene."

Entourage starring (from far left) Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Adrian Grenier and Kevin Dillon. PHOTO: WARNER BROS

The 40-year-old was in town for the first time to participate in the ArtScience On Screen: In Conversation With series, which features prominent speakers from the film and art industries.

The inspirational half-hour career talk, during which Grenier spoke alongside Gordon Bowen, co-founder of leading US advertising agency mcgarrybowen, was attended by about 20 students from Lasalle College of the Arts.

During the session, Grenier appeared to reluctantly entertain questions from fans about Entourage, which spawned a movie spin-off last year (although he confirmed to TNP that there would not be a sequel).

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When asked which character he related to most, the Bard College graduate chose Aquaman, the fictional superhero Vincent Chase played on Entourage.

The crowd broke out in chuckles at his answer but the avid environmentalist went on to explain why.

"It's quite befitting since I'm an ocean advocate (in real life)... almost like a real-life Aquaman," he said.

Indeed, Grenier recently rubbed shoulders with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Our Ocean conference held at Georgetown University last week.

He said he will even be spending his time in Singapore "training for a big swim" in Italy next week, all for a good cause.

He said: "I'll be swimming through the Strait of Messina to bring awareness to the ocean, so I plan to do a training session in the oceans surrounding (Singapore)."

Lasalle student Syazwani Bayazid, who will be graduating today with a degree in animation, felt that Grenier's talk boosted her confidence.

Miss Syazwani Bayazid snuck a selfie with the Hollywood actor after the talk at the MBS ArtScience museum. PHOTO: SYAZWANI BAYAZID

He had addressed the risks of taking up a career in the arts, sharing with the students that despite "the financial risk", the eventual "rewards will make it all worth it".

He also told them to be more mindful of their pride when entering the business, saying: "I admit to being quite arrogant (when I first started out) and I gave directors my real opinion of scripts when they asked, but I've learnt to play the political game since then."

Miss Syazwani, 22, told TNP: "(The talk) encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion despite the scepticism I face... Some relatives feel that with animation, there's nothing much I can do.

"It also reminded me to do whatever it takes when I take that first step into the creative industry."

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(The talk) encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion despite the scepticism I face... Some relatives feel that with animation, there's nothing much I can do.

- Lasalle student Syazwani Bayazid who will be graduating today with a degree in animation

There are more important things to worry about (than that). I tend to just ignore the gossip that goes on in the scene.

- Adrian Grenier, when asked about what he thought about US actors Angelina Jolie's and Brad Pitt's divorce