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‘Hell on Wheels’ Star Anson Mount’s Embarrassing Film Credit

By Dave Nemetz | Yahoo TV – Thu, Nov 3, 2011 3:00 PM PDT

AMC's gritty new Western, "Hell on Wheels," stars Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon, a grizzled Civil War veteran who's determined to avenge his wife's murder. But don't let the beard fool you: Beneath that rough exterior lies a man who's shared the screen with a pop princess in an embarrassingly terrible film. Yes, as much as Mount would like to forget this, he co-starred along with Britney Spears in her 2002 big-screen vehicle, "Crossroads."

Mount played Ben, a handsome (and only slightly stubbly) stranger who joins Lucy (Spears) and her two friends, Kit and Mimi, on a life-changing cross-country road trip. Ben becomes Lucy's main love interest during the film, eventually (gasp!) taking her virginity. The two onscreen lovebirds even won a Teen Choice Award for Best Chemistry. (And they don't give out those surfboards to just anyone, you know.)

See that white-hot chemistry in action in this "Crossroads" clip:

But Mount shouldn't feel too ashamed: He's not the only big name hoping to bury "Crossroads" deep on his resumé. The film also stars a pre-"Avatar" Zoe Saldana as Lucy's pal Kit and Justin Long as Lucy's hometown boyfriend -- and it was written by "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes! (Wow, maybe this movie is secretly amazing and we just never knew it... okay, probably not.)

Mount definitely had the right attitude about his brush with Britney: "At the time, I just saw it as a great work opportunity and a chance to make some money that I could use to go on vacation," he tells the Associated Press. "It was everybody else who put me in this sort of good-looking, next-big-leading-man category."

[Check Out Red Carpet Photos from the 'Hell on Wheels' Premiere]

The actor went on to redeem himself by starring as deputy D.A. Jim Steele on Dick Wolf's 2006 NBC legal drama "Conviction" and landing guest spots on "Lost" and "Law & Order." And his transformation from Britney boy-toy to hard-edged AMC leading man in less than a decade is certainly admirable: If "Wheels" becomes a hit, Mount might even rocket to stardom like fellow AMC star Jon Hamm did.

But as long as the Internet exists, people like us will always be able to look back on (and laugh at) Mount's humble onscreen beginnings.  Hey, look on the bright side: At least he never married Kevin Federline.

Get an exclusive sneak peek at Mount in "Hell on Wheels" right here:

"Hell on Wheels" premieres Sunday, 11/6, at 10pm on AMC.

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668 comments

  • famous jerry
    famous jerry Yesterday
    Nothing shameful about working for a living, saw a guy in a chicken suit the other day waving a sign and getting paid!
  • rick jones
    rick jones Yesterday
    99% of actors started out with comercials and other small gigs...i cant think of one who started out an A-lister. Whats shameful is this article.
  • Rocky
    Rocky 2 days ago
    There's nothing shameful about an honest, paying job.
  • Mac
    Mac Yesterday
    Clint Eastwood i think wrote and starred in the bridges of madison county.... i dont hear anyone calling him a wimp
  • Rodney
    Rodney Yesterday
    Sort of like having your credits say: Dave Nemintz once wrote a useless & lame review of an actor just trying to get a paycheck. Oh wait! That's what Dave is doing.
  • j
    j Yesterday
    I don't get this article at all. The man is an actor. He had an acting job. Is there something I am missing?

    Yahoo should spend more time policing their stories, instead of deleting mine.
  • Coog30
    Coog30 Yesterday
    Dude, Clooney was in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and it didn't stop him from being a super A-lister. Who cares, it's honest work and a stepping stone to success... nothing that should be lambaster by some hack writer. Sure, point out how he got from point a to b, it's a cool success story. But the condescension is dripping in this drivel.
  • David
    David Yesterday
    As Long as you are getting paid and not sailing drugs what does it matter.
  • GWC
    GWC Yesterday
    The writer of this article is a dork.
  • Virgil
    Virgil Yesterday
    The plot idea has a vague similarity to a movie named "The Outlaw Josie Wales" starring one Clint Eastwood.
  • Nikki
    Nikki Yesterday
    I liked his role in Crossroads- he was the best actor! Why dis on someone for starting out in a flop?? Almost every actor has been in a flop. Hell, I'm sure in ten years you will embarrassed that you wrote this article so heartlessly.
  • Searcymanus
    Searcymanus Yesterday
    What online tech school do these yahoo writers get their journalism certificates from anyway?
  • Ed
    Ed Yesterday
    Who writes this garbage?
  • shydreamguy
    shydreamguy Yesterday
    dont you just love it when someone looks better the older they get ?
    he sure does.
  • Bruce
    Bruce Yesterday
    I once worked at Mc Donalds in order to get a pay check and I hope that never gets out, because all my Burger King co-workers would never let me live it down.... LMAO LOL
  • Dean
    Dean Yesterday
    Actors are supposed to play different roles ......................right ?
  • Bob
    Bob Yesterday
    Working's no crime
  • Andy
    Andy Yesterday
    Actors need to get over roles they took to get started in the business. No one cares. By dissing those roles they just seem phony. Just be honest and say, 'that was another time in my life I did what I had to do.'
  • Annon
    Annon Yesterday
    Sort of like having your credits say: Dave Nemintz once wrote a useless & lame review of an actor just trying to get a paycheck. Oh wait! That's what Dave is doing
  • Eli
    Eli Yesterday
    I'm sure we've all had some cheesy moments in our life time.
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