Austin Basis has never really had much of a stable acting career, and spent much of his years jumping from series to series as a guest star.

Basis, in a phone interview, described himself as a series regular on “Life Unexpected,” the two-season-long show that aired on the CW from 2010 to 2011. 

After years of playing random characters on TV and film—he was a guest star on “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” he played a bank teller in “J. Edgar,” and he even acted in the show “Necessary Roughness” for two episodes—he has found a found a show where viewers can see him on a weekly basis.  

Now, at the age of 36, Basis landed a role on the CW’s “Beauty and the Beast,” a live-action version of the classic fairy tale. 

He has played J.T. Forbes for the past seven episodes, a scientist and sidekick who is using his knowledge to cure his friend, the Beast, from his mutation. 

“Beauty and the Beast” has provided him with a regular paycheck, but Basis said he loved being a guest star on television because he was never confined to one role—playing both somber and comedic characters. 

“I like (playing a range of characters through guest roles), because I get to do all things,” Basis said. 

With the character of J.T., Basis said he has been able to show the full extent of his acting abilities because he constantly has to adapt to the changes the writers add to his characters. 

It is the second time Basis has spent so much time playing one character that is constantly evolving as the show continues to develop.

In order to understand his character’s lines—J.T. has a very extensive vocabulary—Basis did research and brushed up on his scientific vocabulary. 

“I don’t always understand what he is saying and have a hard time pronouncing some of the words in his lines, but I do it to understand why I’m saying what is on the script.”

Basis auditioned for “Beauty and the Beast,” after reading the script and forming a relationship with J.T., which he said is crucial to playing any role. 

“I’m not quite as intelligent as (J.T) is, but I’m as much as a wisea– as him,” Basis said. 

Having already known the director of the show, Basis admitted that his nerves melted over when the time for his auditions came. 

He said he has walked into many audition rooms and faced the intimidating executives who have his fate in their hands. 

Basis said, “You’re faced with the subjective whim or taste of a person making the final decision.”

Within a week he was cast. 

Even after landing a role on a network television show, Basis said his fame has remained the same, and that fans have not come flocking to him with requests for autographs and pictures; his world has stayed relatively normal. 

And he has maintained a loyal fan base through social media avenues like Twitter, where he mentioned keeping an intimate relationship with more than 1,000 followers. 

“Things haven’t changed much for me with the fans, but I do maintain a close audience through social media,” Basis said. 

“I’ve accumulated people (followers) who have followed me since the early days of my career, and that’s more important to me.”

However, Basis said he doesn’t think of himself as the kind of person who invites a lot of attention from the public. 

 While playing a sidekick on the show, Basis said J.T. has had plenty of screen time where he is able to show off the extent of his intelligence. 

In the first episodes, Basis said the main characters have barely interacted with one another, but that will change during the last half of the first season when their “world’s collapse within each other.”

Basis said he feels content where he is right now with his career, but wants to continue to grow as an actor. 

He said growth is a possibility for him on “Beauty and the Beast.”

On the show, J.T. spends so much time helping the Beast that he becomes a dominating force in his world and consumes every moment of his free time. 

When Basis moved out to California to pursue a serious career in acting, he became so focused on finding a job on television and film that his personal life fell into the background. 

With his experience in Hollywood and new role on television, Basis has found a “comfortable balance between his work and his social life.”

Jaime Lopez can be reached at 581-2812 or jlopez2@eiu.