McDreamy: McHumbled And McHumorous
With script aside and hair undone, "Grey's Anatomy" heartthrob Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey can make one believe that he's just like everybody else.
In a recent interview with PARADE, we learn that despite the "McDreamy" factor, Dempsey isn't perfect; he laughs at himself when it comes to his hunky persona and admits that he suffered from dyslexia and dropped out of high school to pursue acting.
"I was dyslexic, so I never had the skills for school," Dempsey admitted to PARADE.
With a challenging condition, he dropped out of high school and moved to L.A. to focus on his acting career.
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"By listening to books on tape, going to lectures or watching documentaries and finding out how I needed to learn, that's when my education began. I had a hunger for learning and was constantly seeking to improve myself."
One of Dempsey's improvements that he acquired along the way was his ability to inject humor into his life and laugh at himself now regarding all of the surreal hype that constantly surrounds him.
"People are seeing a fantasy," Dempsey told PARADE. "It's not necessarily me, but it does help your ego," he said. "Look, I know TV is a visual medium, so of course I want to be in shape, but I don't want to be ripped." Then, poking fun at his "McSteamy" co-star, he added "I'm not Eric Dane. McSteamy is in perfect shape. I definitely have pec envy. There's a lot of pressure being a man in this town."
Photos: Dempsey & Donatella
"McSteamy" pecs or not, Dempsey can add unabashed humor to yet another one of his endearing qualities.
"Acting is just too much work. All I really want to be is a supermodel," Dempsey lightheartedly told PARADE for this Sunday's issue.
Dempsey's wife Jillian also has a great sense of humor and makes fun of her hunky hubby as well.
"She always says in the morning, 'They should see you now.'" Dempsey said.
His wife is his rock, who he says never shuns opportunities when they come knocking on his door, which is quite often.
"I have an amazing wife. She's the road forward. She's the one who opens the door and says, 'It's yours, walk through.' She never closes a door," Dempsey said with affection.
The happily grounded couple has a daughter, Talula, 6, and 1-year-old twin boys, Darby and Sullivan, who light up their lives.
"It's like a slapstick routine watching these drunk little men run around because they're wobbly," Dempsey told PARADE with a chuckle. "When you see something happen that they couldn't do the day before, it's really heartwarming."
Oftentimes, Dempsey becomes saddened without all of the childhood noise of his family life when he is away working on a project.
"I was in the gilded cages of all these great hotels, and I just couldn't figure out why I was so depressed," he says. "It was too quiet. I'm used to the noise and the laughter and even the crying."
Dempsey doesn't pinch himself anymore to see if his success is real or not.
"I'm riding high," Dempsey said. "I've been on a marathon run, and I've just about achieved some perspective on everything that's happened. I'm not the same person who started out wanting just to be rich and famous. I've worked hard to get to this point, so I don't worry anymore that I don't deserve this."
There is still a fine line that any successful actor must draw before becoming too overzealous about one's fame.
"It gets very heady, fame," Dempsey said. "You've got to be very careful. I think I've been managing that well. This is a great opportunity now to really define the next part of my life. I just want to do it right."
"McDreamy" fans can see Dempsey - sans lab coat - in his new flick "Made of Honor," which will hit theaters on May 2.
By Melissa Castellanos