Hollywood Career Looms For Russian Figure Skater

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Ilia Kulik strolls through the lobby of a beachside hotel with his arm around his girlfriend's waist. Luckily, none of the young girls who squeal during the Olympic champion figure skater's performances are around to get jealous.

In their eyes, the 21-year-old Russian rivals teen heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, and like the American actor, Kulik is aiming for a career on the big screen.

"My aim is to try to express myself. I would love to do something with acting," he said during a rare off-day from the Champions on Ice tour, which ends this month.

Hollywood agrees. Kulik's shaggy blond hair, confident demeanor and rosy cheeks are a winning combination that would look good in the movies, according to Scott Henderson, Kulik's agent from William Morris.

"He has a big future as an actor because he's not only a great-looking guy, but he's very charismatic. Girls really like him," said Henderson, a former elite-level skater.

Part of Kulik's fascination with show business is because of his girlfriend, Maria Anikanova, a Russian actress who appeared on Broadway last year.

"We're talking about it (acting) all the time. She's telling me how to deal with myself," he said. "I find it so interesting because of her."

Kulik often is compared to DiCaprio, whom he's never met. The skater and the actor have one thing in common - both were named to People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful list this year.

"It's a compliment," Kulik said. "I'm not taking it so seriously. If you're going to . . . there is no time to think about your business."

Henderson said the high-powered agency has a "big plan" for Kulik. Two scripts with skating themes are being developed. He'll work with a coach to lose his Russian accent, and acting lessons are a possibility.

"He could be in an action movie, a thriller or a romantic comedy would be great, too," Henderson said. "The very fact that he's got all the qualities of an American star, but he's not American, that really makes him different. You have to be different to make it."

Kulik set himself apart from the skating pack in Nagano, winning gold in his first Olympics and becoming the first champion to land a quadruple jump as well as eight triple jumps.

He gained almost as much notoriety for the yellow shirt he wore - criticized for its giraffe-like spots. After the tour, Kulik plans to donate it to the All-Star Cafe in Las Vegas.

"There were so many emotions in this costume," he said. "There is not any sense for this to be in my closet. It's better for it to be on display."

Kulik signed on to the grueling Champions on Ice tour shortly after his Olympic victory. For three months, he's done multiple shows in 60 cities.

"I'm not getting bored. Even if it seems I'm doing the same routine every show, every time for me is special and different," he said. "On this tour, I open for myself so many new things. I just love that feeling."

So do his fans. In every city, girls scream and shower stuffed animals on the ice. Kulik is ready for them. He carries a stack of glossy photos for autograph seekers.

"It's saving me time," he said.

Kulik is considerate toward his fans in another way. He bought a laptop computer to while away the hours between shows, went online and discovered a fan club in his honor called "Kulik Krew."

"I'm just crazy about that thing," he said, explaining he felt behind the times until he conquered cyberspace.

Kulik's next move will be away from his training base in Massachusetts. He'd like to live in Los Angeles or New York, his favorite U.S. cities.

He said he'll decide in the next couple of months whether to turn professional or remain amateur. Kulik seems to be leaning toward life as a pro, which would eliminate the serious training required for the 2002 Olympics.

"If you're turning pro, there are so many different ways to express yourself," he said. "There are so many different ways to do something else besides jumping and technical stuff. This is an interesting way to go."