Posted: July 22, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
Lee Pace says his dog woke him the morning the Emmy nominations were announced last week.
“My dog woke me up because he wakes me up every morning to go on a hike,” said Pace, who was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as amiable piemaker Ned on “Pushing Daisies.”
“He doesn’t care about the Emmys,” Pace told The Associated Press. “But when I got up and saw I had a lot of messages, I knew what it meant. It’s nice and I’m really happy and I am back to work today,” he said.
Pace, who “stumbled” into acting in high school and went on to study at New York City’s famed Juilliard School, has appeared in several Broadway plays, as well as films like “The Good Shepherd” with Matt Damon and “Possession” with Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Despite his impressive credentials, the Texas-born actor said he’s “not totally comfortable” with his new-found fame, which includes being recognized at airports and shopping malls.
“I’d rather stay reclusive at home with my dog,” he admitted.