Photo: Warner Bros./Everett Collection

Milo Ventimiglia, Gilmore Girls Jess

Sorry to members ofGilmore Girls' Team Jess,Milo Ventimigliais not with you.

After playing one man in a years-long love battle for the heart of Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), the actor now says hewouldn’t support Jessas a boyfriend for Rory because the bad boy of Stars Hollow was “a child.”

“I think Jess had a lot of life to live,” Ventimiglia toldInStyle. “And I don’t think he was quite set up the best way in his younger years — not having a father, not having a parent. He had to find his way on his own a little bit. And I think he got to it a little quicker, just a place of … acceptance of who he was, and what he wanted to be, and who he wanted to be around.”

Now that he’s older, Ventimiglia said he’s learned more about life: “The older I’ve gotten, you know, [at age] 45, emotions kind of hit you differently. You care about life a little bit more. You care about people a lot more.”

Alex Harper for Instyle

Milo Ventimiglia for InStyle

“I think playing Jess helped me understand [the concept of an] ‘internet boyfriend’ a little bit,” he quipped.

Contrasting Jack and Jess, he revealed where he really found inspiration during his six seasons playing Jack.

Milo Ventimiglia for InStyle

Unlike Jess, Ventimiglia said he felt like Jack was an “attainable hero” — someone people could “strive to be.”

“It goes beyond just men, women, old, young — any background. It’s like, ‘Let’s just strive to have a golden heart,'” Ventimiglia said. “We all have our hangups. We all make our mistakes. But fundamentally, who Jack was? He was just a good, solid man.”

Milo Ventimiglia for InStyle

After playing two greatly desired “internet boyfriends,” Ventimiglia is pivoting into a completely different role as a smooth-talking swindler in ABC’sThe Company You Keep.

Perhaps showing he’s more of a Jack than a Jess, the actor made a point to bring along several folks from hisThis Is Usteam to his new series.

“This Is Uswas such a wonderful set to be on,” he toldemmymagazime. “How could I not try toput that magic into a new endeavorthat we have? So far, it has really saved us, helped us.”

He adds, “I know a lot of talented folks. When you can work with your friends, I just think that’s the best recipe. You’re going to capture something great and have a good time while you’re doing it.”

And though his new character Charlie Nicoletti falls mostly on the side of Bad Boy, he’ll probably have a few hints of Jack in him as well. “I’m sure Charlie will pop up with a mustache, with some facial hair,” Ventimiglia teases, “and maybe blonde at some point or a little wild hair.”

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The Company You Keeppremieres Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

source: people.com