Wayne Bastrup has made headlines since the day he was born — literally.

Although Bastrup grew up in Sequim, he made the front page of the local newspaper as the first baby of the New Year in Jefferson County in 1976.

Forty years later and Bastrup still is making a name for himself, only in Hollywood where he’s carved out an acting career.

Bastrup has been cast in a variety of films and TV series, but most recently in the films “Love & Mercy,” “Terminator Genisys,” “Sully” and “Radio America.”

“There was no way in a trillion years that I ever thought I would have the opportunity to meet, let alone work on a Clint Eastwood movie,” Bastrup said referring to his most recent project, “Sully,” directed by Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks. “It wasn’t in the realm of any feasible reality.”

“He’s a legend,” he said. “So to have the opportunity to have him as my boss for a month blew my mind.”

Before making his way to the big screen however, Bastrup spent 18 years in Sequim and graduated from Sequim High in 1994.

“Sequim was an ideal place to grow up because it’s such a rural community, you become an outdoor kid whether you want to or not,” he said.

With an irrigation ditch running through his backyard, Bastrup has countless memories of playing along the ditch, losing many G.I. Joes.

“I can’t tell you how many I lost down that stream.”

In school Bastrup describes himself as a “quiet, shy student, who got good grades and tried to fly below everyone’s radar” but stayed busy playing baseball, basketball, soccer and football.

“As I got older, I got restless,” he said. “The Seattle grunge scene exploded as I moved into high school and music became a focus.”

Clint Eastwood stands with Sequim native Wayne Bastrup. Bastrup recently was cast in “Sully,” a biographical drama about an American pilot directed by Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks. The film is set to release in September. Submitted photo

Like acting, Bastrup was drawn to drumming as it was a “creative outlet,” he said.

After graduation, Bastrup headed for Seattle. When he first entered college, he wanted to become an engineer, then a baseball player, then an English professor, followed by a professional mountain biker. His interests continued into photography, graphic design, bicycle designer and writer. He, did however, leave University of Washington with a Master of Architecture degree.

“I always find it strange that the minute you turn 18, you’re, in a sense, required to find that one thing you’re supposed to do for the rest of your life.”

For those Sequim students yet to graduate, Bastrup suggests getting out and doing as many things as possible before deciding on anything — “Explore,” he said.

Bastrup eventually settled into his profession as an architect and worked at a Seattle-based architecture firm. In reaction to the recession, construction began to slow and by 2009 Bastrup was laid off.

“My move to California was a direct result of the ‘Great Recession,’” he said. “I tend to be fairly practical and acting at that point was just a hobby.”

Given the state of construction, however, and lack of work in Bastrup’s chosen field at the time, he decided to move to Los Angeles. In overcoming the challenges faced in Hollywood, such as finding the right representation, classes, branding and self-promotion, Bastrup said his Sequim upbringing helped.

“Growing up in a rural area toughens you up in different ways than growing up in a large city,” he said. “I spent countless hours in the Olympics either hiking, mountain biking or creating mischief.”

Bastrup easily recalls digging many ditches for his father’s plumbing company, baling hay and even devoting a summer working at the Olympic Game Farm.

“I was outside all of the time getting my hands in the dirt and getting stung by nettles,” he said. “All of these experiences shape your work ethic and ultimately, who you are as a person — and who you are as a person is the first thing you start with in acting.”

Despite the challenges associated with becoming an actor, one of the primary things that inspired Bastrup to become an architect also is one of the most enjoyable parts of being an actor. That thing — “Getting to understand how the whole system works.” he said.

Bastrup remembers the “awe” he felt when approaching Seattle on the Bainbridge ferry as a child.

“The skyscrapers seemed so impossible. I had to know how they were built and the same goes for Hollywood and filmmaking,” he said. “When I first started, it seemed magical — these entire worlds could be created and put on a screen.”

As Bastrup continues to unfold the mechanisms and magic behind Hollywood, he still enjoys creating music, but his 16-month old daughter has stolen the spotlight in his life.

“My main interest these days is exploring the world with her,” he said. “Traveling is a bit of a challenge right now, but she’s visited Sequim twice since she was born — no opinion yet from her on what she thinks.”

For more information about Bastrup, visit www.waynebastrup.com.

Fun facts about Wayne Bastrup:

• Favorite movie: “Trainspotting,” directed by Danny Boyle. Why? “It’s the perfect mix of story, writing, comedy, drama and performance. I’m a sucker for movies that are rooted in reality and take on social or political topics.”

• Favorite Sequim memory: “I spent the first 18 years of my life in Sequim, so I have many. Helping to build the Sequim Little League baseball fields, which were a block away from my house, is a good one.”

• Role model: “I’m not sure I have any specific role models I look up to, but there are actors whose careers I admire and aspire to, like Joseph Gordon Levitt, Paul Dano, Ryan Gosling and Ewan McGregor.”

• First job: “Well, other than digging ditches for my dad’s plumbing business, my first real job was as a bus boy at Traylor’s Restaurant.”

• Do you ever visit Sequim? “I do get back to Sequim, but not as often as I’d like. I have a 16-month-old daughter and traveling is a bit of a challenge right now. My father still lives there and my mother is buried there, so my connection to the area is still very strong.”