Ashern, Man., native Adam Beach is proud to be breaking down the stereotype of the "Hollywood Indian" with his role as a detective on Law & Order: SVU.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- There is a certain Depp, and depth, to Adam Beach's acting.

Beach, the Canadian actor who has joined the permanent cast of NBC's Law & Order: SVU, said yesterday at the Television Critics Association tour that his major inspiration was Johnny Depp.

"Johnny Depp was the one who made me want to act," said Beach, 34.

"(Depp) was doing 21 Jump Street and he was playing these different characters that were involved with different high schools. And as a kid, I just wanted to live a different life.

"Coming from the second-worst neighbourhood in Canada, my neighbourhood was predominantly Native, and the statistics for people coming out of that neighbourhood was 80% going to jail. But we're not just a statistic of failure.

"There are some of us who are doing good."

Beach is of Saulteaux descent, was born in Ashern, Man., and subsequently grew up on the Dog Creek Indian Reserve and later in Winnipeg. Through his high-profile role on Law & Order: SVU, Beach hopes he is helping to change many of the negative perceptions about Native people.

"Law & Order basically did in one year what I've been trying to do for 17 years, which is to get away from the stereotype of the Hollywood Indian," Beach said. "Here's this character, he's a detective, yes he's Mohawk, and he has a depth in that his ancestors built New York City."

Beach had a movie breakthrough with Clint Eastwood's Flags of our Fathers and also stars in Moose TV on Showcase. Are there any similarities between the Law & Order: SVU set and the Moose TV set?

"Oh, man," Beach said with a laugh. "Moose TV is very independent, low budget. Law & Order: SVU is like a big massive movie production.

"One's a comedy, one's a drama, but what I like about both of them is that they're shattering the image of Hollywood Indians."

Beach said he has received some valuable advice from the veteran actors in the Law & Order franchise.

"They said, try to not over-analyze who your character is, because they want you," Beach said.

"I have a lot to say about being a role model for Native people, and that's what they want to see.

"(The writers) asked me not to adopt a strong Brooklyn accent. They want me to just maintain who I am and how I talk. So they've incorporated 'dude.' "

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