My bar for being successful is being able to do movies that really mean something to me and being able to make a living off of that.
I’ve been on so many movies. Generally, I haven’t gotten to be on the ground level. As of two years ago, in ‘Dear John,’ I got to really be on the ground floor. I wasn’t a producer. I felt like I put the work in, and I did have a lot of sway on what got fixed, reshoots, so on and so forth. It felt really good.
In all the movies I’m in love with someone in my head. There’s always love in a film somewhere. It doesn’t matter even if it’s an action movie.
I was terrified to do ‘G.I. Joe.’ I had no idea how to do one of those movies. I was kind of scared. You know, if one of those doesn’t work, it’s a huge hit on your career. People are like, ‘Well he couldn’t make a $170 million movie work. I don’t want him in my film.’
If my Dad doesn’t like you, you will know. My Mom is just too innocent to ever lie. She doesn’t even cuss.
I was not good in school. I could never read very fast or very well. I got tested for learning disabilities, for dyslexia. Then I got put on Ritalin and Dexedrine. I took those starting in the eighth grade. As soon as they pumped that drug into me, it would focus me right in.
Jim Thorpe is someone I’ve always loved. He was an Olympic athlete, you know, and a football player from back in the day. I’d love to play him. And then there’s a guy called Iceman who was a top hit man for the mob. I would love to play him. Actually, it’s sort of in the works, so I hope it goes through.
You have the dreams that you want, and then you have to do other jobs until you can get to that dream.
I think all jocks have a sensitive side. It’s just, will they show it to anybody? Will they let their guard down and stop being tough and the cool jock guy around their friends, or just relax? I don’t know if it’s best to say opening up, but just relax and really say what you’re actually thinking, and not what you think people want to hear.
Someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously and can be a goofball. Because everyone’s a nerd inside, I don’t care how cool you are.