Actor Jeff Goldblum sat down with contributing editor Dotson Rader for a revealing interview about his life, career, his third marriage, new fatherhood and his new movie, Independence Day: Resurgence, which opens June 24.
Here’s some:
On becoming an actor: “Around 10, I went to summer camp. There was a drama program. They gave me the lead in this show called Belle of the Balkans, a Gilbert and Sullivan takeoff. I rehearsed with my mom. I was totally exhilarated and tingly. By the time I was in high school, I was obsessed. Every day I’d write on the steamy shower door, ‘God, please let me be an actor.’”
On playing an “action” role in Independence Day: Resurgence: “I’m a humble student of acting and a grateful actor who shows up each time trying not to take it for granted. I like that I get to play a variety of parts, but I’ve liked the few parts where I’m ‘heroic’ and so-called ‘action-y.”
On his wife, Emilie Livingston: “She’s Canadian, her mom is French. She was in the Olympics [in rhythmic gymnastics]. At 2, she followed her sister in to ballet classes, then started to do gymnastics [and] this Russian coach sussed her out. She’s expanded her technique aerial things, like Cirque du Soleil. She [performed] on the Oscars last year.”
On fatherhood and his new son, Charlie Ocean, born last summer: “This morning I made his bottle and changed his diaper. Then I sat there and watched him play. He just started to say, ‘Dada.’ It’s thrilling. He goes to bed at the same time every night and takes his naps at the same time. He gets bathed every night at 6:20, the three of us together in the tub. It’s just delightful.”