Justin Theroux is finally giving real interviews to support his HBO series, The Leftovers. Which I haven’t been watching (because I canceled HBO as soon as Game of Thrones was over). Justin sat down with Interview Mag for what turned out to be a pretty charming piece, mostly because his interviewer was the amazing and hilarious Amy Sedaris. At the beginning of the piece, Justin and Amy are giving each other crap and Justin teases her about wearing a trench coat to their meeting and Amy retorts: “Justin is wearing a petite-sized T-shirt.” LMAO. Anyway, you can read the whole piece here (do it for Amy) and here are some highlights:
He comes from a family of writers: “I’m not like those guys. They’re real writers. They write books. If I had to write long-form stuff with descriptions of rooms, it would be so boring for me. I like writing dialogue and jokes and situational stuff.”
Deciding to move to NYC: “I think it was probably Flashdance [1983], which I later found out was actually set in Pittsburgh. I just saw big lofts and raw spaces and I was like, “F–k! That would be amazing to live there.” But I always had it in my head that New York was where I wanted to go. I don’t know why. I started coming here in my teen years. In school, I would sometimes come here on my vacations.”
He does drama & comedy: “I always did, like, a mix. I didn’t have a lot of ambition, which I think was a good thing. I mean, I was ambitious about quality, but I wasn’t ambitious in the “I’ve got to get a pilot!” way. I never went out to L.A. for pilot season. Maybe I should’ve been more ambitious, but it just didn’t make me happy. I did a TV show [The District] for a while and I was miserable.”
What annoys him: “Sandals really bum me out. I don’t want to see feet. A strapless shoe can look sexy on a girl, but anything that exposes a man’s feet is … Also sweatpants are disgusting. Slow walkers I don’t like.”
What he loves about LA: “I like all the clichés. I mean, I love someone who lives in Los Angeles—so that’s a big draw. But I love the weather. It does feel like a slightly healthier lifestyle, being able to hike and do all that crap.”
Living in NYC half the year: “In New York, you can bump into someone on the street and go to a thing, go get coffee real quick. You can get stuff done in New York that you can’t in Los Angeles. If you wanted to get some milk and get your shoes repaired and drop something off at the dry cleaner, that’s an all-day adventure in Los Angeles. In New York, you can bang that out in half an hour… I love New York. Right now, it’s kind of perfect. I’m in New York part of the time and in L.A. part of the time. That’s always been a goal, to be bicoastal in a real way. The show is on a limited schedule. It’s not like a network show, where they nail your foot to the floor for the entire year. I’m writing during my long hiatuses and developing other stuff. It’s a perfect fit. For someone who is scatterbrained like me, it’s nice.”
He also talks about his style and you can tell that he actually cares about his clothes and how he puts his “look” together. Which… I kind of like that he’s that open about it. Amy brings out the best in him, because he’s a chatter-box and very charming and sweet to her. You can tell they’ve been friends for ages. Also: they bond about how they both guest-starred on Sex and the City! So cute.
As for his bicoastal plans… we’ll see what happens in the long-run. It sounds like he’s pretty happy living half the year in NYC, but I do wonder if his relationship with Jennifer can withstand the distance for much longer. But, yeah, we’ll see. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong.
Photos courtesy of ROBBIE FIMMANO/INTERVIEW.
Sandals. Sweatpants. But how does he really feel about shorts?
and cargo pants? Cargo shorts? Capris? So many questions!!!!
wifebeater t-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, baseball hats? Why limit himself? We need to know so much more.
😀 😀
Justin you hate sandals and sweats but I’m willing to bet your balls aren’t to fond of skinny jeans
I agree with his balls. Those skinny jeans look silly on him. They make his legs look 2 inches long.
HIs nether regions silently crave sweatpants. A la John Mayer- his mind is justin theroux(ly ADD) and his balls are rosie o donnell
i want to know his opinion on fanny packs and t-shirts that say “FBI Special Agent” on them.
OMG yes!!
Justin may hate sandals and sweats, but I can see him carrying a murse (man purse).
Maybe if his feet saw some daylight they wouldn’t look so green around the gills?
Wow, I can’t believe that I agree with him on all three of those things, lol. I don’t like men’s feet and I loathe slow walkers and sweatpants, hahahaha. Heck, I don’t even own a pair of sweatpants and slow walkers make my blood pressure shoot up through the roof. Maybe I need to relax more. 😛
I agree with him too. I would just add that this applies to women too. I hate seeing a woman in flipflops or flat sandals on the street. 9/10 times you can see this crud her feet have been accumulating over the day from being so close to the street and all the attendant gunk. And sweatpants? Forgetaboutit. Gross.
I think I get a pass. I’m a mom and a yoga teacher, so sandals and some type of spiritual sweatpants are my uniform. Of course I’m single and know I’d possibly get more play if I wore tight tushy “leggings”, but me arse aint’ what it usta be, so sweats with flowers it is!
I feel the same about the flip flops, hate the sound they make too, and flats that have only a tiny strap between the toes, so uncomfortable IMO. In the city women’s feet get so dirty from walking around all day, and add to that taking the subway. Ugh! My biggest pet peeve about it is women whose feet are yellowed, dry, and cracking and still wear these things, or any open shoe for that matter. It’s so disgusting. Go buy a bottle of moisturizer and put it on your feet at bedtime. Takes a few minutes and makes a huge difference.
I think footwear and clothing depends on just WHERE you live. For instance, I was born in California near the ocean. It’s entirely appropriate to wear nice looking, well made sandals or even rubber sandals at times, but maybe not for city shopping–not for everything, of course. But California is much more casual than say New York, where I would dress up more or wear closed shoes most of the time because of the city grime, for one thing. The big, baggy sweat pant look is kind of too sloppy & casual for me, personally, but a nice fitting pair of yoga pants I would wear in California, no problem. Jeans seems to be universally worn on the streets both in NY and LA, and even California clothing can vary and largely depends on whether you are in San Francisco, L.A., or somewhere in between.
I agree with him on most of that too! Especially the feet part but I have to add women in there too b/c there are a lot of nasty exposed female feet stomping around now. I don’t mind sweatpants tho as long as they’re not ragged and smelly or have holes all over the place. Slow walking drives me nuts, I always have to side step them top get past b/c my natural walk is a fast pace.
The part about writers was kind of interesting too b/c I can’t get into books that go on for pages about the color of the sky or go on and on with every detail about the look of something. When I read I like more dialogue, action/plot build up rather than the different shades of the sun or how the rain felt.
I never really paid attention to him but this kind of makes me like him.
I totally agree with him.
My friend said Theroux is really good on his new show. Whatever it’s called.
Ha ha me too regarding the slow walkers. I work in DC and take a commuter bus and metro so I have a lot of walking to get to and from work and it is so annoying being slowed down by slow walkers. In fact are there really any walkers who aren’t slow? I rarely come across someone as motivated ase to mooooove it. And like @Kaiser I only pay for HBO during Game of Thrones and cancel the very next day after the last episode.
I don’t think there is any thing wrong with flip flops or sandals. Then again, I live on the face of the sun and you just can’t do totally covered feet for 8 months out of the year. I guess I don’t mind feet.
I do hate slow walkers, though. Especially in places where you can’t get around them. GRRR!
I dislike any of those either. I like a man with a good style. I don’t care if he will be considered old fashioned. I’m a daughter of a man who never wore a sock which would show flesh under the trousers if he crossed his feet. That was a rule. I detest what I see on the street. It’s pathetic. Sadly, women are quick to follow. If I see one more pair of the ugly Birkenstock or Teva or similar medical shoe, intended for people with problems, I will throw up.
Really? I don’t like them as much as other of their body parts, but I can’t say I dislike them. As looks go, I’d far rather see a man in sandals with bare feet than the other option–socks and sandals with shorts! And that goes double for black socks!!
His cousin is Lois Theroux, who does great documentaries. Talented family! He wrote Tropic Thunder, he will always be cool to me.
Yeah, flip flops on men are a big turn off.
@Hmmm, who wrote: “He wrote Tropic Thunder, he will always be cool to me.”
Didn’t he co-write “Tropic Thunder” with Ben Stiller and Etan Cohen?
I think JT came on board very early on in the development of Tropic Thunder and he co-wrote the story and script with Ben Stiller and maybe some other writer.
There is lots of extra stuff on the DVD, where JT does some sort of mockumentary. Funny stuff!
CO-WROTE Tropic Thunder with Ben S and a couple other dudes ..do not renew HBO for his show- so awful & I say this as a Lost fan who didn’t even hate the ending. BTW, how is this 40 something man who dresses like a pre teen girl in his skinny jeans, tight tees & big boots qualified to spout off about fashion?! That said, there are many people who have no business exposing their gross feet in public- gag!
HOW did I not know he’s Louis Theroux’s cousin? That’s awesome!!
And he’s Paul Theroux’s nephew. I don’t have money to travel right now, so his books take me there!
The whole interview is actually pretty decent! I think he’s sweet when he mentions Aniston 🙂
He sounds really cool. Why do people dislike him again?
I don’t dislike him, I find him quite sexy. I just don’t like those skinny jeans he wears.
His show The Leftover are pretty good yall.
Don’t hate him, but he feels 100% contrived to me. Not into guys who find themselves to be cooler than anyone else, especially ones who share fashion tips with Justin Beiber.
He’s really good friends with Terry Richardson
yup, that’s why 🙁
He also cheated on his last gf with his new one.
Oh and if you were a drug user/addict in your past that qualifies as a reason to dislike a celeb as well *eye roll*.
sorry for the double post
Gah! Forgot about that. Gross.
He is friends with Terry Richardson?
I don’t know, I like him. I like the way he turns a phrase “…nail your foot to the floor…”
I think he’s hot too. Sorry.
Amy Sedaris is the balls.
Cause he’s with jennifer and the loons want her to be miserable forever
You guys, I’m crushing hard on him. I think the fact that he’s like best friends with Amy Sedaris is making me like him more. Damn it. lol
Amy Sedaris makes everything better.
Terry Richardson makes everything worse.
I still think he’s a really terrific actor but a really bland individual. Every time I see him in a movie, he stands out because he’s pretty talented. Every time I read about him I’m like, “And???”
he sounds (or rather, reads like) he’s in a happy place right now. i can’t watch his new series but reviews i’ve read are good.
live long and prosper, Justin. and please stay away from Creepy Uncle.
I’m watching The Leftovers (I pretty much watch every HBO series).
It’s a slow burn so far, and in terms of story could go either way at this point (it might be great, it might just suck). But I will say that Theroux is the best thing about the show, both his storyline and his acting (can’t stand his character’s daughter though)
I’ve always liked him as an actor, but even I am surprised at how compelling he is in this role.
Mandals are gross.
I’ll never understand the hate over chanclas or sweatpants…
Let people be comfortable for christ’s sake.
That being said, I like Justin (minus his friendship with Richardson), he seems down to earth; I also like it when men care about their appearance, it’s nice.
Watched the first episode of The Forgotten and didn’t really like it. But I thought his acting was pretty good and he plays his part well. But I happen to like my men more beachy and free, which means shorts, sandals, and tshirts are my preference. I guarantee that this guy takes way more time to get ready to go out than I do.
I have a friend like that … spends more time in front of the mirror than I do! Half an hour just on his eyebrows! And don’t even get him started on shorts and cargos and bad hair …
Justin reminds me of that guy. Love the guy, but could never date him. Like my friend, I bet Justin would be a pain to date (at least for me), but would be great to go shopping with 🙂
I hate the man-brow-plucking. It creeps me out, don’t know why.
Ha I know, me too! I guess I prefer my guys to look a bit rugged. If they’re too plucked I’d be afraid he’d leave me for his body waxer or something …
He strikes me as someone who tries to be the brooding artsy type but really isn’t. There is just something “try-hard” about him that bugs me…like he’s chosen a persona based on a composite character he likes and he’s trying to convince everyone that’s who he is. There is just something inauthentic about him.
How can this man be with Jenifer Aniston, they are so different… He seems really cool and sweet, whenever I read an interview from her I get really bored very fast and she seems like someone who’s trying too hard…
Slow walkers are The Worst!!! I usually find him and his skinny biker gear laughable, but he seems like a pretty decent guy from this interview. Good job Amy!
I agree – there should be a separate lane for slow walkers. But I reserve my #1 hatred for people walking in busy places while TEXTING OR USING THEIR IPAD WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWD.
The next person who bumps into me while absorbed in an electronic device will have said device shoved where the sun don’t shine.
I just don’t like him. I’m not sure why. I think it’s the skinny jeans, hipster cool attitude. He seems boring and kind of dumb and shallow. I don’t like men who spend hours in front of the mirror. And how could you not know that Flash Dance was set in Pittsburgh? He thought that was New York, so he moved there? Idk, he just rubs me the wrong way. All petty reasons, I admit.
You know what’s really ugly to be seen on the street with? Terry Richardson. Worst accessory ever.
I thought he came across as so likeable in this interview (I too DETEST slow walkers) but the Terry Richardson thing kills it for me.
Too bad too because I might start liking him otherwise.
Meh, I didn’t find him appealing or interesting in the interview, so no loss, no gain.
He still gives me the skeeves, but that’s largely due to his appearance or something.
And yes, slow walkers suck.
Oh, I forgot about his buddy Terry. Yuck.
Slow walkers do totally suck, especially when they walk 3 or 4 abreast, which they love to do.
I think this is kind of rich because the other day I saw pictures of him in Hawaii and he was a wearin’ flip flops. Of course he had is gross beach cutoffs and some kind of lady’s tee on, and trucker hat I think, but still his feet were in flip flops. FLIP FLOPS!
I LOVE AMY SEDARIS.
The show is OK… I don’t love it.
I won’t take any fashion tips from a heterosexual guy who cakes foundation on his face and arches his brows. And why does he always dress up like an Englishman? He’s from D.C.
Don’t really like this man because despite being in the industry – he had to cheat on his girlfriend of 14 years and get together with his sugarmama Jennifer to be noticed in Hollywood.
He had minor roles and not a very successful writing career ( Iron man 2, Rock of Ages were universally panned) while Tropic Thunder was written by at least 5 people beside Justin.
He also use to attack actors/actresses who did tv shows and said only desperate people will ever do a tv show for years. He is now himself reduced to a tv show.
He attacked another famous actor (forgot his name) for talking about their private lives and liking the paps. Again here Justin has been talking about his personal life in very single interview he has done plus he always hangs out where the paps lure.
I now also understand why Justin is so controlled in what he wears and looks like is because he is dyslexic. Dyslexic people learn from an young age to be controlling what they do – that’s how they cope most of the time.
Last but not least – why didn’t Amy ask about his friendship with pervert Terry? Would have loved to know his answer.
PS: I thought this whole interview was supposed to be a promotion for the huge failure The Leftovers. Why didn’t he say anything about the show? Why instead promote his personal live and vanity? Jennifer really does only bring out a man’s vanity when they are together – doesn’t she? It’s only after they have dumped her that they grow up and do something meaningful in life.
IM2 shortcomings should be blamed on Marvel but not on JT.
He wrote it! He deserves lots of blame.
I think you should differentiate between story and script. Marvel forced the set up to the Avengers on Favreau (to which he was not very happy with, especially because Marvel did not allocate much time for production). JT wrote the script.
This guy is so contrived, brooding and self observed it isn’t funny. Not a fan of JA but she needs to loose this guy pronto! Now i believe the story about her girl friends asking her to drop him because of his coldness towards them. Oh my goodness this guy is a walking disaster. I saw the first episode of the leftovers by chance, it started out similar to the block buster movie The Zombies starring Brad Pitt, same taxi cab scene with his wife or woman in it, almost all of the scenes after that seem to be something I have seen in a prior movie, a flop.
Amy Sedaris is pretty great.
Love her. Her brother is funny too.
Yes! Love her, and LOVE her brother. He’s one of my favorite contemporary writers, hands down.
And I hate men in skinny jeans. I always think about Robin Hood -Men in Tights.
Too bad my husband wears them with pleasure.
It’s funny that his image is that of the super cool NY poseur guy, yet he sounds funny, self-deprecating and dorky (in a nice way).
Just lose Terry Richardson and we’re all good.
The furrowed brow, the brooding Beckham look….no, JT, you still are not ‘mad, bad, and dangerous to know’.
Breaking News – Robert Downing Jr just admitted that Justin and Jennifer got together in 2007 while he was still living with his then girlfriend of 14 years. Jennifer slept with Justin for years before Heidu found out. Direct from their mutual friend’s mouth.
Please open a thread about that CB.
No, please don’t. There already seem to be people trolling this thread.
Maya ,RDJ simply states JT and Aniston met when she visited the set of Tropic Thunder.Don’t lie and say they hooked up.As a fan of Brad and Angie you would get upset if someone did the same to them
As for Theroux yesterday on Live with Kelly and Michael there was no applause when Kelly announced he would be on the show today.
Also the ratings for the Leftovers continue to drop.
There is no need to make up lies about him.Looking forward to seeing his skinny jeans on Live with Kelly and Michael.LMAO
Yeah, I’m not understanding how Maya could’ve ‘confused’ this–especially since this isn’t new info. I read about this on CB when they were promoting ‘Wanderlust’ together–I especially remember it because that was right around the time when I actually started commenting, rather than just reading the site.
Jennifer Aniston said this while they were promoting ‘Wanderlust’–don’t remember how it came up, but she said that she had met Justin in 2007 on the set of ‘Tropic Thunder’–Ben Stiller introduced them, and she said that she hadn’t recognized him again, because of the beard.
No scandalous news there.
Again??!
Well Aniston’s fans have been unable to get over it a decade later. These two should be called out for their obvious affair!
Affairs happen, people break up. Its not like we live in the dark ages and people should get stoned for it. Besides its a private issue, outsiders shouldn’t judge especially since everything is speculation.
@ Hmmmm – I agree and couldn’t have said it better myself! Not an advocate of affairs – but the pain should be left for those directly involved and not for a shark like feeding frenzy
He and Anniston are perfect for each other! They are both about as deep as a puddle!
Justin Theroux of the Order of the Skinny Pants will never step foot in a 20 mile vicinity of me. THANK YOU sweatpants with the elastic hanging out of the bottom and THANK YOU 5 dollah flip flops from Target!!!!! I knew these defenses would come to help me someday!
Does he realize he would not even be doing these covers if he was not dating America’s #1 victim with her PR team in tow?!?
He seems more than eager to use her connections to his full advantage. A user.
Today he was on Kelly & Micheal….never would have happened if he was not with Aniston.
I’m not a fan of his personal style, but he always sounds like an interesting, funny guy. I like a lot of his work (weirdly, I think my favorite thing he’s done was his short guest role on Parks and Rec), he’s a really versatile actor. I’m not 100% on board with The Leftovers yet, but it’s a good premise and critics say the third and fourth episode are good, so I’m waiting for those before I make up my mind.
He looks like he’s had plastic surgery or maybe he’s just be metrosexual-ed to death.
He dresses way to young for his age, trying too hard to be hip and…….GUN NECKLACE. No.
How about wearing your keys on your belt loop, buddy? Who are you….Schneider from One Day At a Time?? (Nice Siouxsie shirt, though.)
I love me some flip flops and sweatpants and I will not apologize for that! You know what bums me out, though? Men who wear jorts to the pool!
I’ve never been that fond of him, but I had no idea he was such a fashionista. He sounds so pretentious and way too high maintenance. What a killjoy.
And he still reminds me of Robbie Rotten from Lazytown.
What is he going on about he dresses terribly. His hipster douchebag style is disgusting. What I don’t like is cheaters. Far worse than thongs (flipflops) which I and most people from my country live in, and sweat pants which many people here wear. I don’t get the comments here about him being ‘cool’ and ‘sweet’. What about what he did to Heidi? Cheaters are never cool or sweet. He’s physically repulsive and illproportioned and a judgmental douche and considering his morals he should be the last to judge anyone. Keep reporting trollKath.
Is that you Heidi?
That was a great interview! I love Amy and it’s fun hearing about their history together. He really seems so much more interesting and fun and cool in his NYC life. I don’t get his relationship with Jen at all.
J: So tell everyone you’re wearing a raincoat, extensions and rolled-up jeans!
A: Yeah – Who Am I? haha. Rolled up jeans are the sweatpants of the Village, I always say! And look — you’re wearing tiny little pants from the Jiminy Cricket Collection for Boys!
J: I defined my style when I was child. You only have one lifetime. Do up for it!
A: It shows! You’re glowing like the day after a man-sugar scrub in a spa with no name! So, LA? What do you love most?
J: The palm trees! The dirt! Movie contracts! My dogs! The t-shirts! Tanning, then going to tea shops! Candles and body cream shops! And of course, someone I love is on the West Coast — I will always go back now and again, whenever Uncle Terry says photo shoot at the Marmont! Did I mention I fear men’s feet in sandals?
A: So how can you stand Cabo? I’ve seen pictures! You say you’re writing, but you’re in Cabo! All those bare toes in sandals!
J: haha, I’m from NY! I keep my vision field spare! I don’t look! Remember how we never looked? (they laugh, with a hint of longing and memory.) I only go near men in sandals for my lady. Did I mention my lady? My lady.
A: Remember when we both got by on whatever we made and did any role for rent and switched it up all the time writing and riffing and laughed and had fun and just created freely and talked like this all the time and pranked each other with all our brilliant NY friends. Now, look at you! Is Matt LeBlanc single? (they laugh)
J: I know! Delirium! But, even so, I still don’t drink. (they laugh meaningfully)
A; So, it must be exciting to play a cop! Have you ever shot a gun!
J: Yes and I won this necklace!
A: So when are you two getting married? What color is her dress or bikini?
J: Ha hah that is overly impromptu right now! Hey, what about you?
A: Yeah? So, okay, why aren’t we together? Even our waiter can tell! He’s wringing his hands and nodding over there by the foam machine and burning a copy of PEOPLE with a kitchen torch. We obviously zing off each other’s zang more than you and manga Barbie!
J: I can’t believe we’re ending this on manga Barbie.
Missed you Liberty! Keep rockin”
Liberty-I love you.
🙂
But wearing boots and skinny jeans all the time is okay.
He sounds fine. I don’t have a problem with him. He’s doing promo for his new TV show and isn’t embarrassing himself.
I didn’t understand the “slow walker” thing until realizing he’s used to being packed shoulder to shoulder in his city (cities). Slow walkers are not a big deal here because you’re never really stuck behind anyone for very long.
I think he’s as boring and shallow as his girlfriend. They are apparently made for each other.
Know what bums me out? Pretentious shallow douchebags who think that, because they regularly hang out with people who are almost unbelievably ignorant, think that they’re smarter than everyone else.
Oh Justin…you bum me out.
He’s a tool And I’m being polite.
But His Fiance was wearing a sandal in their last outing in NYC.
Now we know whose the boss in the house.
You know what bums me out? Vacuous interviews with Justin Theroux
I loved this interview , they were really funny