Robert Downey Jr covers the new (and first) issue of GQ Style (US). There’s a British GQ Style, and this is just the American version of it. It will be quarterly, not monthly. And I think RDJ is a good choice for their inaugural issue. After falling out of love with RDJ last year during the disastrous Age of Ultron press tour – which saw RDJ making racism-tinged comments and generally being dickish – I think we’re ready for a new version of RDJ. He hasn’t made any major gaffes during the Captain America: Civil War press tour. In fact, he really hasn’t done that many sit-down interviews at all this year. You can read RDJ’s GQ Style interview here – he talks about how he loves rocks and crystals, what he watches on TV and more.
What he’s looking for in a project: “Honestly, just as someone who loves movies, it’s: Can I be bothered to go see that movie if that guys makes it? I’m not saying that I only want to do quote-unquote popular mainstream movies. But, life is short, and ultimately I’m in a service industry. As much as I exist to do anything else, I exist to create widgets of entertainment for other people to consume. And some people, that’s a big affront to their sensibilities, and I go, okay. End of the day, you are in a service industry, like Kirkland. It’s that simple.”
Failure, humility: “I don’t want to talk about failure. I want to talk about moments of humility. Like when you feel suddenly sick and embarrassed but then you have to continue on to the next moment immediately in full view of others. Because it’s not failure if you just recognize, I fell short, and that’s okay.”
His advice to other would-be stars: “You must learn to put your nose to the grindstone for years and not look up, no matter how much rejection is heaped on you.”
His relationship to technology: “I am like those guys that dressed up like chimpanzees in the opening sequence of A Space Odyssey. People who can type, they’re like Merlin. To me, tech ultimately is a distraction from experience. And, look, information is experience. You experience things when you get information. But I’ll tend to sub-intentionally misplace my phone or my iPad or whatever multiple times a week. In the mid- ’80s, I was one of the first guys carrying around that big battery with the car phone, because I was like, “Bro!” But it was all about, you know, effect.
He has five TVs in his house, and he likes to watch TV: “Last night, I watched the conclusion of The People v. O.J. Simpson. Previous to that, I doubled back and finished up season four of House of Cards. Maybe the best season yet. I am frothing at the thumb controls for the second season of Mr. Robot,which is probably the best thing that’s been on TV or theater for five years. I am hopelessly strung out on what used to be the Military History channel—and then they changed channel 287 on DirecTV to the American Heroes channel—because I love military history.”
His biggest splurge: “Epsom salts and baking soda. I highly recommend this to everybody. If you’re traveling, if you’re fatigued, if you’re training at a high level, if you’re stressed out, run a bath. Put four pounds of Epsom salts, which is essentially one big milk carton’s worth, and four pounds of baking soda, which is essentially four of the refrigerator size of the Arm & Hammer. Put those in a bath and sit in it for 15 minutes.
There’s so much other stuff in the interview, so I would recommend just reading the whole piece. He name-checks Rami Malik as THE young actor to watch. He used to collect Iron-Man memorabilia but he started giving it away to kids. He starts collections and never finishes them. And I sort of get what he’s saying about purposefully misplacing all of the tech stuff throughout the week – I’m leaving my current cell phone carrier and I am so ambivalent about getting another cell phone. I don’t even care. I might not get a new one for months.
Photos courtesy of Pari Dukovic exclusively for GQ Style.
Photoshopped to death..
Prolly but he doesn’t look that different from the press tour. Now Johnny Depp, that’s a prime subject for Photoshop.
http://images.glamour.it/gallery/38386/Big/225db80b-45eb-47db-85bf-bfebd01e8bc3.jpg
^This is from last year. Whatever they did to Depp was AMAZING. He looks better than RDJ there.
Precisely. That’s like Johnny cca Secret Window. Or Leo. *shudders*
RDJ looks better in these pics then Depp does in this link you post. What we see with R is a man who still looks his age with a touch of photoshop (what celeb hasn’t been photoshoped). You can still see the lines and crow’s feet. What you see with Depp is a man whose lines and wrinkles have been completely erased. That doesn’t make Depp look better. It makes him look like they photoshopped his age away. RDJ wins hands down. Google pics of Depp from when he was posted here a couple of weeks ago and you will see he looks nothing like the pic you linked.
@V4Real Yeah, I don’t think so. RDJ doesn’t look good here to me, but I don’t find him attractive anyway.
Dude, that Depp pic…
The face and neck don’t look anywhere near as sharp as the forearms… like somebody just crudely blurred out his forehead, eyebags, and cheekbones, then screwed around with the color balance on the neck and face, making them spray-tan orange. It’s hard to believe someone got paid to do that.
@Pamels Depp looks hot in that photo! He also looked good in the fragrance ad.
So much Photoshop. He looks a little like Stephen Colbert here, bizarrely.
I thought that for some time now. Stephen looks like his funnier brother separated at birth and I adore them both. And please show me an editorial of a celeb who hasn’t been photoshoped.
And like someone said, RDJ looks like himself and the same way he’s been looking during the press tour.
Epsom, not Epson. That’s a helluva tub he must have.
Lol. I know I can just Google this but I am wondering what about those substances make the bath so therapeutic?
Magnesium in the Epsom salts. It can be absorbed through the skin and aids in muscle relaxation and healing. Also it has a laxative effect, but I think that’s only if you consume it. That’s usually where I find the Epsom salts – with the laxatives.
Last week, I was looking for Epsom salts at the grocery and never located them. I thought they might be with muscle ache type products and probably did not look closely at the laxative section.
I need a box to make a spray for my newly planted tomatoes. The magnesium helps prevent blossom rot (blackened bottoms on the tomatoes).
Costco is carrying epsom salts now in big heavy jugs (they’re also often at the bottom shelf in drugstores near other First Aid type items).
I don’t know what the baking soda thing is about. It sounds like he’s taking a bath in Fizzies.
Target sells Epsom salts for the bath in their beauty section. I don’t use four pounds, but every few weeks I’ll run a bath with two cups salts, two cups baking soda, and one cup of apple cider vinegar. Very good for your skin, and muscles.
Thanks for all the answers, everyone, very informative. While out on a trip to Target I picked up a 4-lb bag (the smallest they had), it was next to the ace bandages and muscle creams. I then stopped by the grocery store and I guess since it was on my mind I noticed in the laxative section. Interesting how many uses it has.
I can’t wait to try it, my feet have been aching horribly — wear and tear from running and walking, I think — for months. I hope it helps.
Walgreens and cvs pharmacy sells Epsom salt bags as well. Some Whole foods have them too and priced reasonably. I love my Epsom baths too! I even put vitamin c tablets as well.
Doesn’t the baking soda help with the water’s pH? I was doing detox baths for a while and used these ingredients. Esmom, I had that happening with my feet and calves and eventually found out I had no thyroid function. At all! FYI…
GC, that’s good to know. I have my annual physical with my doc next week and she usually checks thyroid function, I’ll make sure she does. I’ve had a couple other symptoms that might point in that direction, too. Thanks!
😉
Finally an actor who admits he watches TV, not that he doesn’t own one, he doesn’t like it or he’s too evolved for one. He Googles himself as well.
He’s too self-absorbed to NOT Google himself.
Aren’t all actors like that, though? At least he owns it.
No not all actors are like this. There are people like RDJ who are mildly narcisistic; they visibly relish that spotlight and seek out what people say about them.
Then there are the more neurotic type who are extremely self conscious and can barely look at themselves onscreen much less read what other people are saying about them. And there are the more balanced sort who view acting as just another job and like any sane human being dont spend their days trying to see what strangers on the internet think of them.
I doubt RDJ Googles himself 24/7 or cares for that matter. Plenty of other actors admitted to Googling themselves, prolly most of them do, and it’s nothing to call home about. There’s a bit of a narcissist streak in all of them otherwise they wouldn’t put themselves out there in the first place.
I think some of them have narcisistic traits and were drawn to the career for this reason (RDJ is probably a good example, the man positively sulks when he isnt the center of attention in a group interview). Others are just odd ducks who got their acting training by hiding in their daily life and pretending to be anybody but themselves. A job that allows them to inhabit different characters at will makes perfect sense. And finally, there are those people who dont particular resent attention but would be content to live without it. They end up performers because they also happen to be gifted actors.
I liked that also coming from Robert. I don’t think Liam Neeson watched a lot of TV and his son got him set up with Apple TV. And he began watching all these great Cable/Netflix TV shows, movies, etc., and he said that really great stuff was being done on TV/Netflix, etc., and that one day he could see himself going that route.
If you love the craft of acting and the creating of great stories, I find it strange you don’t love great TV shows or movies and seek out at least some of it. It’s like how depressing it was to find out Barbra Streisand never listens to music.
Good interview I like what he’s saying here
Those are two inexpensive ingredients, so that’s not a very big splurge.
I agree. His vintage cars are a big splurge, not massive quantities of Epsom Salts.
Rami Malik ( he’s amazing), who’s 35, is a “young” actor to watch. A woman that age would already be past her prime.
True. To be fair he looks 25-27 to me . I couldn’t believe he was 35 .
Yeah, I don’t think he was referred to as “young” in the article, but “favorite”.
RDJ has good taste in actors, at least. (RM is my current fave!)
Kaiser: don’t get a cell phone! I gave mine up and it’s glorious! I wear pretty watches again and if I really need to make a call, someone nearby always has one they’ll let you use momentarily if you offer a quarter. Highly recommend getting one’s sanity and sense of balance back!
But what if someone needs you? If someone close to me decided to give up their mobile phone I would go insane with worry if I wouldn’t be able to contact them.
Yes. As long as I have kids to keep tabs on, one of whom is a new driver and the other who’s out on his bike all the time, I can’t be giving up my phone anytime soon.
What a sad, fearful society we’ve become. How ever did I survive my entire childhood and teen years without any cellphones among me, my family or friends?! How did I survive? Happily, peacefully, without issue.
I really wonder what constant phone reliance has done to our psyche. Not much good I think.
I would give my kids either pepper spray,a small pocket knife or a stun gun depending on their age and teach them how to use it.
What’s a phone going to do for them? In a situation where they are in danger I mean.
Phone is the least of my concern and more a false sense of security.
To give pepper sprays to kids? Do people actually do that? I actually never met anyone who had pepper spray. I’ve never even seen a pepper spray.
I didn’t mean danger in that way. More like, my dad has heart issues, but he has a job where he has to drive around alone a lot. So when he doesn’t pick up the phone it’s alarming. Things like that.
Not legal in Canada. “would give my kids either pepper spray, a small pocket knife or a stun gun depending on their age and teach them how to use it.” Kids just have to deal.
I survived fine without this technology, too. But I don’t think having phones is about fear as much as it’s convenience. I like to know where my kids are and it’s easier for them to pick up the phone and text or call me than try to borrow a phone from someone else. In a dire emergency, I don’t expect the phone to be a lifesaver, although you never know.
LL, My mom gave me pepper spray when I went to college. It was dangerous at night on campus if you walked alone. So I didn’t walk alone and I never used the spray. But I think it gave my mom peace of mind.
Yeah, where I live you can basically walk anywhere by yourself any time of the day. I regularly walk home after a night out, and I live in the biggest city in the country. Street crime is really rare.
Is pepper spray effective though?
@Locke Lamora – my dad’s going-away gift to me when I was leaving home for college, was a can of Mace.
But then I was moving to a city that was infamous for street sexual assault, so I could see where he was coming from.
I don’t get it. Can you not wear pretty watches AND own a cellphone?
I’d feel lost without mine.
LOL…
I loved these two answers in his article. Being moved to tears in a concert. I’ve been there and others not feeling the intense emotion you are from the experience., And the way he looked back on a younger beautiful Downey and a time with his now wife and foot loose and fancy free together and working on a film that he had a great experience with..
“Best concert you’ve ever been to?
Steely Dan. The Beacon, New York. They played the entirety of the Aja album. I was visibly weeping to my astonished and amused wife. She’s like, “What is it? The lyrics to ‘Deacon Blues’ are, like, so important to you?” I was like, [sobbing] “You don’t get it!”
“When do you think you looked your best, in general?
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. When I watch that movie, I say, “You were beautiful. And now…you just need to accept the fact that you’re going to age as gracefully as possible.” I think it was also just because me and the missus were in lockstep. No kids. Not married yet. We saw nothing but each other. And we had a project. And it’s [director] Shane Black. Who, you know, it’s hard not to adore. And 35 days of night shooting. I mean, we were giddy. But I think there was something about sleeping till two o’clock in the afternoon every day, where it reminded me of when we were all beautiful young club kids. It was also very good lighting.”
Well I disagree with him. He looked his best when he was in his twenties and maybe even late teens.
Many men think they look better with age but that is only true for a few of them, sadly most of them peak in their 20s , especially these days with the sitting still, pollution, eating unhealthy cheap food filled with hormones, smoking, drugging etc
I agree with RDJ. I always found him “cheesy” – too good looking to be attractive – when he was younger: in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang he looks lovely. Great film too, Val Kilmer superbly funny. Richard Gere is another man who I think has got more attractive as he has aged; possibly Pierce Brosnan and Gabriel Byrne too. It hasn’t worked with Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt though, also in the cheesy when youthful category.
I love him. I understand the criticism people say about his narcissism and love of spotlight, but I think he has considerably toned it down. And I also think it’s all a show, it doesn’t come across as narcissism so much as someone who found a public persona that suits him and that people love. In my experience people like that always hide the biggest insecurities.
Besides, i have yet to hear about him being a dick to anybody on set. And all the actors in the marvel universe speak of how nice he is. And I choose to believe them.
I love him as well I and don’t give a rat’s ass about what people say about him. Everyone has that celeb or celebs they love to hate for whatever reason, I know I do. But RDJ is one of my favorites, just like Ben Affleck. I don’t hang on his every word and he has said something that was a little off putting to me but nobody is perfect and we all say things that another person may take offense to or not like at times.
And you’re right most of it is just an act. He has said it and so has his wife.
Also everyone’s fave is problematic so singling RDJ out is rather gratuitous.
I fell in love with him when I read the VF interview with him when he was behind bars and I still adore him. I can’t help it.
He’s always struck me as articulate, eccentric, interesting, creative and he has a lot of self-awareness.
Men like him, in my experience, are very insecure behind that tough-arrogant-loveable “bad boy” exterior. He is just another variation of Tom hardy. Their choice in wives and gfs also confirms this. They are usually drawn to women who mother them and make all the tough decisions in the relationship. To me that’s a turn off personally but a lot of women like those sort of guys they have to baby while they have occasional toddler tantrums. Bet he is submissive in bed too.
But anon he is not really tough and arrogant and admits some of the things he says or does is just an act. And by no means does his wife mother ‘s him, that’s what made him attractive to her. She is a no nonsense kind of woman who told him she was not going to put up with his BS. She don’t do tantrums. he is nothing like Hardy. And they both said it perfectly. No one is in charge, they have a partnership.
He’s really interesting, I love reading RDJ’s interviews!
That was better than some interviews I’ve seen with him. He came off more … Human? He often goes in the same category for me as celebs like George clooney and Julia Roberts and Justin Timberlake who are just so incredibly tickled with themselves that it’s really annoying.
I just re-joined the land of the en-celled after twelve-ish years without. Be sure you can withstand the withering, if silent, judgment of doctors, nurses, friends, teachers, etc. when you say you don’t have a cell. Given that even many homeless people have them, the implication of not having a phone in this day Is either Ludditism or being woefully unable.
I’ve just recently jumped on the cell bandwagon. Hadn’t been on it until now. It didn’t make sense to me until now. Landline was at home, and a cell was an extra expense without need.
Then I moved, dropped the landline and went cell only. I only did this because I can afford but refuse to pay for two phone lines when I only need one. A cell has GPS built in, camera built in, and all the loyalty cards I was carrying in wallet. Now, I leave the house with just my cell and a wee tiny bag. It’s heaven. I don’t use the phone when out except for the aforementioned purposes and have never taken a selfie or been in one in my life. I’m over 50. I feel safer in that I know help is at hand via 911 or free maps, without carrying a ton of stuff or a huge purse anymore. That’s my main point I think.
I think a cell today is a necessity but I also think a landline is a necessity. If companies offering the services could have a stripped down version of each that would be best. When local or world tragedy strikes, cells are useless due to volume of people using them. A landline is a must in that instance.
Landlines can be overwhelmed as well. Communication of all types can break down in a disaster.
Yes, during 9/11 in NYC the landlines were useless for a while since everyone was trying to reach their loved ones.
Actually Esmom, and I’m only speaking of downtown, cell phones were useless during 9/11. People were lined up trying to use the only available pay phones in lower Manhattan. Also, during Sandy, my parents old manual dial phone was the ONLY one working in their neighborhood until generators kicked in to provide charging. Basically, the argument can go both ways, I suppose. As a woman who drives a great deal, though, I wouldn’t want to be without my cell phone in case of a breakdown.
I’m a self confessed RDJ fan. Can’t help it. I think his comeback story is one for the ages. I also love him as an actor. Now, I’m off to buy the industrial size baking soda!
Actually Esmom, and I’m only speaking of downtown, cell phones were useless during 9/11. People were lined up trying to use the only available pay phones in lower Manhattan. Also, during Sandy, my parents old rotary dial phone was the ONLY one working in their neighborhood until generators kicked in to provide charging. Basically, the argument can go both ways, I suppose. As a woman who drives a great deal, though, I wouldn’t want to be without my cell phone in case of a breakdown.
I’m a self confessed RJD fan. Can’t help it. I think his comeback story is one for the ages. I also love him as an actor. Now, I’m off to buy the industrial size baking soda!
Goodness I’ve been in love with that face since the first time I saw it in Air America.
I have an artist bohemian friend who rejoices in not having a cell. Her husband gave her one and she promptly put in a drawer where it resides to this day. I’ve mentioned to mutual friends of her celllessness and the overwhelming response is wonder mixed with coooool!
Kaiser, I totally understand your frustration with RDJ’s reference to the language thing. However, I kinda get what RDJ was saying, if in fact this is what he meant: Americans, in general, are not multi lingual. I have 3 sons, all blonde and blue eyed, and their godfather (my best friend from college) is Chinese. He speaks 6…count ’em, 6!…languages fluently. And to be quite honest, his English (his 3rd language) is better than mine! I hope RDJ was saying that he respects multi lingual people.
I do love a luxurious decadent bath at night. Once everyone is settled and sleeping I take one. I have all kinds of salts and bath accessories. I do understand him there.
If I could get away without a cellphone I would but I can’t. I don’t like being available all of the time except for my family and closest friends.
Yes to the Epsom salt baths! I swear I sleep better after soaking in those for like 20 minutes.
Try Net10’s cheapest option for cheap cell phone service about 35$. I switched from sprint and I’m happy with a 2/3 lower bill now. They give me a 10% discount if I pay every month. I learned about it thru an IT guy with plenty of money to have any cell svc he wants.
The cell phone comment harkens to my Pollyanna fantasy that all this “availability” that is trendy now will soon become gauche. I base this on my once teenage ideals of being a rebel and unlike anyone else…I am hoping this tech savvy younger generation wants to go “off the Grid” and not be so available. I often shudder when I think about being young and all the you tube, camera phones documenting your every bad decision. Thankfully from my wild days there are only a few blurry non-digital photos of my mistakes and blurrier memories?!
I also have hopes that it will become ‘cool’ to *not* be constantly glued to devices.
My hopes are further encouraged by my friend telling me today that her two teenagers actually prefer a printed book versus an online version. I had just given her a printed book as a gift and felt it might be considered not with the times. I still prefer using a cell phone for minutes a day (not hours), printed books and CDs over digital.
Basically, I want the early 1990s back — enough technology to help us, but not to be completely dependent or distracted by it.
RDJ is so right. I have a ton of essential oils, and I just mix up different batches of plain epsom salts. Or Dr. Teals if you just want some basic scents. very cheap and it works.
I love RDJ. In Celebitchy terms, he’s my forever dong. His comment about dying and the Redi whip just bowled me over.