Farewell to a legend - Jake Gyllenhaal on Paul Newman: 'He taught me the things that could go wrong'

I always intended to do a Paul Newman post, but I left it too late. Not only was Paul Jake Gyllenhaal's 'celebrity godfather', he was also the first cowboy I fell for, in the figure of Butch Cassidy. And then, after that, I swooned again when Paul Newman, with another favourite Steve McQueen, took on and beat a towering inferno. I have a weakness for blue eyes but Paul Newman meant a lot more than that, on the screen and off it. A great and charismatic actor with a passion for fast cars, for good food and for his fellow human beings - irresistible mix and not quickly forgotten.


Many Gyllenhaalics also know of Paul Newman because he pops up with regularity in Jake's red carpet interviews - he's right up there with the jellyfish. Interviewers and audiences are fascinated by Jake's Hollywood pedigree and it's difficult to imagine anyone with more pedigree than Paul Newman. And the idea that a 15-year old Jake was taught how not to drive by a movie legend is almost too good to be true.


On the BAFTA red carpet back in 2006, I remember seeing Jake telling a Sky interviewer that this was a bit unfair on his dad, that Stephen had actually taught Jake how to drive, but it was too good an experience not to recount - imagine being driven round a racing track by Paul Newman! Admittedly, approaching a brick wall at 60 miles an hour would also be memorable. Netribution: 'People say, you know, ‘Oh, Paul Newman taught you how to drive, right?’ and I say, ‘No, my father really taught me how to drive and he’s getting a really bum rap because one day Paul Newman did take me out to the race track.’ I said that once when I was doing press when I was 16 years old and now that’s all people write. Believe me I was in awe when it happened. But I think people do sometimes, when I talk to journalists or whatever, kind of like to go, ‘Well, it was this way, wasn’t it?’'


This is how Jake described the unforgettable experience to the Metro: 'Paul Newman taught me how to drive. When I was 15, my mum was writing a script with him and we went out to the racetrack. He threw me in the passenger seat and started driving. We're 100ft from a wall, going 60 miles an hour and he hits the brake and turns the wheel - and the car spins three times. Then he turns to me and goes: 'That was what you don't do.''


Back in 2002, Jake also recalled to Interview magazine that Paul's glasses were dangling from his ear during the drive and that 'Well, you're going almost 200 miles-per-hour, if not faster, right? Your body and hands shake on the wheel as you drive... It's pretty intense.' (I should point out that similar effects can be felt in my car when it approaches 80 miles an hour - I think I'm in the wrong car.)


And showing above all how much a part of the Gyllenhaal household Paul Newman was, Jake told the Scottish Daily Record in 2004: 'I went to the track with him and he took me out in a race car. He taught me the things that could go wrong. When I eventually got my licence, he was at our house cooking steaks and had a knife in his hand. When I came in, he made me go down on one knee, knighted me and gave me my licence.'


In the days when Jake was becoming noticed as someone of great talent who should be watched, a similarity to Paul Newman was noted - and not just because of those eyes. The Telegraph said of Jake: 'Gravity disguised as lightness of manner: that is what critics have identified as the secret of his mesmerising screen presence. Like Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, they say, he knows how to emote without words.' Jake has had a great role model and Paul Newman's loss will be huge for those lucky enough to have known him.


Prince of Persia's goats and chickens

I enjoyed this snippet today: 'Got up at 4 am to bring 5 goats and ten chickens to the Pinewood Studios. They feature in a film called Prince of Persia. We saw the set and had a nice breakfast sat between wonderfully dressed up actors.' Unfortunately no pictures were allowed but I have an image in my head of Jake having to act around 5 goats who are intent on eating the set. Should the production require other foraging critters, I would be happy to oblige and can be reached day or night.


Includes pictures from IHJ.