Jake Gyllenhaal and action movies - 'It's the little boy in me that wants to play around!'

Now that Jake Gyllenhaal's back in London, he's hopefully getting a bit of rest to recover from the kind of airmiles cabin staff accrue before getting back down to work - swashbuckling, battling on horseback, running along walls, fighting snake-wielding sand monsters, and leaping naked into luxuriant baths with his feisty princess. So as not to disturb Jake's much-needed rest, I thought I'd take a look at a couple of interviews Jake did during the publicity for his last summer blockbuster.


I got hold of the above magazine today and from the interview in it, it's pretty clear why Jake would want to be in such a big movie as The Day After Tomorrow. Even apart from the highly sensible motive of simply getting one's name out there ('In my experience there have been directors who wanted to work with me but who couldn't get their films financed with me on board. Business-wise, a film like this does help one's career'), there are other reasons.


'I've always wanted to be in an action movie. It's probably part of being a guy. It's the little boy in me that wants to play around! As mature as I'd like to pretend that I am, I also have to admit I am not, and be true to that side. Doing this movie was a case of it being okay to have fun once in a while.' And it really must be cool to have friends phone you from around the world after they've seen posters for your movie everywhere.


Click on the pictures below to read more of the interview, to learn whose books Jake would burn for real, his horseriding experiences and fears, and his earthquake survival techniques and memories. Good to hear with all the flying that Jake's been doing lately that 'I'm okay with turbulence, though it is a little scary. If I had to experience the sort of turbulence that's in the movie I'd probably be pretty freaked out.' And again we get confirmation that Jake was linked to the rather odd project Me and My Monster, which has yet to get underway.



In another interview from the same time (recorded at ym.com but with a link now gone), Jake said: 'I have a silly side, too... But I want to play really meaty characters, and for someone my age those parts are always sad, really disturbed kids, which says a lot.' It's this mix - of the silly and the serious - which has led to such a range of roles. Jake also says that he entertained himself during the long hours of filming TDAT with crossword puzzles ('They're challenging and fun at the same time').


Finally, because Jake is back in England, which cannot help but make me happy, here is a section of a BBC Radio 1 report from The Day After Tomorrow premiere in London, during which guests were sprinkled with white stuff: '"It's not snow, it's soap. It sizzles! It's amazing!" he [Jake] joked. Jake also loved the attention from his UK fans as he told us: "I like the English fans - that was the best part. There were so many people, it's so nice. Everyone was so sweet and cool and enthusiastic - it makes you excited to see the movie for the fourth time! I did almost make out with a 55 year old woman, but that was erm, that was awkward!' Not for the woman, I suspect...



Includes pictures from IHJ, scans by WDW.