Jake Gyllenhaal does not want to compare his films to fast food and making medition work

With everything being quiet on the GyllenFront (who knows - maybe as we speak Jake is ironing his suit for Chelsea's big day tomorrow?), this is the perfect opportunity to post an interview that Jake Gyllenhaal conducted with German OK back during the PoP frenzy days of May. But as a responsible blogger, this post has been certificated R and comes with an advance warning: This post is not suitable for those of a delicate disposition or a sensitive nature. In this interview, Jake makes wanton and gratuitous use of the F word - yes, it's worse than you think. He says 'fart'.


Q: In your new film you are almost unrecognisable. Were you tired of sensitive dramas like "Brokeback Mountain"?
JG: The choice of film has the same principles behind it as eating out - sometimes one has an appetite for haute cuisine and then sometimes it might be for pizza. Although I wouldn't compare my films with fast food! (Laughs) So a role like "Prince of Persia" hadn't come my way before. The little boy in me, of course, was immediately hooked when he heard that he also had to do swordfighting, horseriding and must save beautiful women from nasty villains.


Q: For this role, you had to physically transform yourself...
JG: I gained about 15 pounds and for that I had to drink so many protein shakes, that just the thought of it makes me shake. But there was no choice. It wasn't for aesthetic reasons. I didn't work on a film for a year just for a pin-up contest. But because I wanted the role. I had to be extremely athletic to do my stunts myself. Sure, I could have had a double for everything but that would have been cheating the audience and myself.


Q: In particular, the female audience would appreciate it that you've trained so much.
JG: Maybe, but I hope that they see more than just a beautiful illusion. When I play a soldier, I shave my head bald, and for an action movie, I just kill myself to get into shape. This is pure craftsmanship and on the last day of shooting I said goodbye to all the training. Who has the time to maintain that constantly? For me, life is just too short to concentrate six times a week on the biceps.


Q: After separation from Reese Witherspoon You are now together with Rachel McAdams...?
JG: Could we please leave this issue out? Thank you. The more you talk about your private life, the more often you'll see your own face at the supermarket. This overkill is the greatest threat for young actors.


Q: How do you spend your free time today?
JG: I prefer to meditate regularly. Especially in my business, in which I sometimes have to travel half a dozen countries in a month, it's hard to separate yourself from the fast paced world around you. You can be swept away and have to force yourself to pause, to listen to your inner voice clearly.


Q: Is it hard to learn this distance from the outside world?
JG: I thought at first that it would be impossible. In my first experiments, my thoughts still raced and I wanted to give it up. But at some point it's like jogging. From time to time, to overcome the baser instincts, the body learns how to do it increasingly faster. Meanwhile, even after the greatest stress I can turn off within fifteen minutes. It's only stupid when one has eaten too much and gases form in the stomach... if you understand what I mean (Chuckles.) The thought of a fart every now and then pulls me from my concentration.


Q: You have studied Eastern religions before. Would you describe youtself as spiritual?
JG: No, that sounds presumptuous. I'm looking more for connections and want to understand better how we humans, despite different beliefs, are all linked. My father is a Christian and my mother's Jewish, while I'm interested in Buddhism.

Q: In previous interviews you were always extremely serious, and you seem very relaxed now ...
JG: I'm glad to hear it, because I feel the same way, but sometimes the environment doesn't behave the same as one would want it. I think I am generally more relaxed, not only from meditation, but because of getting older and experience. Before, I wanted to change the world with every film, I bit off too much in my roles and made my life difficult with ambition. Today I just let things take their course.


Q: Is it true that you had a dispute with your sister, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who also had film roles?
JG: Maggie's been in the world a few years longer than me and all the love I have is sometimes measured by that. That was detrimental to me at the beginning of my career, of course. But in a creative environment, there's always competition and although I admire her work, I was probably totally jealous. It's complicated between siblings. But all that was long ago, and though each of us has gone our own way, we help each other when we can.

Very interesting. Just imagine the feeling of saying goodbye to training after so many months of dedication. I'd have been straight down the pub for fish and chips and spotted dick and custard. The translation, of course, is mine and all errors are also mine and not Jake's.


Source. Wonderful old new pictures from IHJ from one of my favourite photoshoots!

A post on MovieBrit tonight on Sacred SciFi Cows - please don't reboot me...!