“Emmanuel Itier: So what do you think has been your wildest ride in life so far?

John Travolta: Well, in this movie, for sure, it was to ride these motorcycles, and we did unusual things. Now, in my life? Wow, it’s been so many. Maybe one of the best ones was to go around the world in a jet, and going over the Seven Seas. It was for some promotional world tour for Quantas. This was, for sure, one of the wildest moment in my life.

EI: And, for sure, life is a ride and we go discover things and people…so for you, what has been the most important thing you discovered about life, and what are you still looking for in life?

JT: Wow, heavy questions today…

EI: I’m French, John. Sorry–we love to torture ourselves…

JT: That’s okay…let me tell you. I found that a balance is important to me–between family, friends, creative, religion, and adventurous experiences. I found that I feel better when I’m helping, somehow–when I’m reaching out, when I’m helping people. It makes me feel better, more alive. I think I like to inspire people–to enlighten people is important to me, and I hope I continue to always do that. I hope I will always have a positive energy to do that. I hope I don’t get down with my health or something else and can’t help and serve anymore, because I’m more of a server…

EI: To me, you’re a giver.

JT: A giver, yes…

EI: The movie is about that also. The movie tells us: sure, you can be in charge sometimes of your life, but you need also to surrender to others, and you need to give–to give to each other because as soon as you give, something comes back to you. Do you think life is not about only ourselves but about us as a whole, as a united body?

JT: The truth is that indeed, it is about us as a whole. I find out that the more you give, you automatically get back something. It might be a cliché, but I think it’s true, and I think that especially men have a tough time being honest with each other. Women seem to be more honest and quickly, but men take weeks to get their pride out of the way…

EI: For me it’s that Superman complex that is a burden. We were always told we are the Supermen of the world, so it’s hard to show our true feelings–to admit we can be weak and to open ourselves…

JT: Yes, we don’t like to show weakness at all, and I understand that because sometimes it’s to protect ourselves from certain people, but with each other, we should be able to show who we are. Don’t show it to the wrong people, but show it to the right people. It’s like my character in the movie–maybe he should have opened himself from the get-go and be honest about what is really going on in his life, instead of dragging everyone in this crazy adventure, in this trip. He should have admited all of his problems and asked his friends to take a trip, and they would have probably been open to their wives and asked about going on this trip as well. We should never live in a lie. We need to be honest and face the truth–our truth.

EI: So you do a wonderful Sophia Loren impression?

JT: I was getting ready to play a woman in “”Hairspray”", so I thought the best way was to test how well I could do a woman with these guys. It was a very hot day and we were underneath a tent, and it was between takes. Bill took his fiddle and he started singing a sad song, so suddenly, in my mind, I went back to “”Houseboat”" or something that Sophia Loren did, and I vaguely remembered her dialogue. So I thought I could make these guys laugh right now if I do Sophia. So (puts on Sophia’s accent)–”"Why you play such sad music?”" And then Tim (Allen) starts to leave and I said, “”Don’t go! Don’t leave me! (Laughs) Why you leave me?”" Of course, they loved it so much, so everyday, all day long, it was, “”Don’t go!”"

EI: So was that pretty much the atmosphere on the set?

JT: Worse. The level of antagonism–we bypassed friendship and we went right to brotherhood. Only brothers could antagonize each other at the level that we did. It was wild.

EI: Why would that be? Because you’re mostly the same age?

JT: I think it starts with Tim. Tim is an instigator, and he came on the set all guns firing and I thought, “”Okay, we’re going to go there–alright.”" Well, I haven’t been there since John Belushi and Sam Kennison and all the old comedians…and my brothers. I thought, “”Well, I can go there, I guess.”" So I started to antagonize him back. The combination was that was Tim chose the loudest bike–and he would bug me the revving of the gas. Woah! I was like, “”Tim, please don’t do that.”" I started to poke my bike with his bike. Finally, he gave up after he wanted me to stop pounding his bike, but that was the level that it got to. I said, “”We had better concentrate on this movie instead of between-the-take laughs.”"

EI: The director told us you were shy getting naked–why is that?

JT: (Laughs) William Macy was the only one designed for a close up, but the rest of us….it’s true. I guess originally it was designed where under water you could see everything going on. I thought, well, I don’t know if I’m in good enough shape. If I’m ever going to show my booty, I want it to be in good shape. So, I thought, I have more work to do. Bill was okay with it.

EI: Did you go through a mid-life crisis?

JT: No, because celebrities already have the things that you would run into if you have a mid-life crisis, so there’s nothing to go to. You’ve got your toys, you’ve got your escapes. The only thing I ever thought was when I turned 50, I started to count the summers and the Christmases I might have left. Would I be old enough to do this with my kids? That was more of a thought process.

EI: That’s a bit morbid, isn’t it?

JT: It was only thoughts. Up until then, I didn’t think of it.

EI: Did it change your priorities as you thought you had less time?

JT: Well, the thing is, I’ve always been an escape artist–meaning I’m a jet jockey–a machine person–so I have run-away weekends, trips with my family and with my friends–so, that never changed. This character is like that too, except he’s leaving town because he’s got a couple of secrets–he’s getting divorced and he’s losing his money. So there’s a different reason for him. There really is a crisis there. But I think I’ve watched people go through it more than I’ve experienced it myself.

EI: So what’s your best advice for people going through a mid-life crisis?

JT: Get distracted. Get productive. Get your mind off of it, because if you do the math on it, you can be born in this life and die 10 years later–die 20 years later. If you still have your health and you’re in good shape to be productive and to get something done in life and to help people, just get busy doing it. Get distracted. Even if it’s having fun once in a while, go and do it, because nothing is going to change that lineage that takes us to the end of life. Still have your wits about you. Go for it.

EI: Does thinking that way–counting your summers–effect your process about work?

JT: We’ve got these wonderful icons like Peter O’Toole, Sean Connery, and Clint Eastwood who are in their 60s doing some of their best work, so as far as work is concerned, the curtains don’t come down on you as an actor. You can act to the day you die, as long as you have some degree of health. That part of it is not to be worried about. We can do this as long as we want.

EI: How did you like to ride the bike?

JT: I love all machines. I like machines. They are attracted to me. I’ve always liked the motorcycle because I started my transportation on a motorcycle in this town. It was less expensive and it was a quick way to get around for my auditions. I took to the road very well from 18 on.

EI: Did you have to train for the movie?

JT: We did because we had to practice formation. Certain shots where we all parallel park to make it look like we all went out on our bikes every weekend–that took quite a bit of practice. We drilled that.

EI: Are you a Harley guy?

JT: I love Harleys, yes.

EI: Would you like to throw away your mobile phone like in the movie?

JT: I love that scene because I would love to throw away my mobile phone, but I can’t. I set that scene up because in the scene where I’m talking them into going, I’m checking my cell phone all the time. I did that purposely.

EI: What do you find easier now–riding a Harley or flying a 747?

JT: Well, I mean, a 747 takes a lot of training and years and months of work. I go to school three times a year–soon to be four. I go to Qantas for 747 school, I go to Pan Am for 707 school, and I go to Goldstream school. I’ve been flying for 37 years.

EI: Is that you’re only escape–up in the sky?

JT: I go to an airport and get recognized. Even the people fueling you, they all want to take pictures and sign autographs, so I just accept that as part of the course.

EI: Is flying a way of escaping as well?

JT: It can be, absolutely. But with a jet engine, you’re not gone very long. When I was younger, these cross country trips seemed to be so long, and now they seem so quick. It feels like it’s not long enough.

EI: When you ride your bike, do you have a favorite stretch here?

JT: When I was riding in California (I ride in Florida now), I used to love going up the coast to Santa Barbara, and I used to visit my sister in Palm Springs.

EI: Are you going to play JR Ewing?

JT: I am going to play JR in Dallas. I’ve always been comfortable in comedies because I started in comedies, but I always balance it with drama and action movies because it all allows you to have more options to work, and I like to work. The more types of movies you do, the more opportunities you have to work.

EI: Who is going to play Sue Ellen?

JT: We don’t know yet. I’m signed to do the movie–they’ve even started paying me. Sometimes you’ll sign on to do a movie and you’ll lose interest as time goes by, but I am still keen to do it. I’m ready to do it. They are getting the script together and are getting the right cast. They did a poll in the US and 86% of the people chose me to play JR.

EI: But you’re nice!

JT: Well, I think if you look at “”Swordfish”", “”Face Off”", “”Broken Arrow”", and “”Pulp Fiction”"…if you mixed all of those people together…you’ve got to remember I’ve had a whole second career of playing evil. “”The Punisher”"…so they think of my humor and then mixed in with my ability to play the southern gentleman with “”Urban Cowboy”", “”Primary Colors”", “”Bobby Long”"…you mix that all up and I kind of look like Larry Hagman. I don’t think it’s odd casting. The people speak!

EI: How has that John Travolta changed since “”Saturday Night Fever”"?

JT: I feel better than I did then. I feel more focused and more healthy.

EI: What do you think when you see him?

JT: I think he’s a little boy–a young, skinny kid.

EI: Are you going to do some dancing?

JT: In “”Hairspray”" as a big woman, I dance a lot.

EI: Do you ever yearn for a smaller, simpler life? Your life is all about scheduling and you’ve got homes all over the place.

JT: Well, yes and no. If I do have those moments, I simply carve out a time where all that gets turned off and I pretend I have a smaller life.

EI: How do you do that?

JT: I go away. I had a month of publicity, and in the middle of it, I went away to Cabos and went fishing and relaxed for two days. I forgot I had this life, even though this life affords that. You can carve out your time and not get obsessed with the details.

EI: Is there anything you miss being able to do in life, or do you not let celebrity get in the way?

JT: I was famous at 21 and now I’m 52–more years famous than not. 32 years famous, I’m so used to it. Last night I went to dinner with my wife for Valentine’s Day and I was astonished that there was so much press there to watch us have dinner.

EI: Where were you?

JT: Mr. Chow’s in Beverly Hills. There were about 25 photographers. It was as though we were coming out of a rock concert. The car was shaking and I thought, “”Wow.”" Apparently it was all over the Internet and I thought, “”Why?”" And someone said it was because I wasn’t normally in Hollywood. You don’t do the Hollywood scene, so when your wife and you go out to do something, it’s fresh again.

EI: What are you doing for your birthday on Sunday?

JT: I’m going to go skiing.

EI: Are you good at it?

JT: I’m okay.

EI: Have you ever tried snowboarding?

JT: We’re going to do that with our kids. They’re looking forward to doing that.

EI: Do you have a good support system of friends?

JT: I have some old friends who I do things with, and I have some new friends who I do thing with. This movie is about friends. This movie is about how to stay married, have children, and still have friends. Women do it better than men. Women do a lot of things better than men–communicate. Men have a sense of responsibility, a sense of pride, and a sense of “”I want to be successful and a provider for the family and not to lose face to other men.”" Men are not going to admit to failure very easily. I think this character is scared to death to confess that to his friends.

EI: Why did you say yes to this film?

JT: When I read a script, I say, “”Would I see this movie whether I’m in it or not?”" I said I want to see this movie. I think it’s an appealing subject matter. There have been no comedies about middle-aged men on motorcycles going on a road trip.

EI: Did you watch “”Easy Rider”" again?

JT: I checked out a few scenes again. It was my idea to put Peter Fonda in there. I grew up with that. I was 13 years old when I watched Peter Fonda come on screen and do his cool bit.

EI: Did you call him?

John: I called Dennis Hopper and he couldn’t do it. Then I made a call to see if Peter Fonda could do it. They are both motorcycle icons. They are like me arriving in a white suit onto the dance floor!

EI: Is the Oscar the only thing missing in your career?

JT: I’ve been fortunate to receive two Oscar nominations. The beautiful thing about the Oscars is this–do you know most people think I’ve won two already? They think I won for “”Saturday Night Fever”" and they think I won for “”Pulp Fiction”". Tom Hanks thinks I won for “”Urban Cowboy”"! So your memories of the Oscars are not who won, but who is nominated–and the nomination, depending on who you thought was your favorite, is the person who you thought one. It’s fun that way. It’s a very generous illusion.

EI: This movie is about four guys who don’t really want to grow up. Is that your secret of staying young?

JT: That is for everybody. When you’re little, you can only have little toys because you can’t drive or fly yet, but when you get big, you can have bigger toys. I don’t see it as a reverse. I see it more as a child–you can’t have the real thing. You have to wait 18 years to go. It’s a promise of what you’ll get when you’re an adult.

EI: Do you look for challenges?

JT: I look for something where, if I were to be in it, would I contribute something different than someone else would, and would that difference be valuable to that project. And if it’s valuable, then I think it’s valid to do it.

EI: Is there a toy that you like that you haven’t got yet?

JT: I’m going to represent the new light jet–The Eclipse jet. I’m very excited about that.

“

Popularity: 2% [?]