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"The 911 call was played on the Radio." How Joaquin Phoenix has tried to deal with the death of his brother's drug overdose. Q: In Signs it concerns grain circles that are made by extraterrestrials. Do you believe in such a thing? JP: Only in those that were made by our — by the way very earthly — crew for the film itself. Otherwise not at all, but these phenomena are still very interesting. Did you know that these circles have become documented for more than five centuries in almost 50 countries around the globe? And that annually up to 300 new circles emerge? You cannot explain that in a rational way. Q: In the movie you and Mel Gibson are siblings. How does it feel to be Mel Gibson's brother? JP: Outstanding. Mel is a good actor and has a crazy personality. He made a lot of jokes and tricks. And he rescues me in Signs from the aliens. So I can't complain. Q: Your actual siblings have names like River, Rain, Summer, Liberty. You yourself were named Leaf. Your parents were vegans, hippies and members of a religious sect. Somehow a miracle that you remained entirely normal? JP: I was only named Leaf because no one could pronounce Joaquin. And I won't hear anything against my family. It was not easy to be free of certain things, but I had a pretty good childhood with much love. My parents have been separated for a long time, my mother has an entirely normal job as a broadcaster. But we still have close contact together today. Q: Who taught you how to handle the hard Hollywood film business? JP: That was learning by doing. I began with the acting when I was ten years old. At 14, I had my first large role in the comedy Parenthood. But for some reason the whole circus was too stupid and I went to Mexico with my father. Q: Your brother River Phoenix was at that time the new teenage movie star JP: I don't have the slightest desire to speak about my dead brother. It gets on my nerves to always be compared with him. My brother was a magnificent person and an outstanding actor. Q: When he died in 1993 in front of Johnny Depp's Viper Room at the Sunset Strip because of a drug cocktail, you called 911! JP: And this 911 call was played on the radio and television. It was terrible. They photographed him in his coffin. And these hysterical girls who were at the funeral almost fell into the grave. Repulsive. It was a long time before I got over the shock. Q: Who or what helped you at that time? JP: I let myself concentrate on work, made films and finally I was able to show what I could do in To Die For. Previously people wanted to make a second River out of me. I am not! Q: Who stands by you now? JP: My family, friends — Casey Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow. Q: No girlfriend? JP: No. After the separation with Liv, I was on the lookout. Somehow nothing came up. Q: Was Liv Tyler the love of your life? JP: (Laughs) how can I know that? I'm not even 30 years old yet. Q: Do you sometimes have anxiety about becoming famous? JP: Renown is a delicate matter. Until River's death I was not quite aware how famous he was. Here at home we had not watched television or read glossy magazines. Then with all the hype around his death I was automatically involved and it was a shock for me because it was connected with so much dirt and ugliness. (Smiles) Oh, I began on that subject myself this time! |