"The Women aren't exactly queuing up..."
More, July 2003
Joaquin Phoenix is a tricky man to pin down. When the notoriously publicity-shy actor — who's graced our screens in To Die For, Gladiator and Signs — finally agreed to meet, we were awestruck: not only by his smouldering presence (hard to believe we know, but he's even more gorgeous in the flesh), but by his refreshing lack of pretension. With comedy thriller Buffalo Soldiers soon to be released here in the UK, we sat the scruffy Puerto Rico born former model down and got him to tell all about babies, ballet lessons — and a love of caravans...
M: What's up with your hair?!
J: (looks in the mirror) What a sight! How embarrassing! Well, I don't look after my hair in my free time because during film shoots people fumble with it for weeks. But it doesn't matter to me. I feel fabulous inside and that's what counts.
M: Blimey, you're not like most stars. We never see you at showbiz parties, either — haven't you got any celeb mates?
J: Russell Crowe's been a buddy since Gladiator. If anyone has been a big brother to me it's him. Casey Affleck (Ben's little brother) and I are great friends. After filming Signs, we got tattoos done together. He actually has video footage of me crying like a girl when I had mine done! It was on the inside of my arm, which is incredibly sensitive and painful.
M: Did you design it yourself?
J: Well I went for a circle, because it doesn't represent anything. I think the tattooist was drunk at the time, though, because I wanted a circle and it doesn't even look like one. I mean, how can you screw up a circle?
M: When you're not getting dodgy tattoos, what else do you do?
J: I love to have the shit scared out of me at the movies. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it's just fantastic! Alien is a movie that scared me. I think I jumped back three seats during that one. And Scream, the first one. I ended up in some guy's lap four rows back!
M: You're a bit of a wuss aren't you?
J: I'm afraid of flying too. I try to avoid it whenever I can, I always wear the same boxer shorts whenever I fly — it's superstition.
M: Do they work?
J: Not always. I was on this one flight and I got so nervous that I started shaking and banging my head against the wall and going "Oh God! Oh my God!" and making all the other passengers extremely nervous. In the end, the captain had to come out and calm me down!
M: Remind us only to talk to you when you're on solid ground...
J: I feel most at home in my motor home, actually. My family started with a renovated ice-cream truck. Then we had a UPS truck my dad painted green and fixed up. It was big time when we got a truck with a camper on it. At one point, we had this station wagon, but the back window was broken and we were freezing. So my dad bought all these disposable nappies and stuck 'em together as a back window!
M: So you're a bit of a hippy then? Are you a veggie?
J: We were raised as strict vegans, so I used to, you know, rebel and have some chocolate. I love chocolate. But it's getting easier and easier not to eat animal produce.
M: You're still a big supporter of PETA...
J: I just think you're a total asshole if you wear fur. It's ridiculous! There's no need for real fur, since there are compassionate alternatives. I won't wear fur or animal skin. When i was a model and did the Prada campaign, the stylist wore the leather shoes. They did a separate shot of the shoes and it wasn't me wearing them!
M: Personality and principles? Is that what attracted Liv Tyler to you?
J: (laughs) Liv's a great actress. We have a really strong relationship and a great understanding and love of each other. We were together for three years but that's all in the past. She's married now and i'm very happy for her.
M: Are you looking to settle down, too?
J: After River died (his younger brother fatally overdosed on drugs 10 years ago), I took off for five years, going through Mexico and Central America. It could happen again. I seem to wander without a real residence, but the truth is I want a steady relationship and home and all that. It just hasn't happened yet.
M: You grew up in a household full of women. Are you in touch with your feminine side?
J: Oh yes. growing up with three sisters made a real difference. When I meet young men who don't have sisters, I appreciate that I wasn't raised with the idea that real men play football. I never played sports or anything, I took ballet when I was a kid, and that probably influenced me in a positive way.
M: Are the paternal urges kicking in?
J: I really love kids and the idea of having them. My sister has two beautiful kids and I love being an uncle. I just took them to Disneyworld. I don't like heights or rollercoasters so it's handy to have your five-year-old nephew in tow: you can blame it on him if you're too scared to go on those rides!
M: Another thing you're frightened of! Is that why you're playing a fireman in upcoming film Ladder 49, so you look more macho for us women?
J: (laughs) Every time I see a fire truck or ambulance drive by, I blow them a kiss. I think what they're doing is so beautiful.
M: You didn't answer the question! But the ladies must be queuing up...
J: (laughs) You know, it doesn't often happen that a woman comes over to me and says: "I think you're absolutely amazing."
M: We're sure they think it, though. Have you actually seen the number of fan sites dedicated to you?
J: (smiles) You know, I actually created all of them.
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