Jeff Goldblum has long been one of Hollywood’s most charmingly distinctive actors.
But over the last year or two, the 65-year-old’s singular curveball charisma has blossomed online and on social media, where he’s become a reliable inspiration for memes and even been dubbed the internet’s boyfriend. “The online attention is a new ride for me,” says Goldblum, sitting surrounded by toys — both his own (a couple of keyboards) and his two young boys’ — at his rambling house in the Hollywood Hills. “But, by golly, it’s nothing that I’ve tried to engineer.”
The always-busy Goldblum, who’s reprising his role as mathematician Ian Malcolm in the upcoming Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, is a charmingly discursive and animated talker, his hands and eyes flitting about in frisky concord with his sentences. “I would hope any interest in me or my work comes from my aspiring to be authentic,” he says. “I’m certainly not trying to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes about who I am.” He gives a playful smile and taps me on the knee. “But when it comes to being real and true, isn’t trying to find that what acting’s all about?”
Does the Jeff Goldblum persona that exists on social media jibe with how you see yourself?
Let’s you and me uncover the truth. Whatever it is that’s happened with my public reception, it’s fleeting. The ups and downs of show business are fleeting. Life is fleeting. But this particular experience — where does it come from? I’ve done a couple movies that have been well-received and widely seen — the Thor movie. And I remember a few years ago somebody said, “You know there’s this ‘Jeff Goldblum’s watching you poop’ thing.” This does seem to be a moment for me, doesn’t it? Hmm. There was The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs — my association with Wes Anderson didn’t hurt as far as the cognoscenti goes. And now when I do press — there’s lots of content needed for our communicative infrastructure these days — people will ask me to do things like, “Hey, Jeff, do all the parts in Jurassic Park” and then those things make the rounds online. It’s all cute, isn’t it?Ad
It is, but my question was more about whether or not the “Jeff Goldblum” that’s used to generate viral content feels congruent with the real you.
I think what’s happened is that I’ve found my voice in a newer, more fun way. Things like Thor: Ragnarok and Portlandia, both of which had large elements of improvisation, were delicious experiences for me creatively. And they’re similar to what I’ve been doing with the press — whether it’s commenting on people’s tattoos or reading tweets about myself. I feel like it’s all creatively true. So yeah, the version of me that exists in social media is quite congruent with my approach toward authenticity.What does “approach toward authenticity” mean? Aren’t you either authentic or not?It means that I aspire to an ideal of authenticity in my public presentation and my work. You want to be without delusion or illusion in what you’re creating. You don’t want to lie. “The camera knows” has been said many times and maybe that applies here, doesn’t it? No one is fooling anybody. Your real character will out.
How closely do you follow social media?
A little too much. But only my own Instagram. I look at how many people have liked my pictures and I look at the comments. [He picks up his phone and scrolls through his Instagram comments.] Oh, look, somebody’s said, “Will you marry me?” That’s good enough for me. I don’t have to see the thousand other comments. But what is success? This is probably ill-advised but I’ll think, I’ve got 800,000 followers. Is that good or bad? It’s a doomed path to compare yourself to anybody else. I think success is the next-door neighbors in Death of a Salesman: Bernard and his father, Charley. They’re not trying to impress anybody or make a grand name for themselves. They’re only trying to keep their shoulder to the wheel, their nose to the grindstone, and scratch out a pleasant, simple tune as Tevye says. Death of a Salesman is not some highfalutin reference, by the way. It’s right in line with what we’re talking about. How was that? Is that good?Pretty good.You’re a good teacher. The little I know you, I’d like to take your college course and be otherwise turned on to you.
Stop it.I’m sure I could learn much from you.
I doubt that.
Oh, no. There’s much I can learn.Over the years some journalists have implied that your charm and flirtatiousness is a means of keeping writers at a distance. Is there any truth to that?
I remember this idea: that I turn the tables on the journalist as a device to deflect interest in myself. I think that’s a misreading of the situation. I’m not going to divulge secrets to you that I would divulge to my therapist or my wife, but I can talk to you authentically and also be discreet about telling yucky things. Within those parameters my intent is to be open and self-revealing and to give you what you need. I even think I’m rather generous in that way. I want to be generous in what I am sharing.Does that represent a change for you?
Early in my career I was more worried about press interactions, so maybe I did a little evasive maneuvering. But here’s another thought about why my interest in other people is not a device: It’s part of the teaching I received from Sandy Meisner. Part of his thesis is that you’re interesting to the extent that you’re interested. So onscreen, instead of, “How am I doing?” it’s “What’s interesting about my partner?” I like making that kind of connection with somebody when we’re acting together and it’s not bad in life either. That explains things a little bit, doesn’t it? My interest in you, David, for example, is not a manipulative or strategic thing but is, in fact, somewhat wholesome. Does that make a lick of sense?Yeah. Is there ever any concern that the popularity of the Jeff Goldblum persona gets in the way of audiences believing fully in your characters? Or that it might lead to you getting typecast as yourself?
We know actors — Daniel Day-Lewis, and I admire his approach greatly — who say, “When people see me onscreen I want to be entirely believed as some transformed character.” But no, I’m not worried about that. [Director] Taika Waititi, when we met at the Chateau Marmont before we started on Thor, said to me, “I want Jeff Goldblum in makeup in that role.” And I like to do that. I’d rather do that than characterize too extravagantly. People write Jeff Goldblum-y parts and they want me to do them and that’s fine. I think I can even do a better version of it. So no, this little Jeff Goldblum row that I’m hoeing is still adventurous.What would a better version of you look like?I’m careful; I don’t want to be a skeevy reality-show version of myself. But what I mean is that there might be great roles still to come for me that incorporate things that are recognizably my straight behavior. Who knows? I still am excited about transforming for roles. I wouldn’t mind playing a part with hair extensions and an eye patch and a funny accent.
(Excerpt) Read More at: Vulture.com
