After the outstanding box-office performance of his latest film The Bucket List, we caught up with Jack Nicholson to find out how he’s facing up to his own mortality
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, both 70, topped the box office earlier this year with their latest film The Bucket List. It’s the story of two terminally ill men who decide to try and fulfil their final wish lists before they ‘kick the bucket’. After they break out of a cancer ward, they head off on a road trip with an itinerary that includes racing cars, eating giant plates of caviar and slinging poker chips in Monte Carlo.
Do you think a lot about dying?
Yes. When I was working on the script, I thought there were a lot of original thoughts in it. These are subjects that we think about all the time but don’t necessarily talk about. Everyone has thought about if they want to be cremated, buried or whatever.
Have you made your mind up about that?
Well, I’ll give you a couple of ideas. I wanted a 25-foot pink statue that holds my grave, but then I thought I like the way the Indians do it: they hang you up on the top of a tree and the birds eat you. But I would probably choose cremation.
As you’re getting older, is it easier or more difficult to get the roles you want?
I was surprised by the Coen Brothers’ film [No Country for Old Men] this year. When I read the book, I didn’t even know that they were doing the movie, but I still liked it. And then Tommy Lee Jones ended up playing the character.
Is there, in your opinion, any positive aspect of ageing?
Plenty. Number one: with someone like me, it improves your character. It’s just the fact that it slows you down; you’re more thoughtful because you don’t act as quickly anymore. When I turned 70, it was the first time I felt young for my age. Fifty dropped on me like a ton of bricks, it was something about the number. But when this birthday came along, I felt good about it.
What made you feel younger?
I don’t know. I mean, why relate to a number anyway? I used to be very quick. I was able to leave the room and be back before you noticed it. When you can’t do that any more, you need to change how you do things. But I’m very interested in life and you don’t want to lose that.
I read that you said the highlights of your life were your children. Could you name any other highlights?
The first screening of Easy Rider in Cannes, because I’d been there before, sneaking around. When I was sitting in the screening, I knew enough to realise that I was actually going to be a movie star. When I was over there, I was already thinking about directing because I’d been doing movies for 10 to 12 years and everybody said I was good. But being known and not having a big success is almost tougher than being completely new. It just kind of turned my life around.
Nowadays, what makes you think: “Yes, I’m really good. I’m a movie star”?
You know, it’s kind of silly. It’s like the Medusa’s head: you don’t look at it because it will paralyse you. When they say that I’m a great actor, I’m always kind of closing my ears because it’s not good for me to think that way.
But you seem very confident in every other part of your life…
Well, you know, I put on a good show.
Do you have a bucket list?
I’ve been asked that a lot lately and I tried to come up with a good false answer, but I don’t have one, so that’s the truth.
What about revenge? Do you have a list of people you want to get back at?
No. I’m very confrontational. Usually I deal with things straight away. I’m unaware of any enemies, either. I never cheated on anybody and never got anywhere by stepping on others – all those things that you hope you have the character to do. I’m in the movie business; it’s meant to be very cut-throat, but you won’t find anybody who says I ever cheated or out-manoeuvred them.
Not even women?
They only said that because they missed me more than they thought they would.
Are you a womaniser?
Absolutely. When I ask, at a press conference for example, if anybody knows of a good place to go out, I actually hope that somebody tells me. I used to know Berlin quite well. I had friends there, like Werner Herzog and [Rainer] Fassbinder, and they’d take me out. Nowadays I don’t know the name of a single nightclub in LA.
Do you like women to take the first step?
That would be nice, but it doesn’t happen. Women are sort of like motorcycle gangs with me: they get really shy and polite. I don’t know why.
Women from the ages of 20 to 60 jump in the air when they hear your name. What’s your secret?
I’m available.
Are you more the one-night stand guy or the one for relationships?
Of course, I’m capable of being someone’s one-night stand, but I don’t approach it that way.
Do you have a love of your life?
More than one, unfortunately. At 55 I said I probably wouldn’t have another relationship – I just didn’t want to start another family. Between my own bizarre criteria and taste and the fact that I’m not available for many things, I thought it was unlikely. I don’t think anybody should consider committing to a real long-term relationship until they’ve gone through the ‘infatuation cycle’, which hasn’t changed since the beginning of time.
It’s the first 18 months, when anything can happen and you’re fine with it. So for a long a time I thought I really loved everything about a girl and then I found out it wasn’t like that.
What about the bizarre criteria you mentioned?
I’m sure I’m something of an egotist in that sense. My critera for who I’m attracted to aren’t narrow, but they’re high. I’ve been married once, because the mother of my first kid wanted to. I always thought it’s counterproductive to have a policy in this area. If it’s difficult to know yourself as an individual, it seems more complex as a couple. So, if you say: “I want a person who is so and so”, you might pass up the only one who’s right for you.
Do you have any regrets?
Not that I can think of. In life, when you look back, you rarely regret anything you did, but you might regret things that you didn’t do.
Which aspects of your personality do you like and dislike the most?
I’m good at overcoming my fears. I’m aware when I’m afraid and I usually manage to neutralise it and am still able to function. But I never thought that I would be uncomfortable about making a pass at a woman in public. This is another thing about ageing – it doesn’t feel right and I feel exposed in a way that I never did before.
I saw you in a concert video of Paul McCartney’s, where you were standing up singing Hey Jude. Did you know that you were being filmed?
No, but I used to be a big-time crown prince of rock ’n’ roll. I went to everybody’s concerts. I used to go to poor old Mick’s [Jagger] concerts trying to be louder than they were on stage.
I actually got up on stage once and got thrown out. That was terrible behaviour!
FR Sans regrets
Après le succès de son dernier film The Bucket List (Sans plus attendre), nous avons réussi à nous entretenir avec Jack Nicholson sur la façon dont il fait face à sa propre mortalité.
Pensez-vous beaucoup à la mort?
Chacun d’entre nous a un jour pensé au fait d’être incinéré, enterré ou à tout autre chose du genre.
En ce qui vous concerne, avez-vous déjà décidé?
Je voulais une statue de couleur rose de plus de 7 mètres de haut, érigée sur ma tombe, mais ensuite j’ai apprécié la manière dont les Indiens procèdent. Ils vous pendent à la cime d’un arbre et les oiseaux vous dévorent. Mais j’opterai sans doute pour la crémation.
Quel est l’aspect positif dans le fait de vieillir?
Votre caractère s’améliore.
Quel est le plus grand moment fort de votre vie?
La première projection d’Easy Rider à Cannes. Je savais que j’étais en train de devenir une star du cinéma.
Avez-vous une ‘bucket list’ (tout ce que vous rêvez de faire avant de disparaître)?
Non.
Et la liste des personnes vis-à-vis desquelles vous avez du ressentiment?
Je ne me connais aucun ennemi. Je n’ai jamais trompé personne et je ne suis jamais arrivé en écrasant les autres.
Pas même des femmes?
Elles ont dit cela parce qu’elles m’ont regretté plus qu’elles ne l’imaginaient.
Etes-vous un coureur de jupons?
Absolument.
Appréciez-vous lorsque les femmes font le premier pas?
Ce serait agréable, mais cela n’arrive pas. Les femmes se comportent comme les gangs de motards avec moi: elles deviennent vraiment timides et polies.
Les femmes de tous âges vous aiment. Quel est votre secret?
Je suis disponible.
Etes-vous plutôt du genre ‘aventure d’une nuit’ ou ‘relation durable’?
Clairement je suis capable d’être du genre aventure sans lendemain mais je n’approche pas les choses de cette façon.
Avez-vous un grand amour dans votre vie?
Plus qu’un.
Avez-vous des regrets?
Pas que je sache. Lorsque vous regardez en arrière, vous regrettez rarement ce que vous avez fait, par contre il se peut que vous regrettiez ce que vous n’avez pas fait.
NL Geen spijt
Na het succes van zijn recentste film The Bucket List strikten we Jack Nicholson voor een gesprek over zijn eigen sterfelijkheid.
Denkt u veel aan de dood?
Iedereen denkt wel na of hij begraven of gecremeerd wil worden of zoiets.
Bent u er al uit?
Ik wilde eigenlijk een roze standbeeld van 7,5 meter als graf, maar ook de Indiaanse manier vind ik wel iets hebben. Ze hangen je boven in een boom en de vogels eten je op. Maar waarschijnlijk kies ik voor crematie.
Zijn er ook positieve dingen aan ouder worden?
Je karakter verbetert.
Wat was het hoogtepunt van uw leven?
De eerste vertoning van Easy Rider in Cannes. Ik wist dat ik filmster zou worden.
Staan er nog dingen op uw lijstje?
Neen.
En hoe zit het met mensen die u nog iets betaald wil zetten?
Ik ben me niet bewust van vijanden. Ik heb niemand bedrogen en nooit iets gedaan ten koste van anderen.
Zelfs vrouwen niet?
Dat zeiden ze alleen omdat ze me meer misten dan ze hadden gedacht.
Bent u een rokkenjager?
Absoluut.
Hebt u graag dat vrouwen de eerste stap zetten?
Dat zou fijn zijn, maar het gebeurt niet. Vrouwen zijn zoals motorbendes met mij: ze worden echt verlegen en beleefd.
Vrouwen van alle leeftijden zijn dol op u. Wat is uw geheim?
Ik ben beschikbaar.
Bent u meer iemand voor een one-night stand of gelooft u in relaties?
Natuurlijk kan ik een one-night stand zijn, maar zo benader ik het niet.
Is er een liefde van uw leven?
Meer dan één.
Zijn er dingen waarvan u spijt hebt?
Ik kan er niet zo meteen bedenken.
Als je terugkijkt op je leven, betreur je zelden dingen die je hebt gedaan. Je kan wel spijt hebben over dingen die je niet hebt gedaan.
Text Ileana Young
Image Corbis
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