Clive Owen covers the magazine’s first-ever Age Issue, celebrating GQ’s lifelong commitment to looking awesome at any age. Owen stars alongside Blake Griffin, Chadwick Boseman, Norman Reedus, and Tom Selleck. GQ surveyed the five modern gentlemen about getting old, staying young, looking sharp, and living well— whether you’re 25 or 75.
Owen discusses his acting career, The Knick, retirement, and why he doesn’t want his daughters to see Closer in a web exclusive interview . Check it out at gq.com: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201410/clive-owen
NORMAN REEDUS TALKS WALKING DEAD, NOT FITTING IN, AND ROOTING FOR BAD GUYS
On The Walking Dead:
I really matured a lot in my mind and became a happier person in this job, because I really like this job, and I like the people I work with, and I like the environment I work in. And you know, the cuts on my forehead, and the bruises, and the black eyes, it doesn’t matter; it’s awesome. I think that mentality has matured me a lot in the past couple years, you know? I care more about what I’m doing, too.
On the gore in The Walking Dead:
A lot of people like it. And you’d be surprised, the creative ways that they come up with doing that, that you haven’t seen before. It’s kind of mind-blowing. Just wait till this season; there’s some new stuff that’s like I never would have thought of. It’s pretty hard-core.
On being offered a role in the 2001 movie Heartbreakers with Jennifer Love Hewitt:
When that came around at the time, my agents at the time were, “They like you for this part, and it’s a Jennifer Love Hewitt movie.” And I’m like, “Well, what do I do?” And they’re, “You’re her boyfriend,” And I go, “Well, do I rape her? Do I kill her? What do I do?” And they go, “You’re her sweet boyfriend.” And I was like, “No! Absolutely not!” But yeah, I just assumed I had to rape and kill her.
On why he considered giving up acting:
I was definitely becoming a little down on it, but I don’t know if I was going to give it up. But I wasn’t enjoying it as much, to be honest. I had been in a few films where I thought we were going in this direction and then, after the editing and the music and it’s put together, it was sort of going in a different direction I didn’t feel so connected to.
On why he is drawn to dark movies:
Even with photography and artwork, I’ve really liked having grotesque things and finding beauty in them. I’ve always been a fan of horror films, and I like aggressive music, and I like aggressive people—they all kind of were interesting to me. I mean, I really don’t see myself ever being, or wanting to be, in some sort of light romantic comedy about nothing.
On modeling in his early acting years:
I mean, I’m short and fat and drink beer. Fucking hated it.
On dating models:
I’ve been with several. Not any to the extent that… Helena and I were pretty serious.
On having a child with Christiansen:
Pretty fucking serious.
On fitting in:
I like feeling like I don’t fit in, and I’ve always liked feeling like I don’t fit in, and I’m perfectly cool with it.
On rooting for the bad guy:
I mean, even today, if I watch Spider-man or something, I root for the bad guy. I like the Joker better than I like Batman, you know what I mean? I’m still like that.
For the full interview, check out gq.com: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201410/norman-reedus
The October issue of GQ is available on newsstands in New York and Los Angeles now and will be available nationally on September 30.