Jesse Eisenberg: “I don’t like being in my own skin even when I’m not photographed”

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Jesse Eisenberg was on Leno last night promoting 30 Minutes or Less, which is directed by guy who did Zombieland and looks pretty funny. (You can watch the red band trailer on Lainey Gossip.) It’s about a pizza delivery guy who gets forced to rob a bank. (It’s not based on a real story, but it roughly parallels another case where the delivery guy died in a bank robbery. Understandably the victim’s family is not amused.)

I didn’t have a strong opinion of Eisenberg prior to this and have only seen him on The Social Network, but I really warmed to him after seeing him on Leno. It was clear that he was a little nervous and angsty, but he became comfortable soon enough and told a few funny stories. He seems like a decent guy.

Leno shows Jesse’s GQ photo shoot, asks him if he likes modeling. (He also showed fake photos of his head superimposed on buff bodies.)
“No, I don’t like being in my own skin even when I’m not being photographed.”

On why he looks comfortable on screen
“When you’re playing a role you could actually just think about what the character is doing and I become less uncomfortable because I’m not myself. Actually it’s the most comfortable I am.”

If he ever played himself on screen
“I would be fired. It’s the part I was born for, but I’m sure they would fire me right away.”

On a bike accident he had
“Traffic is so bad in New York City, you’re actually faster on two wheels…. I flipped over a taxi door once. You just get up, get back on the bike and leave, embarrassed. I was so humiliated that I just wanted to get away from it. I had six broken ribs but I was mortified.”

On going to Poland to get a photo for his 99 year-old aunt
“My family is from Poland and I always vowed to my aunt, who is 99, she’s my best friend, I told her that if I ever get a movie in Europe I’m going to go to the town you’re from, I’m going to take pictures of your house and bring them back to you. She seemed really excited by that idea. And I did it… an insane, arduous trip through Poland. I rented a car for two weeks, I got into a car accident, my passport was stolen. All these insane things to get this one picture of a tiny house… when I finally showed it to her she couldn’t care less. ‘Yeah that looks like it, yeah.’ It was disappointing.”

On getting recognized when he was delivering pizzas as research
In preparation for the movie, I went out with a guy, Alex… took me out in Grand Rapids, Michigan where we shot the movie. One woman started tearing up, thanked me for starting this website that she can talk to her grandson on.

After seeing this I told Kaiser that I understood why she loved Eisenberg, and she said she liked the guy but that it was Andrew Garfield that she loved. She called Eisenbeg “too twitchy and neurotic for my tastes.” I saw that in him and I also saw how he acknowledged it and still soldiered through. It was endearing actually. I think I’ll be the one to trumpet my love for the guy. He’s adorable.

Here’s a photo of Jesse from GQ, where there are more. You can watch Jesse’s interview through NBC.com if you’re in the US.

Oh and Zombieland 2 is coming! But it’s not out until 2013.

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Jesse is shown at the premiere of 30 Minutes or Less. Credit: WENN.com

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38 Responses to “Jesse Eisenberg: “I don’t like being in my own skin even when I’m not photographed””

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  1. Eve says:

    AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! *crying hysterically*

    Finally! I so would, I so would it’s not even funny.

    Now let me check the article…hmmm, I’d be very comfortable if I was on his skin. All of it.

    He seems like a decent guy.

    He is! And he loves kittens! We would totally make a crazy cat couple!

    After seeing this I told Kaiser that I understood why she loved Eisenberg, and she said she liked the guy but that it was Andrew Garfield that she loved. She called Eisenbeg “too twitchy and neurotic for my tastes.”

    Raspberry-ing at Kaiser.

    I saw that in him and I also saw how he acknowledged it and still soldiered through. It was endearing actually. I think I’ll be the one to trumpet my love for the guy. He’s adorable.

    Yes, he is adorable but…you’ll have to get in line: I saw him first. I want to give him a cat bath.

  2. Jennifer says:

    I like his acting, and I actually think he’s adorable 🙂

  3. Eve says:

    By the way, thanks Celebitchy (for this post). I’ve been begging for weeks to have him on a Hot Guy Friday post.

  4. RocketMerry says:

    Aww, I like him. He’s adorable.

  5. guilty pleasures says:

    aDORable!!!
    Reminds me of my son, great looking, people magnet, talented, and just wants to hide most of the time…
    The human condition, honestly stated.

  6. bella says:

    this kid is a gifted actor and just ADORABLE. we’re going to see great things from him IMHO.

  7. guilty pleasures says:

    aDORable!!!
    Reminds me of my son, great looking, people magnet, talented, and just wants to hide most of the time…
    The human condition, honestly stated.
    PS, love that that woman thought he invented Facebook!

  8. CallieTrichid says:

    I want that. Bad.

    Also: how terrific would it be if he played Kevin Bacon’s son in a movie? The two look similar in the face.

  9. Ell says:

    I just love his work, I think he’s the best of the young actors around at the moment.

    And I do love neurotic, especially with curly hair, he looks very much like my first love:)

    Watched Adventureland again the other day, really like him and KS together.

  10. Pyewacket says:

    From what I have read, the man who was killed was part of the plan to rob the bank and not really a victim, as much as a willing participant in the robbery scheme that went awry. Maybe their son/brother/husband etc shouldn’t have been involved with a plan to rob a bank in the first place, then he wouldn’t be dead.

  11. Eve says:

    *sigh*

    I have to go now…not before I kiss that dimple though (on his left cheek).

    Adorable — there should be his picture next to the definition of it.

  12. Boo says:

    Yeah, no. Don’t really get the attraction. His face just looks punchable to me. But to each her own…

  13. Tiffany says:

    Always liked Jesse When did I fall in love with him, when the rumors of him and Garfield ‘mean girl’-ing Timberlake during The Social Network promotions. HA!!

  14. gee says:

    He’s so freaking cute.

  15. INeedANap says:

    So, as an awkward person myself, I try to understand why Jesse is adorable but KStew is roundly disliked. Not trying to be snarky, honestly trying to understand.

    Is it a male/female thing (girls are supposed to be more social)? Is it a talent thing? It is an attitude thing?

  16. Stacia says:

    He’d look soo hot if he axed that mop top hair do

  17. Ashley says:

    I love him! He is one adorable critter!

  18. RocketMerry says:

    @INeedANap
    True, KStew is more generally disliked; I don’t dislike her, I think she’s cute and awkwardness is just part of her charm for me. Also, she looks like she could kick some serious butt, like she does not take any crap from anybody. Having said that, I think Jesse seems less tough, more confused by fame than angered by it. That’s the appeal I think.

    Also, good thing there’s someone who likes Jesse as much as I do! *smiles @Eve*

  19. Cali says:

    INeedaNap, I honestly think it’s a talent thing. That sounds so mean, but I really have TRIED to like Kristen’s work – I’ve seen everything she’s done, but it’s HER every single time. She’s just playing herself over and over and has all the same mannerisms and quirks in every character she attempts. I think she’s gotten a little better in interviews as far as awkwardness goes.

    Jesse is seriously so humble and kind and I can completely relate to the photo thing. I absolutely LOATHE having my picture taken. I avoid it at every family function and elsewhere.

    Jesse always arrives dead last to premieres and then he can just quick sweep down the carpet with minimal photos/interviews. I don’t think it’s a rude thing, he just truly gets all nerve-wracked about and I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t be able to get out of the car. LOL

  20. Stubbylove says:

    Ever since I saw Zombieland I’ve loved this kid – even more so after reading this interview – his insecurity and honesty are enduring – plus he’s cute as hell. Good luck to him.

  21. buckley says:

    Right before Social Network, I thought he was too much like Michael Cera.
    Not anymore, this kid is very talented.

  22. kp says:

    saw an advanced screening for 30 minutes or less a few weeks ago and it is HILARIOUS!!

  23. penguin says:

    So cute love him.

  24. JaneWonderfalls says:

    I kind of like odd looking guys, I wouldn’t kick him of bed.

  25. Eve says:

    @ RocketMerry:

    Smiling at me, uh? While pulling out a penknife, right?…I kid, I kid. I’m just so genuinely happy to see him here.

    About his mop top hair, Jewfro, whatever people call it…I love it the way it is.

  26. Maritza says:

    Jesse Eisenburg would look so cute if he cuts his hair. I think he kind of plays himself in the roles he gets, I say this because he does the same twitchy movements and mannerisms. He doesn’t transform himself into the characters like Christian Bale,Daniel Day Lewis or Edward Norton does, now these are truly good actors.

  27. carrie says:

    nice hair and he’s funny in ZOMBIELAND

  28. JaneWonderfalls says:

    I kind of like odd looking guys, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.

  29. JaneWonderfalls says:

    I kind of like odd looking guys, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.

  30. WillyNilly says:

    INeedANap…it’s the vast difference between two abilities to act. One can, one cant (no matter how hard she tries).

    Ex: I highly doubt she could ever pull off an orthodox jew selling E (“Holy Rollers”).

  31. B says:

    Love him.

  32. mia girl says:

    @Maritza
    I agree! I wish he would try a different hair cut. I think he could really transform himself by doing so.

    @buckley
    Funny that you bring up Michael Cera because I think that Cera must have a voodoo doll of Jesse and try to do evil things to it! I mean Jesse is Cera 2.0

  33. sam says:

    He looks like a Jonas brother in the GQ photo. LOL

    I do like him though, he is a really good actor.

  34. Venefica Delirium says:

    I’m so over this nerd fad.

    I guess now that Michael Cera has outgrown his obnoxious perpetual awkward teen role, they needed a replacement as perpetual awkward college kid role.

    And in my experience, “nice guys” are often douchebags. I’m sorry to say it, they’re about as well-intentioned as the fratboy jock creeps, only without the platform so not only are at least a majority of them creeps, but also passive aggressive and entitled. No girl is good enough for them. They “deserve” the alpha female!

  35. LittleMonyet says:

    Does anyone feel like Jesse Eisenberg is the male version of Kristen Stewart? Twitchy, neurotic, uncomfortable at all times, SOMETIMES funny? I’m no Twilight fan at all, but I feel a little bad for Stewart sometimes, I think people give her a hard time because she doesn’t conform to the hyper-feminine stereotype expected of all women in Hollywood. I’m serious – imagine Eisenberg as a woman – and you’ve got Stewart.

  36. Ro says:

    Venefica, totally agree with you about the “nice guys”–but it’s typically the ones who identify THEMSELVES as “nice guys.” They’re manipulative, passive aggressive, creepy, and they seem to throw bitch fits wondering why hot girls aren’t in love with them, especially after they try so hard *pretending* to be a good friend just to get in a girls pants.

    I liked Jesse for a while. His hair has just been bothering the shit out of me, though. It used to be curlier, and not sticking to his face. I guess maybe his hair got a little thinner, but still. They could cut it a little shorter. I HATE IT when his hair is partially straightened. Looks so bad.

  37. Emma says:

    He’s awkward, self-depreciating and humble. He’s not entitled, comes across as lucky to be where he is in his career. Plus, a great actor (for his age/experience). That is why he’s endearing.

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