Is James Marsden a sketchball? Or is he an okay guy who doesn’t have much of a public profile? He sort of reminds me of Chris Evans before Evans became Captain America – Evans and Marsden had the same kind of career trajectory and I would guess that they were up for the same parts too. Anyway, I usually don’t pay that much attention to Marsden, but I read his 20 Questions with Playboy and I came out of it completely charmed. He’s a funny guy and he seems like he’s pretty grounded and low-key. It’s interesting. Some highlights:
His part in Anchorman 2: “X-Men fans may be let down, but Anchorman 2 is the first movie in my career I’ve wanted to see after I finished it. I tested for the role of Brian Fantana in the original and was bummed I didn’t get cast. In this one I play Will Ferrell’s nemesis, a rival anchor named Jack Lime. It’s 1980, at the start of the 24-hour-news era, and Ron Burgundy is moving from San Diego to New York. I’m an obsessed Anchorman fan… [it is] one of the greatest comedies of our time.”
His favorite celebrity encounter: “There’s a place where you can ride horses under the Hollywood sign and then go to a Mexican restaurant. Everyone gets drunk on tequila and rides the horses back. Great idea, right? Anyway, Fabio was on the ride with us, and I remember thinking, This town is so f–king awesome.”
Meeting Harrison Ford, his idol: “I did the last season of Ally McBeal, and it was right when Harrison was starting to date Calista Flockhart. I had become friends with her, and one night she said, “Come to dinner with me and Harrison.” I’m like, “Me, you and him?” It turned out to be a small group of us, thankfully, but I ended up as her wingman. We had dinner someplace in Brentwood and then went back to his house. He put music on and made everybody drinks. He was giggly and goofy around her but pretty aloof with the rest of us. I kept thinking we should leave the two of them alone, but Calista was like, “Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave.” I’m making him sound like a rapist, but he was very hospitable. She was just really nervous. Anyway, we had more drinks, he played more music, and then at some point he gave me a look that said, “Okay, you’ve got to get the f–k out of here.””
He never gets the girl in his movies: “It’s not by design. I guess I just have a look that says “third wheel.” I have a long history of weird relationships onscreen. I once date-raped Mayim Bialik on a very special episode of Blossom.”
His luck with women in real life: “Hit and miss. When I moved to L.A. the women were so aggressive and liberated it almost scared me. But I was also like, Bring it on. I dated for a bit, but then shortly after I turned 20 I met a woman and got married. Now I’m single with three kids. People try to set me up, but it feels strange to go on a date. I guess at some point I’ll just have to nut up.”
On the rumors that he’s father of January Jones’s baby: “There’s so much stupid talk out there. I think that came from somebody thinking we were both in X-Men so it must be true. Every time I see January, she’s like, “Hey, father of my baby.””
Whether he and Halle Berry will be in X-Men: Days of Future Past: “People get so excited about the convergence of the two casts and all the possibilities. But what it means is Halle and I were on a plane together, which has happened a few times, actually. The first time we flew together she was eating out of a huge bag from Burger King. I just sat there watching, thinking, I love you, Halle Berry.”
His X-Man character: “Cyclops is a tricky character because his power is so weird. I mean, putting his finger to his ear? It’s not all that spectacular. There’s not a lot of action to that. I was able to do a minor fight scene in the second X-Men, which was cool. But fans still come up and say, “Cyclops kind of got shat on.” I agree. The character is a little bit of a stiff Boy Scout.”
He’s cool with chick flicks: “What’s funny is guys coming up going, “Hey, man, you’re in my favorite movie of all time.” I’m thinking X-Men or whatever, and they’re like, “The Notebook. I was bawling at the end.” Like dude dudes, you know? Good for you, man! That’s great.”
On sex scenes: “People think, Oh my God, that must have been so great. I just find sex scenes uncomfortable. I’ve done scenes with women who were topless, and you’re hyperaware of not staring at their chests. You’re never thinking, Wow, this is really exciting. You just think, Wow, how can I reassure this actress I’m not a total perv?”
Guest starring on 30 Rock: “I just let her be the man in the relationship. Sometimes you have to let the woman be the guy, and Liz Lemon makes that easy.”
Um, isn’t that one of the BEST Harrison Ford stories ever? And I love that Marsden was friends with Calista and that he would agree to be her wingman on a date with Harrison Ford? How awesome is that story? He also dishes about working with Frank Langella and he repeats a filthy joke Langella always tells. Marsden also says that if he wasn’t working, he would just do fantasy football all the time and he admits that saying that out loud makes him sound like a loser. Basically, what I’m getting from this interview is that James Marsden is actually really funny in real life and that I should pay more attention to him.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
That’s a very cute interview. I’d listen to more of this man. Let’s add him to our stable.
Also, he is yummi
Indeed
I dig. This interview is just the kind of cheering up I needed after yesterday’s NEWS. Plus I liked him in Enchanted and 27 Dresses.
But didn’t he leave his wife and knock up some random right after? However, he can both sing and dance – lower hill stable, at least, not the main stable.
Yes. It was covered on this site. The random model was a dead ringer for his wife too.
AndI really got my hopes up this was going to be a great story. Reading “Best” set the bar too high.
My God, I leave for a few days, and now we’re adding to the stable? Is there a voting process? Although… I suppose he gets a pass for Enchanted, and looked decent in blue leather/pleather
Marsden has been in my main stable for a while now, but yes @j.eyre he did knock up a random which gave my biscuit the sads…
That said, I find him hot AND talented (underrated frankly). His recent turn on 30 Rock kept him in the main stable for me.
Plus, I would have chosen him over Gosling in the Notebook.
He was soooo great on 30 Rock!
Fantasy football, eh? Sounds like he’s after my heart again
Aw what a great guy. Pity he doesn’t get more coverage.
James Marsden has always been an awesome guy! Yes, you should definitely pay more attention to him.
He was the best thing about the American version of Death at a Funeral. The part where he’s whacked out on Valium and sings gospel had me rolling on the floor.
Is that the “black” version? If so, it was sooo funny; but it’s been a while, so I can’t remember if I’m thinking of the right movie.
@ MaiGirl and Sheila: I looved that version. I know lot of people bag on it, but it was nice seeing a talented, funny, mostly black cast in a fun film. Also, it was great seeing Martin Lawrence his old funny self again; and Chris, Tracy, Martin and Columbus had such awesome chemistry. That version gets me and my family cracking up every time we see it! Also, Kevin Hart at the beginning was a nice added bonus.
@Sheila and Hiddles: Yes, that one. It’s a guilty pleasure that had its moments, but it really could have been better. But yes, it was wonderful to see so many talented black actors do their thing. Kevin Hart can’t be anything but funny.
For the life of me, I do not understand why dd they make a remake with the exact same plot and dialogue. He was okay, but Alan Tudyk was waay better.
I don’t understand why Americans make remakes at all. Read the goddamned subtitles. The rest of the world does. But to make a remake of a BRITISH film. Complete nonsense. Can someone explain that to me?
Why do Americans even make remakes? Read the goddamned subtitles, the rest of the world does. But to remake a BRITISH movie? Complete nonsense.
I think Bubbles just did a remake of his/her own comment.
Hahahahah, I did, didn’t I? It didn’t show the first time, but now I see both of them 😀
Oh wow I hated the American version! What a rip off! Even though I love most of the cast (Kevin hart omg) it was downright terrible. The original wasn’t even out for more than a few years before they “redo” it, practically word for word. Bad idea. Sad part is now when I mention the REAL Death at a funeral everyone immediately thinks of the Sh!tty version with Chris Rock and Zoe Saldana.
I hated the original. I’d had so many people telling me it was ‘hilarious’ that I bought it. What a let-down. It was like a parody of British movies done really poorly. Haven’t seen the remake, but it hardly be much worse.
I had a huge crush on Marsden in my teens. He’s a cross between Scott Wolf and Tom Cruise, but better-looking than either.
Every time I see him onscreen, I think of how I had such a crush on him in the 90s when he was on Second Noah! He has aged so well. *sigh*
He just got hot
I really believe the story about Harrison Ford because I just the video of Ford with David Blaine doing a magic trick. After the trick, Ford, says, “Get the fuck out of my house.”
I’ve adored him for years! He was so wonderful and funny as the Prince in Enchanted. Seriously underrated actor and super hot.
He was excellent in Enchanted. He’s a very underrated actor. My daughter and I still do some of his acting moves in Enchanted. I suspect he isn’t cut throat enough to get further up the ladder.
Love enchanted too!! OOOOOOOOOH GIIIISELLLLLE~!
This was a great interview. It made him even more likeable, even though he date raped Blossom.
Imma have to YouTube that one! I watched Blossom religiously, and I don’t remember that at all. I get very special episodes, but the star of your show getting raped is pretty heavy, so I’m surprised they did it, and really surprised that I can’t recall anything about it.
That line made me LOL. I love the way he phrased it.
I know he had some bad press around the time of his divorce and it cast him in a not so great light at the time, but I can’t help but like him. I’ve liked all his performances, and anytime I’ve seen him on a talk show he’s pretty charming and funny.
I was really disappointed he wasn’t cast in Gone Girl. When I read the book, he is how I pictured Nick.
I finally read that book. The first half I was amazed, thinking it was one of the best books I’d read in a long time. By the end of the book, I was absolutely disgusted. I’m trying to read another Gillian Flynn right now.
I had the exact same reaction. The end was such a cop-out!
I’ve always loved this guy, dunno why. 27 dresses, notebook, all of em. Even as cyclops I liked him (though he’s totally right, they made that character so lame)
Love him and he always gets great supporting roles. He was absolutely wonderful on 30 Rock!
“When I moved to L.A. the women were so aggressive and liberated it almost scared me.” … Did he move to LA from the 1950s?
Otherwise, cute. I am a notorious rom-com hater but I do love him in 27 Dresses (the Benny and the Jets scene, too cute) as well as Enchanted. Also he was kinda hot and sweaty in Straw Dogs. Yum.
@ flavia_deluce: Your comment, “Did he move to LA from the 1950s?” had me LOL hard at my desk at work. I looked like a fool! That was funny as heck. I was wondering where he must have been moving from too. 🙂
I do love him to pieces in 27 Dresses and Enchanted. That guy is so endearing in those roles!
He actually sounds sweet an sincere. I might start to like him. (Never really cared about him).